Dangers of Body Art Piercing, banding, scarification, tattoos and temporary tattoos

No body art is safe Everybody’s body is different Some people are allergic to animals and others to pollen, still some are not allergic to anything Most people who claim to be allergic to nothing simply have not been exposed to that which may cause an allergic reaction yet Every time you cut, pierce, burn, or break the skin you are at risk of infection Everybody’s body will respond to an infection or allergy in a different way.

Piercing Piercing has become very popular amongst teens, but piercings carry the same stigma that tattoo do.

Navel Piercings Navel piercings take the longest to heal and have the highest rate of infection. They are not expected to fully heal for 1 YEAR! Clothing complicated the process, because they do not let the wound breathe. In fact they cause a moisture build up as clothing presses against the metal. Moisture breeds bacteria and infection. Also your body my reject the metal, constantly working to expel it like a splinted. Or you could keloid.

Many people are perceived as weird of freaks if they have multiple piercings. Others are simply following a fad that they find aesthetic. Still other consider themselves walking art.

Piercings also make one appear to be a rebel.

Oral piercings have become very popular, but consider this- A dog’s mouth is cleaner than that of a human. The human mouth is always swarming with bacteria. Of course, this effects the rate of infection. Even though the tongue heals faster than any other part of the body. Your body can reject the metal or become infected easily. After you remove the piercing from the tongue it will begin to heal closed in 1 hour.

Ear Piercing in the most common form of body piercing practiced, both historically as well as in present day. Though common, ear piercing still often become infected.

Oral piercing often result in tooth and gum damage.

Swelling Swelling can be a sign of allergy or infection. Often it may subside quickly. Sometimes swelling can last for years.

Oral jewelry is often swallowed. Imagine what could happen to the body and its organs after accidentally swallowing sharp metal.

This woman suffered a brain infection that spread for a facial piercing. Seriously, I swear I didn’t make this up!

Ear Piercing

Keloids A raised formation of fibrous scar tissue caused by excessive tissue repair in response to trauma or incision Anyone can develop keloids. It just depends on how your body responds to trauma. Remember everybody is different!

Keloids from tattoos

You can still see part of the design!

You can also keloid from piercing and other scarification practices

African, Asians, and African Americans are more prone to keloid that Caucasians

Brandings are very prone to infections and keloids (this should be obvious) Branding Chemical Burn

Temporary Tattoo You can be allergic to anything and how you respond is always unique to your body

Black Henna Allergic Reaction One week Three Weeks

Not only will your black henna tattoo look similar to this if you are allergic, you can also become ill. Those who have experience sever allergic reactions report feeling internally ill, sometimes for several weeks. Nausea Headaches Dizziness And other ailments (everybody is different.)

Tattoo Ink FDA considers the inks used in intradermal tattoos, including permanent makeup, to be cosmetics and considers the pigments used in the inks to be color additives requiring premarket approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. However, because of other public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety concerns, FDA has not traditionally regulated tattoo inks or the pigments used in them. The actual practice of tattooing is regulated by local jurisdictions. FDA is aware of more than 150 reports of adverse reactions in consumers to certain permanent make-up ink shades, and it is possible that the actual number of women affected was greater. In addition, concerns raised by the scientific community regarding the pigments used in these inks have prompted FDA to investigate the safe use of tattoo inks. FDA continues to evaluate the extent and severity of adverse events associated with tattooing and is conducting research on inks. As new information is assessed, the agency will consider whether additional actions are necessary to protect public health. In addition to the reported adverse reactions, areas of concern include tattoo removal, infections that result from tattooing, and the increasing variety of pigments and diluents being used in tattooing. More than fifty different pigments and shades are in use, and the list continues to grow. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint.

Tattoo removal Can be very costly Removal is done with a laser It is a painful process Must be done in sessions and cost $400-$800 per session with a minimum of 5 sessions any doctor will recommend session, but again, everybody’s body is different After 7 sessions

Negative effects of body art Infection. Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases, such as hepatitis. The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood. Removal problems. Despite advances in laser technology, removing a tattoo is a painstaking process, usually involving several treatments and considerable expense. Complete removal without scarring may be impossible. $400-$800 per session 9-20 sessions depending on the tattoo Allergic reactions. Although FDA has received reports of numerous adverse reactions associated with certain shades of ink in permanent makeup, marketed by a particular manufacturer, reports of allergic reactions to tattoo pigments have been rare. However, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years. Granulomas. These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment. Keloid formation. If you are prone to developing keloids -- scars that grow beyond normal boundaries -- you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin. Micro pigmentation: State of the Art, a book written by Charles Zwerling, M.D., Annette Walker, R.N., and Norman Goldstein, M.D., states that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal. MRI complications. There have been reports of people with tattoos or permanent makeup who experienced swelling or burning in the affected areas

Make informed decisions: avoid following trends or fads