A tattoo is an ink drawing from Japan or some other pigment, usually decorative or symbolic, indelible, under the skin. It is a type of body modification. Watermarking technique is to introduce into the skin coloring materials (pigments) and the color is then introduced by "transparency" after healing of the wound caused by the stitching. The skin is composed of three layers (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis): The ink is made by the needle in a precise enough space at the boundary between the dermis and epidermis. The depth of the injection varies depending on the types of skins and body parts between 1 and 4 mm, the thickest areas lying in the back.

Main article: Tattooing in Polynesia

The word comes from the Tahitian tatau, meaning to mark or draw. The root word, means your "drawing" and "atua" means "spirit, god." Dr. Berchon, translator of Cook's second voyage to Tahiti in 1772 used for the first time the word Tattoo. In 1858 , the word was officially in Frenchified Tattoo and appeared in the dictionary Littr.

History

Tattooing is a proven practice in Eurasia since the Neolithic. " tzi , the ice man found frozen in the Italian-Austrian Alps died around 3500 BC. He sports tattoos AD therapy ^Purpose

The reasons why people choose to be tattooed are diverse group identity, cosmetic , ritual, religious , sample theory of disability , and uses magic are the most frequent. Also, the sociology of the body are held to an object of study.

Originally these marks on the skin were signs of belonging to a group: religious among Mori, pirates, prisoners or former legionnaires.

In the 1970s a craze for tattooing was born and had a strong amplification twenty years later. Tattooing is no longer a way of displaying membership in a group, tribe or neighborhood. It's a way to claim originality, to seduce, to beautify, to provoke, to compensate.

A tattoo is often an important moment of life, pleasant or painful. Some teens experience it as a rite of passage, and sometimes act on impulse they regret later.

The place of registration, small of back, back, chest, ankle, shoulder or hand or face is also of significance.

Finally, "tattoos are applied to facilitate the reproducibility of certain therapies medical. In radiotherapy , persistent paths are applied to the skin (including using fuchsin ) while permanent tattoos are reduced to mere dots applied with a small needle dipped in ink. The purpose of these tattoos is to set the fields to the skin area corresponding to the tumor to be irradiated.

Tattoos are also placed on animals, though very rarely for decorative reasons. For pets they are used for identification. Some muzzles are covered to avoid sunburn.

forced Tattoos

Given human history, we can identify many different reasons for the act of forcibly tattooing a person without consent. Most often, it is to punish, or ensure that a person can not during his lifetime, hide certain facts in society.

Antiquity: the brand of slaves

Herodotus tells qu'Histie, tyrant of Miletus prisoner at the royal court of Persia, shaved head of his slave and tattooed a message to deliver on his head, then waited for the regrowth of hair before sending the slave to its recipient (Herodotus, Investigations, V, 35). In fact, in ancient Greece , slaves were routinely an owl tattooed on his forehead, so they are recognizable in any place and permanently. The Romans inherited their turn to tattooing, always use punitive. The slaves were marked by tattooing more discreet than the Greeks instead of a drawing of an owl, the Romans tattoo the first letter of surname of the teacher between the eyes of the slaves. This practice also demonstrates one of the few traces of humor (slave) of the Romans. Suetonius relates indeed a good word of the day: "There is no more literate than the Nubians (the Nubian was a major source of slaves). The Roman practice to extend the mercenaries , they are wary to ensure that defectors are identified. It was in Rome that the tattoo is going to win its first Western name: stigma (in French, stigma ), the mark of infamy. It is replacing the burning hot iron that Roman authorities will use the tattoo on the condemned, as final sanction. The fate of the thieves and outcasts of Rome did not improve in the fourth century when Constantine (the emperor who made Christianity the official religion in 325), decreed that prisoners will be tattooed on the legs or hands, but never on the face, which was created in the image of God, should remain empty.

The Third Reich

Identification ka-tzetnik in concentration camps during the Second World War set up by the Nazis was to mark a part of the deportees to concentration camps and extermination of the tattoo on the forearm, a number. This was particularly the case at Auschwitz. Gypsies in these camps were tattooed with a Z, as Zigeuner, Gypsies in German.

In this context, the tattoo of a company involved forced dehumanization. After the war, survivors of the camps had different reactions: if the majority of them held them, some have made them clear. Moreover, the soldiers of the Waffen-SS were also tattooed (Blutgruppenttowierung - tattoo blood group). He received their blood on the inner biceps of his left arm. This tattoo was nicknamed "Kainsmal" - the "Mark of Cain "(an allusion to the mark on Cain that God affixed to prevent it from being killed and flee forever) and had only one letter. Contrary to legend, no further registration, serial number or military unit were tattooed. After the war, these brands facilitated the identification of some ex-SS.

