More About Tattoos: The Marks of Regret

If you believe in The Bible and in God, he instructs us (Leviticus 19:28)
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

One of the businesses booming (along with the medical Profession and pharmaceuticals, thanks to the “hepatitis C-tattoo” alliance) as a consequence of the tattoo-craze is the dermatology industry. According to the American Society of Dermatological surgery, over 50% of everyone receiving a tattoo wants it removed. Tattoo removal via laser is among the fastest growing businesses in the world.

Depending on the size of the tattoo, the type of ink, and the colours used, the laser tattoo removal surgery can be very painful and very expensive. Tattoos performed by commercial parlours are much more difficult to remove because the tattoo is deeper (this can also cause serious tissue damage and scaring), the ink is more complex and thicker. It normally takes between 10 and 15 laser surgery sessions to remove the average tattoo, but 25-30 sessions are not uncommon, depending on the complexity of the tattoo. When you consider the average single session costs between $400-$800, the removal surgery can be very expensive, costing as much as $20,000. That $25 tattoo might cost $5000 to remove. And may I remind you, health insurance does not cover tattoo removals—this is strictly out of pocket expenses. And yet, despite this enormous personal cost, most people are so disgusted with their tattoo they’ll literally pay any cost to have it removed.

Plastic Surgeon Tolbert S. Wilkinson, of San Antonio, Texas who makes his living off of tattoo removal warns:

‘If people only realise how dangerous the getting of a tattoo is, how difficult it is to remove a tattoo, understood how costly and painful tattoo removal is, and recognised that society as a whole still views tattoos as a stigma,(most fashion firms, for example will not hire a model with tattoos), maybe they would think seriously before getting one. Laser removal costs a minimum of 7,000.00 (national average)per tattoo, and takes at least 10 to 15 treatments, spread out over two or more years. Even with this treatment, there is still scaring and the tattoo is still visible.”

Ronald Scutt says in Art, Sex and Symbol that even among sailors in the Royal Naval, over 50% regretted ever getting a tattoo. Among the married it rose to over 70%”. Most other surveys conclude that over 80 percent of people with tattoos regret their tattoo and those with multiple tattoos are the most likely to have regrets but often are too shamed to admit it.The additional tattoos are sometimes a cover up. Because so many--especially young people—try to avoid commitment (as evidenced by the length of the average personal relationship; many of which amount to nothing more than a one-night stand) of any kind: The fact that so many people change their minds should lead you to think carefully about whether you want to lock yourself into a fashion statement that might cause you a lot of aggravation and heartache later in life.

What so few realise, tragically, is that such a mark (tattoo) becomes the albatross around the neck for all time.

Tattoo’s Deadly Little Secret

That harmless little “innocent” tattoo may have a little secret hiding inside.

A very deadly little secret...

Underneath that harmless tattoo is a very serious risk of acquiring a deadly blood-borne disease such as AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, tetanus, Syphilis, tuberculosis, and other blood-born diseases.

An alarming research study published by Dr. Bob Haley and Dr. Paul Fischer at the University Of Texas South-western Medical School in Dallas uncovered that the “innocent” commercial tattoo is quite likely the number one distributor of hepatitis C. Dr. Haley concludes, “We found that Commercially acquired tattoos accounted for more than twice as many hepatitis C infections as injection-drug use (shooting up dope)!! This means it may have been the largest single contributor to the nationwide epidemic of this form of hepatitis—we are likely staring down the barrel of a mammoth, deadly, epidemic. The study also found that people who get tattooed in a commercial tattoo parlour were nine times more likely to get hepatitis C! That’s nine times more likely to be infected by a deadly, fatal disease. And Dr. Haley is not referring to “backyard-prison tattoos” but a tattoo from a “sanitized” Commercial tattoo shop. Did you know the deadly disease hepatitis C kills over 10,000 people a year? Currently 4 million “Americans” are chronically infected with hepatitis C. Its number one channel—the deadly tattoo... Courtesy of your friendly commercial tattoo parlour. When you consider that hepatitis can be transmitted with as little as 0.00004 ml of blood, and can live on contaminated surfaces, such as needles, tattoo machines, tables, etc. For over two months, the risk of hepatitis is very real indeed.

IMPORTANT: It’s strongly advised for people who have tattoos to get a Hepatitis check. And soon. Hepatitis can lie unnoticed for many years, while doing serious damage. The sooner hepatitis is detected the better the chances for survival. If you have a tattoo—get checked.

Hepatitis is spread by infected blood and infected needles, which is the virus connection with tattooing. Tattoos involve lots of needles making lots of sticks in the skin. Each stick carries potential for contamination.

Ask actress Pamela Anderson about the harmless tattoo. Pamela contracted the deadly hepatitis C from a simple, small finger, “Tommy” tattoo.

Why are tattoos so vulnerable to deadly diseases?

Simple:

Because the tattooist is puncturing thousands of tiny, potential disease bearing wounds, with very little, if any, serious provincial, or federal health regulations. And not only that, many of the customers receiving a tattoo are drug-users, criminals, hookers, rock artists, deviants, or homo sexual, who just happen to be the major carriers of the deadly blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis

There is little or no government regulation of tattoo artists. By the large, tattoo artists and shops are not required to follow the same sterile operating practises as other operations that use needles, like hospitals, and doctor’s offices and diagnostic labs. Since there is little regulation of tattoo artists, however, it is important to recognise that as in any field, there may be unscrupulous, incompetent, or improperly equipped practitioners.

Tattoos cause scarring and open your body to potential infection long after the tattoo is applied.

Other Little Dangers

Besides the very real possibility of killing you, with a fatal disease the tattoo provides an arm-load of other ailments. Tattoos cause chronic skin disorders such as sarcoid, keloid scarring, allergic dermatitis, photosensitivity reactions, psoriasis, and benign tumours.

Did You Know?

The “ultra-liberal New York City outlawed the deadly tattoo from 1961 until 1997!!!

The American Red Cross prohibits donors from donating blood for 12 months—one complete year—after getting tattooed.

70% of 642 adolescents surveyed reported haemorrhaging while being tattooed (Donald Staffo, The Tuscaloosa Times, January 10, 2001)