Tattoo Process

THE

"science"

PROCESS

Tattooing is the process of the placing pigments into the skin, specifically the layer of dermal tissue underlying the epidermis. After initial injection, pigment is dispersed throughout a homogenized damaged layer down in to the epidermis and upper dermis. In both instances the presence of foreign material activates the immune system's phagocytes to engulf the pigment particles. As healing continues, the damaged epidermis flakes away thus, eliminating surface pigment. during that time deeper in the skin granulation tissue forms, which is later converted to connective tissue by collagen growth. This heals the upper dermis, where ink pigment remains trapped within fibroblasts, ultimately concentrating in a layer just below the dermis/epidermis boundary. Its presence there is stable, but over a long time span (decades) the ink tends to migrate deeper into the dermis, accounting for the degraded detail of old tattoos.

Preparation
Must spray the skin with rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area
Will shave body hair because needle may push hair into the skin causing possible infection
Artist will use a stencil or will draw with a non-toxic pen directly on the skin before needling

tattooing without stenciling or drawing first is risky
skin is stretchy and might not turn out right

Safety
Artist must stay in the “sterile field” (circle with all materials on the counter)
Any time they leave the circle to do anything they have to switch their gloves
Always wear latex gloves

Pain

Outlining of the tattoo is most painful
Will be painful until the body adjusts to the pain
Pain depends on tolerance
Some people have said it feels like a sunburn, cat scratch, bee sting, etc.

Shading and coloring comes after the outlining- it is more annoying than painful

After Process

Artist bandages tattoo which keeps it from infection and bleeding on clothes
Instruction is given on how to take care of tattoo
Materials like needles are destroyed and station is cleaned and disinfected