Criminal tattoo

Different organized crime groups availing itself of the tattoo symbolically. So, for example, Yakuza in Japan, or thieves in the act of the Russian mafia. Both organizations have resorted to forced tattooing on some of their members, most of the time for punitive reasons. In Japan, a yakuza who has failed in its duty as cowardice or self-mutilation may undergo a tattoo or dishonorable. In Russia the tattoo by force may take place between prisoners in the same prison, or within a "family". When it comes to punishment, the watermarked image is often obscene or pornographic, forcing the sanctioned individual to shame. But it is also possible that cowardice or treason be placed symbolically. The use of symbolic code tattoos by criminals in Russia is that a prisoner was tattooed by his peers according to their background and may constitute in itself a constraint, as the tattooed subject has no possibility to refuse. It is even novice criminals who are assigned by their superiors tattoos regardless of their will.

Procedure

Some tribal cultures create tattoos by cutting the skin and then rubbing the wound with ink, ashes or other agents. This can be a complement to the scarification. Some cultures create watermarks in striking the ink into the skin with sharp bones.

Nowadays, the usual method is to introduce the ink with a tattoo machine.

A tattoo machine is composed of needles attached to a bar with an electric gun. When activated, the tips are moving rapidly up and down action allows the insertion of the needles of the ink in the uppermost layer of the epidermis. It acts through a electromagnetic principle, just like the old doorbells. The tattoo machines are manufactured by many small and medium-sized businesses worldwide.

Permanent Makeup

The permanent makeup is a tattoo design permanent, that does not spoil if it was improperly inserted under the skin. The process is the same as the classic tattoo, that is to say an injection under the skin pigments.

Methods of deletion

There are two fairly effective means of removing a tattoo: either do by covering a new tattoo or have it removed by laser from a dermatologist with the right equipment. In both cases the consequences or effects may be significant.

Recovery necessarily involves enlargement of the tattooed area and the pigments are more visible than a renewed old tattoo, which could, over time, fade under the action of regular exposure to sunlight or abrasions the epidermis .

The use of a laser requires knowledge in dermatology and the equipment used must be of good quality, otherwise it can damage the skin irreversibly. In addition, the laser method, the only one that can actually blur or even erase a tattoo is long and painful. In France, legislation prohibits the use of lasers for non-medical practitioners, an act considered an illegal practice of medicine .

Health and Hygiene

Tattoo session

Preliminary precautions

Certain risk groups should avoid tattoos. Including persons under medical treatment, alcoholics, drug addicts , pregnant women, persons suffering from hemophilia , of AIDS , hepatitis B and C, cardiovascular diseases, persons with a pacemaker (as there is a risk of interference with magnetic waves of dermograph).

The tattoo consists in puncturing the skin to introduce colorants, each creates a small puncture wound may become infected and transmit disease through bacteria or viruses. That's why some basic rules of hygiene are required before, during and after the operation.

Hygienic

Besides the necessary washing and disinfection of hands, the tattooist must clean and sterilize equipment thoroughly after each use, clean and disinfect non-sterilized tools and the work plan. It must also analyze the texture of the skin of the future and disinfect thoroughly tattooed before his act. You are also necessary for you to clean your tattoo thoroughly to prevent future infections.

After surgery

Once the procedure is completed, the tattooist disinfect the area using a solution of antiseptic and applied some ointment and a bandage to protect the skin and promote healing. He must then explain clearly how to tattoo it must continue to clean her skin and facilitate healing , especially with a healing ointment. Note that this last part is now the responsibility of the tattooed. The skin should be kept clean, keep it fat during the healing phase, which lasts about ten days and by applying a healing ointment. We must remain vigilant in leaving no infectious agent in contact with the wound. Cleaning should be done using warm water and mild soap or an antiseptic solution without alcohol. It may be that during the meeting, the tattoo can feel anything from simple annoyance to severe pain depending on its sensitivity and tattooed by location. In China, tattooists recommend not eating seafood or fish, or lamb in the week after the tattoo.

