Tattoo
A tattoo is a permanent mark made by putting ink into the skin. Tattoos may be made on human or animal skin. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, but tattoos on animals are most often used for identification. People sometimes get tattoos to show that they belong to a gang or culture group.
People get tattoos in tattoo parlors. Getting a tattoo involves pain, although how much pain is different from person to person,[1] and also depends on what body part is being tattooed. Most tattoos today are given using an electric tattoo machine, which uses needles to put ink into the body.
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Removal [change]
Some people who have tattoos wish that they had not gotten them. Tattoos can be taken off with laser surgery, but this is painful and often requires several visits to a dermatologist or skin care professional.[2]
History [change]
Tattooing is an ancient art. Ötzi the Iceman, a man who lived around 3300 BC and whose mummy was found in 1991, had 57 tattoos.[3] These tattoos, which were made of soot, were possibly part of an early form of acupuncture.[4] Tattoos have also been found on mummies from ancient civilizations in Egypt[5] and Nubia.[6] However, tattoos are forbidden in Jewish law (See Leviticus 19:28)
Tattoos became popular in the Western world after contact with American Indians and Polynesians during the 1700s.[7] James Cook reported that he had seen tattooing being done when he was in Tahiti in 1769. The word "tattoo" comes from the Tahitian word "tatau".[8] Polynesian peoples like the Māori in New Zealand have a tradition of face tattoos (called moko) which are sacred and have special meaning related to status and tribal history.[8]
Tattoos are also popular amongst the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia).
References [change]
- ↑ "Tattoos, Health Resource Center, CSULB". csulb.edu. http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/hrc/health_topics/tattoos.htm. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure, Benefits, and Risks". webmd.com. http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/guide/laser-tattoo-removal. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Iceman's Tattoos Came from Fireplace: Discovery News". dsc.discovery.com. http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/07/17/iceman-tattoos.html. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Oetzi iceman's tattoos came from fireplace - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com". msnbc.msn.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31965532/ns/technology_and_science-science/. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Tattoos". smithsonianmag.com. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html?c=y&page=1. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Tattoos". smithsonianmag.com. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo.html?c=y&page=4. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ↑ "tattoo (body decoration)". britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/584263/tattoo#tab=active%7Echecked%2Citems%7Echecked&title=tattoo%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Maori Tattoos". history-nz.org. New Zealand in History. 2011 [last update]. http://history-nz.org/maori3.html. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
Related pages [change]
- Body modification
- Scarification
- Flash (tattoo) - a sheet of paper or card board with tattoo designs printed or drawn on
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