Eureka! Institutional Repository

The following thesis is about tattooing, which due to its ever growing popularity, is a common phenomena among all ages and all social and racial groups. First of all, history is the most important component of something so as to look into its foundations for the necessary answers to every question to be found. Through the exploration of its history, the onset of tattooing will be better understood by the majority of people as far as its meaning, its technique and its application depending on the time period it refers to is concerned. Secondly, the skin, on which tattoos are applied will be mentioned. The skin is a very important organ which is made up of a lot of layers with a lot of functions and is a source of great interest for a large number of researchers. In addition, the equipment used in permanent and temporary tattooing will be explored as well as its pigments and reasons why someone may decide to get a shape, phrase, face, etc. tattooed on a part of his/her body. Tattoos are no longer a reference point in esthetics but also in medicine. Following, the esthetics of tattoos will be delved into and analyzed as it is an interesting point. Like any act which resembles minor surgery, tattooing can cause complications and have serious consequences if professionals do not follow all the rules and if people do not demand they do so. Allergic reactions to its pigments and due to poor sterilization of equipment have been noted. Lastly, an important chapter of tattooing is its methods of removal, which have gradually developed with the passing of time. The barbaric method of rubbing stones on a tattoo and other tactics seem very distant. Nowadays, surgical procedures and lasers, which will be analyzed, have replaced prior methods of tattoo removal.