Regulation

Some European countries are beginning to have a tattoo dedicated to the regulation. In the absence of regulations, customers must often rely more seriously and the ethics of each professional and / or membership of some tattooists in professional associations (eg the United European tattoo artists , the National Union of tattoo artists in France, the Swiss Association of Professional Tattooists , the Association of Professional Tattooists and piercers Walloons (and Brussels) in Belgium).

The France has a health regulations since 2008: Decree No. 2008-149 of 19 February 2008 establishes the conditions of hygiene and sanitation practices on broken skin with the tattoo and piercing, and affects the health code public (regulatory). In particular it requires the following rules:

• practice activities and tattoo "body piercing" must be declared Prefecture (application by Order of December 23, 2008 ).
• Tattooists and piercers must undergo mandatory training on hygiene (application by Order December 12, 2008 ).
• The material penetrates the skin barrier, coming into contact with skin or mucosa of the client and direct support of this material must be either single use, sterile or sterilized before each use.
• The premises must include a room reserved exclusively for the realization of these techniques.
• The waste products are treated as medical waste (waste activities infectious medical) and must be discarded by the same rules (ie " Waste of care activities (HCW): regulation ").
• Tattoo products must meet specific rules set forth by the Decree No. 2008-210 of 3 March 2008 which establishes rules for manufacturing, packaging and import products tattoo, and establishes a national system of vigilance and to amend the Public Health Code (regulatory).
• Tattooing and piercing are not allowed on a minor without the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• Tattooists and piercers must inform their customers before the act, the risks they face and, after completion of these techniques, precautions to be observed. This information must also be prominently displayed in the studios (application by Order of 3 December 2008.

Professionals who do not respect the different steps required are liable for contraventions of the 5th class or fines of up to 1500 euros.

Styles

The styles of tattoos:

• Pointillism (or dotart dotwork for Anglophones), form of the tattoo is done partially or entirely in dots giving effect to unpublished materials in tattooing.
• Tribal graphics thick lines, usually black, inspired tattoos generally primitive, Polynesians in particular;
• Flash: images covering the walls of tattoo studios;
• custom (or customized): tattoo on measure, it can be designed by the customer, in collaboration with an artist to give a unique tattoo;
• realistic grounds executed as the most realistic, most successful tattoos give the impression of real pictures;
• old school or "traditional" patterns inspired rock'n'roll, pinup, 50s, etc.. performed according to traditional Western: thick outlines, strong black shadows, use of bright primary colors;
• Celtic: Celtic art recalls (interlacing, Celtic crosses , mythological creatures, etc.).
• Asian: inspired by Asian art (dragons, fish, buddha, kanji , etc.).
• new school: old school modern version;
• abstract;
• mandatory;
• Biomechanics: abstract tattoo incorporating mechanical, plant, organic or just anything that is desired, generally giving the impression that all this is under the skin of the tattooed.

Tribal tattoo.

Polynesian Style Tattoo (Artist: Manu Farrarons )

Abstract tattoo.

Celtic knotwork.

Popularity

This practice is more practiced in the United States than in Europe. In Japan , tattooing is still quite unpopular. Indeed, it is practiced by the yakuza and often still is banned in the hot springs , some companies and even gyms. However, the hype tends to globalize and many young people change old ideas.

Temporary Tattoos

The "temporary tattoos" can be made with henna natural, and not with black henna, which in turn is very harmful to the skin, or traditional henna using decorative stamps and ink quality cosmetics. Traditional use practiced in the countries of the Maghreb is named henna in India and Pakistan , it is referred to as mehndi.

Other tattoos are as applicable to stripes, and are often offered in packages of chewing gum or candy. These tattoos persist in a few days at best, and are removed if they are rubbed under water.

There are also temporary tattoos done as tattoos traditional but with a special ink, usually disappearing after 3 years minimum. But what kind of tattoo is generally not highly recommended (not very good for the skin). In many cases the ink never completely disappears, contrary to the ground, leaving a "block" on the skin of the tattooed.

Henna Tattoos

Notes

Bibliography

• Amy Krakow, The Total Tattoo Book ( ISBN 0446670014 )
• Tattoo Art Magazine (magazine reproductions of tattoos)
• Philippe Di Folco , skin, tattoos and piercings, Fitway Publishing, 2004, ( ISBN 2752800290 )
• Pascal Tourain, Tattooed Man , published by Yunnan
• Collective, Tattoos, Editions Les Belles Lettres (collection of 22 new class that contains the story "The Tattoo Junichiro Tanizaki ).
• The Blue Fish Night of Armand Cabasson , Editions Night of April

References

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