The Negative effects of Body Art (Tattoos)

Tonto Dikeh

Imagine only having one shirt to wear for the rest of your life, it would be kind of weird wouldn’t it? Well that’s what tattoos are like, ink scarred into your flesh for the rest of your life. The word Tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “Tatu”, which is an indelible mark or design fixed upon the body by the insertion of pigment under the skin”. These days, this is done by using a Rapid-Injection-Electrical device that punctures the dermal layer of the skin at a rapid pace, producing a design. Blay Leak take's a look at some side effect on Tattoo on the Human body.

Infectious Risks

Evidence about TTDs (Transfusion-Transmitted-Diseases) that can be transmitted by

Tattooing has been recently reviewed systematically4. TTDs include viral, infections and

diseases, bacterial infections and diseases, fungal infections and diseases, and potentially

Chagas disease.

Viral infections

Viral infections and diseases potentially transmitted by tattooing include the following

viruses:

_ Hepatitis B virus (HBV);

_ Hepatitis C virus (HCV);

_ Hepatitis D virus (HDV);

_ Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmitting acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS);

_ Papillomavirus causing cutaneous infections;

_ Vaccinia

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The most common cause is one of the five

hepatitis viruses, but it can also be caused by other viruses, bacteria, parasites, and toxic

reactions to drugs, alcohol, and chemicals.

AIDS is a disease of the human immune system that is caused by infection with the

retrovirus HIV; that is characterized cytologically by esp. by reduction in the number of T helper cells; that is commonly transmitted in blood and bodily secretions, and that renders

the subject highly vulnerable to life/threatening conditions (pneumonia, Karposi sarcoma).

Cutaneous infections caused by papillomavirus include common warts, plantar warts, and juvenile or flat warts.

Vaccinia is a virus infection of cow’s udders, transmitted to man by direct contact, causing

very mild symptoms similar to smallpox.

According to some studies, there is strong evidence for the transmission of hepatitis B

virus (HBV) infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by tattooing. Tattooing may

also transmit the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bacterial infections

Bacterial infections and diseases transmitted by tattooing include the following bacteria20:

_ Streptococcus pyogenes, leading to impetigo, erysipelas, and septicemia;

_ Staphylococcus aureus transmitting toxic shock syndrome;

_ Pseudomonas aeruginosa transmitting septicemia;

_ Clostridium tetani transmitting tetanus;

_ Haemophilus ducreyi transmitting chancroid;

_ Treponema pallidum transmitting syphilis;

_ Mycobactrium tuberculosis tranmitting tuberculosis;

_ Mycobacterium leprae transmitting leprosy.

Impetigo is an inflammatory skin disease marked by isolated pustules, which become

crusted and rupture. It usually occurs around the mouth and nostrils. Erysipelas is an acute

febrile disease with localized inflammation and redness of the skin and subcutaneous

tissue accompanied by systemic signs and symptoms including fever, chills, nausea,

vomiting, painful and warm skin, and hot, red lesions on the face and head. Septicemia is

the presence of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites, mycobacteria) in the

blood.

The toxic shock syndrome is a rare and sometimes fatal disease caused by a toxin or

toxins produced by the bacterium staphylococcus aureus.

Other infectious diseases

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is characterized by fever,

lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and facial edema. Chronic cases may be mild or

asymptomatic, or may be accompanied by myocardiopathy, megaesophagus, and

megacolon, with fatal outcome. The biting reduviid bug transmits the disease. There is no

evidence to date regarding transmission via tattooing.

In conclusion, getting a tattoo can be a big mistake. You could end up with health problems, such as getting a small innocent infection or even attracting HIV. Think hard and long before you decide it’s your time to get one. Make sure you visit many studios, and look for one that meets the health standards. Plan out where you are going to get the tattoo on your body, think about what may happen at work or at home if you get this body art inked into your skin. And don’t get addicted like I did, because it is very hard to stop!