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Are tattoos ugly or beautiful? Do they change you?

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Are tattoos ugly or beautiful? Do they change you?

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Are there health risks or health benefits to tattoos?

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Are there health risks or health benefits to tattoos?

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Includes people's opinions for and against

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Debate.org is a dynamic social community where you can voice your opinion on today's hottest issues.

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Tattoos used to be 'edgy' and 'unusual' but now they are mainstream

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Tattoos used to be 'edgy' and 'unusual' but now they are mainstream

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When Nathan Boon started working as a tattoo artist about 10 years ago, tattoo parlours could be found in back alleys or on the outskirts of town. Over the years, as trends have moved from tribal designs on the lower back to geometric designs on the sternum, he has seen more shops open up in central business districts. "When I first started, you had to go and find someone to tattoo you. Now it's in your face," he said.

The Manchester Tattoo Emporium, where he works, is in the city's most central shopping area. On a weekday afternoon business is booming in the studio, which opened four years ago. The company has three other studios - the first of which opened six years ago and the newest one a year ago. "There are more kids now than ever who have tattoos," said Boon. "It's not a taboo thing any more."

Earlier this week the Chelsea and England footballer Ross Barkley spoke publicly about his decision to remove a whole sleeve of tattoos, including one that marked his first game with his previous club, Everton.

England player Ross Barkley has had his tattoo sleeve removed. Composite: Getty Images

"I got them at a young age and sometimes when you are young you do stupid things and do not think about it," the 24-year-old midfielder told the Times. "But I went into it too quick and over the years I felt I wanted to get them removed." He said he would not rule out getting more tattoos in the future.

After being shown a picture of Barkley's tattooed arm, Boon said he was not surprised by the decision. "I can see why he's taken them off because it's a whole bunch of different styles that don't really go together. He was probably in a rush to get tattooed," he said. "If you get tattoos for the sake of getting them, you can regret them a few years down the line."

In 2015, a survey found that a fifth of all British adults were inked, with 30% of 25- to 39-year-olds having at least one tattoo. In 2016, a US poll found that 29% of people had a tattoo, up from roughly two in 10 (21%) four years before. Nearly half (47%) of millennials - people born between born between 1982 and 2004 - said they had one.

It is hard to find a modern pop star without a tattoo. Justin Bieber got his first one aged 16 and now, aged 24, has an estimated 56, including one of his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez's face on his wrist and a tiny cross next to his eye. Rihanna, 30, is thought to have at least 25, with a henna-style design on her hand and the image of Queen Nefertiti on her ribcage. Ed Sheeran, 27, got his first tattoo aged 18 and now has over 60. More recent additions include a large lion's face on his chest and a Heinz ketchup label on his arm.

Tattoo removal using a laser device. Photograph: Alamy

"If more people are getting tattoos then there will be a market for more removal," said Boon, who attributes the rise in popularity to the influence of celebrities and social media. "I say to my clients all the time, be careful of the choices you make because what I liked when I was 20 is not what I like now."

Chris Bull, the marketing director at Sk:n, which has 51 skin clinics in the UK, says demand for laser tattoo removal has increased significantly over the past five years. "I would argue that it is because tattoos are becoming more popular so people are choosing to change them or adapt them over time," he said.

Tattoo removal technology is improving and becoming more widely available, said Bull. An increasing number of tattoo studios have their own laser removal equipment so people are able to amend their body art more easily. In a survey of Sk:n's clients, 14% said they were getting tattoos removed to replace them with others, while 61% said it was because they simply did not like them any more.

David McComb, the author of 100 Years of Tattoos, said: "Tattoos have always gone in and out of fashion throughout history. The best example is that back in the early 1900s there was a craze in high society for tattoos. Famously, Winston Churchill's mother had a snake tattooed around her wrist. Literally, within about five years it had gone completely out of fashion again.

"Whereas my generation would think about it for a long time, young people don't think twice about going to get a tattoo,. They have a more relaxed attitude towards body art and, if they don't like it in a few years, they'll just get something else to cover it up."

McComb believes the current level of popularity is unlikely to last. "If I had tonnes of money I'd certainly invest in a tattoo removal machine," he said. "I think it's something that's going to become very, very popular over the next few years."

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How tattoos went from subculture to pop culture

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When Nathan Boon started working as a tattoo artist about 10 years ago, tattoo parlours could be found in back alleys or on the outskirts of town. Over the years, as trends have moved from tribal designs on the lower back to geometric designs on the sternum, he has seen more shops open up in central business districts.

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What do you think getting a tattoo communicates about yourself to other people?

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What do you think getting a tattoo communicates about yourself to other people?

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"It’s not unusual for a person to change their mind after getting a tattoo. In fact, one survey says 75 percent of their 600 respondents admitted to regretting at least one of their tattoos."

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It's not unusual for a person to change their mind after getting a tattoo. In fact, one survey says 75 percent of their 600 respondents admitted to regretting at least one of their tattoos.

But the good news is there are things you can do before and after getting a tattoo to lower your chances of regret. Not to mention, you can always get it removed.

Keep reading to learn what types of tattoos people regret the most, how to lower your risk for regret, how to cope with regret anxiety, and how to remove a tattoo you no longer want.

