Cosmetic Tattoos | Permanent Makeup | Henna Tattoos

Cosmetic Tattoos and Permanent Makeup

The canvas is skin, and the medium is ink. Modern art? Certainly not. Tattoos and body art have been around for thousands of years. They've been found on mummified bodies dating back to 3300 BC. In today's world, the trend is growing, as more and more people use their bodies as living canvasses. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 3% of the population wears tattoos, cosmetic tattoos and permanent make-up.

Types of Cosmetic Tattoos

There are several different types of tattoos and cosmetic tattoos, from permanent to playful. They include:

• permanent
• temporary
• henna
• permanent make-up

If we take a closer look at each kind of tattoo, we may find the final product very similar, yet the process and the permanency quite different.

Permanent tattoos - are injected under the skin with a needle and permanent ink. The puncture wound is made deep into the skin. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the needles aren't injected into the top layer of the skin. Instead, they are placed into the dermis, the second deeper layer of the skin. Getting a tattoo can hurt, but some people describe the feeling as a "tingling" sensation.

Temporary tattoos - are usually placed on the skin with a wet washcloth or cotton ball. They fade after several days and most contain color approved for use on the skin. However, the FDA has put out an alert for certain foreign made temporary tattoos because they contain colors not allowed by the FDA for use on the skin. The FDA has received reports of allergic reactions to some temporary tattoos.

Henna tattoos - are applied as a stain to the skin. The FDA considers henna in tattoos is illegal. That's because henna is approved only for use as hair dye, and not for application to the skin. The FDA has received reports of allergic reactions to henna tattoos as well. Henna is also temporary but may last for several weeks.

Permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing - are permanent tattoos that are meant to look like make-up such as eyeliner or lip liner. Some choose permanent make-up to save time or because they have a physical difficulty when applying regular make-up. Others do it to simulate natural pigmentation they may have lost due to an illness or disease.

The FDA urges you to think carefully about getting any type of tattoo, cosmetic tattoo or permanent make-up. Things to consider include:

• infection which can come from dirty needles and can be as serious as AIDS or hepatitis
• allergic reactions, though rare you could be allergic to something used in your tattoo
• keloid formations, extreme scarring, around the tattoo
• swelling or burning in the tattoo when having an MRI
• lumps or nodules around the color in the tattoo
• not liking the final product

For any of these reasons and others you may change your mind and need or want tattoo removal.

Tattoo Regulations

Although the inks and ink pigments used in tattooing are subject to FDA regulations, the FDA has not attempted to regulate their use and does not control the practice of tattooing. Local laws and jurisdictions handle that. As the number of colors and pigments continue to expand, however, the FDA says none is approved for injection into the skin. In fact, some of these colors, according to the FDA are meant for printing or painting cars. The FDA is aware of more than 150 reports of adverse reactions in certain permanent make-up ink shades. This has prompted the FDA to investigate the safe use of tattoo inks and evaluate the severity of the side effects. The FDA says as new information comes in, the agency will decide whether further actions are needed to protect public health.

In the meantime, there are a few ways you can protect yourself, according to The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, (ASDS), should you decide to go ahead and make that colorful commitment.

• choose a reputable and licensed tattoo parlor
• keep it simple with a small tattoo with no more than three colors, just in case you choose to remove it down the road
• place your tattoo in a place than can be covered by clothing
• remember what is "in" today, may be "out" tomorrow, so think ahead

Once again, if you change your mind you can consider tattoo removal.

It is also important to protect your skin, especially the area of the tattoo, from sunburn. Sunscreen and sun protective clothing are essential for sun protection.

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Updated June 2011

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