Everybody likes to decorate the body by wearing the beautiful clothes or wearing the ornaments. The latest trend in the youths is to decorate the body by some modifications. There are different types of body modification. Tattoo and body piercing are the most popular types of body art. Both of them are meant for decorating the body.
A tattoo is a permanent design or mark on the skin with the pigments inserted through several pricks into the upper layer of the skin. During the tattooing procedure, a needle attached to the machine having the tubes containing a dye is pierced into the skin repeatedly. The needle inserts a tiny ink droplet with every puncture. The procedure may last for several hours. It may cause a small amount of bleeding and minor to significant pain.
The body piercing involves the piercing of any body part and placing a piece of jewelry into the puncture. Piercing can be done to any body part such as ear, nose, lip, tongue, navel, eyebrows and other area of the body. The piercing is done with help of a hollow needle. Some of piercers use the piercing gun. Then, a piece of sterile jewelry is inserted in the puncture.
Both tattoo and body piercing involve certain risks. They can cause the allergic reactions, skin infections and blood borne diseases. If the equipments used for the tattoo and body piercing are not properly sterilized, then they can transmit many serious blood-borne diseases like HIV, tetanus, Hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis.
Some piercing jewelry made from brass or nickel can cause the allergic reactions. Hence, it is better to use the jewelry made from the non-toxic metals like 14 or 18 carat gold, surgical steel, niobium or titanium. The tattoo dyes especially the red dye may lead to the allergic skin reactions such as itchy rash at the tattoo site.
The tattoo and body piercing can cause the local bacterial infections. The symptoms of the infection include swelling, redness, pain and pus-like drainage. The antibiotics treatment is required to eliminate the infection.
Tattooing can cause many skin disorders such as granulomas around the tattoo ink. It can also lead to excessive scaring. Body piercing may cause the scars and keloids-ridged areas due to the overgrowth of scar tissue.
Tattoo and body piercing both require a great aftercare. Clean the tattoos with water and soap. Apply the moisturizer regularly and avoid exposure to direct sunlight for the first few weeks. Body piercing may take few weeks to months for complete healing. Keep the piercing site clean and dry. Apply the antibacterial soap on the site.