Tattooing has long been practiced since the old times around the world for decorative, ornamental, spiritual, identification, cosmetics, and even medical purposes and uses. In spite of some issues and taboos regarding this practice, tattooing continues to gain popularity all over the world; so does the concern regarding the potential risks involved with tattooing.

What is a Tattoo?

A tattoo is a mark created by inserting indelible or permanent ink into the dermis layer of the skin changing the pigment for decorative and other purposes. For humans, tattooing is done as a kind of decorative body alteration while it is primarily used for branding or identification for animals.

What are the Possible Risks of Having Tattoos?

Permanent tattooing is done with the use of needles to insert colored ink below the surface of the skin. The method will breach the skin, making it susceptible to skin infections and possible complications.

• 
  Skin Infections.
  
  Dirty and unsterilized tattooing equipment may be the source of contamination leading to bacterial infections and inflammation. These infections are characterized by swelling, redness, soreness, pain and a pus-like drainage.
• Allergic Reactions.
  
  Tattoo dyes and ink pigments in both temporary and permanent tattoos have been accounted as the cause of allergic skin reactions. In some cases, allergic reactions occur even years after having a tattoo.
• Blood-borne Diseases.
  
  When the needles and tattooing equipment used to make your tattoo has been contaminated with infected blood, for sure you'll catch a variety of blood-borne diseases – HIV, hepatitis, tetanus and the AIDS causing virus.
• MRI complications.
  
  During the conduct of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exams, in rare cases, tattoos may cause burning or swelling in affected parts.
• Granulomas
  
  These are bumps or small knot formed around the tattoo ink that the body identifies as foreign.
• Scarring and Keloids
  
  The removal of tattoos may cause unwanted scar tissue to form and may lead to overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids).

Tattoos may just sound an ordinary thing, but don't take it without due consideration. Be oriented with the risks associated with having tattoos and understand its basic safety precautions. So think twice before you ink!