Statistics about tattoos are abundant, especially data around the number of people who have a tattoo, the number of people who have more than one, and the average age of getting a first tattoo.

What's not talked about as much, at least not openly, is the number of people who regret getting a tattoo.

With the number of tattoo salons increasing and the amount of skin that's covered, it comes as no surprise that some people are having second thoughts.

A recent Harris Poll surveyed 2,225 U.S. adults and asked them about their top regrets. Here's what they said:

They were too young when they got the tattoo.

Their personality changed or the tattoo doesn't fit their present lifestyle.

They got someone's name that they're no longer with.

The tattoo was poorly done or doesn't look professional.

The tattoo isn't meaningful.

The first survey we mentioned also asked respondents about the most regrettable spots for a tattoo on the body. Those include the upper back, upper arms, hips, face, and buttocks.

For Dustin Tyler, the regret over his tattoos happened either because of the style or the placement.

"The tattoo that I dislike the most is a tribal tattoo on my back that I got when I was 18. I am currently 33," he says. While he doesn't have any plans to fully remove it, he does plan on doing a cover-up with something he likes better.

For some people, the excitement and satisfaction never wears off, and they cherish their tattoos forever. For others, regret can begin as soon as the next day.

Of those who regretted their decision with the first few days, almost 1 in 4 had made a spontaneous decision, reports Advanced Dermatology, while 5 percent of the people surveyed reported planning their tattoo for several years.

The statistics jump significantly after that, with 21 percent saying the regret kicked in at about the one-year mark, and 36 percent reporting it took several years before they doubted their decision.

Javia Alissa, who has more than 20 tattoos, says she has one that she regrets.

"I got the Aquarius symbol tattooed on my hip when I was 19 and started regretting it about a year later when a classmate pointed out that it looks like sperm (it was very badly done)," she says.

To make matters worse, she's not even an Aquarius, but a Pisces. While she has no plans to get it removed, she may decide to cover it up.

Most decisions in life carry some degree of regret. That's why it's helpful to consider some of the expert tips that may lower your chances for tattoo regret.

Max Brown of Brown Brothers Tattoos in Chicago, Illinois, has been tattooing in and around Chicago for the last 15 years. He knows a thing or two about how to lower the chances for tattoo regret.

The first thing Brown says to consider is the location. "Certain areas just don't heal as well as others," he says.

Finger tattoos, especially on the side of fingers, don't typically heal well. Brown says this is because the side and underside skin of hands and feet don't necessarily respond well due to its function in day-to-day activities and performance.

Next, you want to think about the style of the tattoo. "Tattoos without black ink tend to fade unevenly, and without the black lines to anchor, can become soft and fuzzy and difficult to read once healed and aged, especially in high-exposure areas of the body, such as the arms, hands, and necks," he explains.

And finally, Brown says you need to stay away from what he calls the "tattooer's curse," which describes the hesitation he and other tattoo artists feel when asked to tattoo a lover's name for fear of cursing the relationship.

Tyler says his advice to anyone thinking of getting a tattoo is to make sure you're doing it for you and not because it's a current style or trend. Make sure you put a lot of thought into it, because it's on your body forever.

If you want to get a tattoo, but you're not convinced it's the right decision, Alissa recommends you wait and see if you still want it in six months. If you do, she says you most likely won't regret it.

It's not uncommon to have regret immediately after getting a tattoo, especially since you're used to seeing your body a certain way and now, all of a sudden, it looks different.

To help you come to terms with any immediate anxiety or regret you may experience, permit yourself to wait it out. In other words, let the experience sink in.

It may take a while for you to grow into or get used to the tattoo. Also, remind yourself that if the anxiety or regret doesn't pass, you have options to either cover it up or start the removal process.

And finally, if your tattoo is causing you extreme anxiety or depression, it might be time to seek expert help.

Talking with your doctor or a mental health professional about the root of your anxiety and depression can help you work through these feelings and possibly uncover other triggers or causes of your symptoms.

If you find yourself regretting the artwork that now covers your arm, the first thing you need to do is not be so hard on yourself. Because guess what? You're not alone.

Lots of people have a change of heart days after they get a tattoo. The good news is you can always have it removed.

If your tattoo is still in the healing stages, take this time to review your options for removal and find a reputable professional to do it for you.

How long to wait to have it removed

Typically, you need to wait until your tattoo completely heals before even considering removal.

While healing time can vary, Dr. Richard Torbeck, a board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology, P.C., recommends waiting at least six to eight weeks after the tattoo before going for removal.

"This allows for delayed tattoo reactions to be resolved that can occur with some pigments," he explains.

Additionally, it allows you to think through the process and decide if this is really what you want. Because like Torbeck points out, removal can be as permanent and painful as the tattoo itself.

Once you're both physically and mentally ready to move forward with removal, it's time to choose the best option for you.

Removal options

"The most common and effective way to remove tattoos is by laser treatments," says Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology.

"Sometimes patients elect to scar the area instead, and mechanical dermabrasion can sometimes be effective in doing so," she adds.

Lastly, Geddes-Bruce says you can have a tattoo surgically removed by excising the skin and covering the area with a graft or closing it directly (if there's enough skin available to do so).

All of these options are best discussed and performed by a board-certified dermatologist.

Removal cost

"The cost of tattoo removal depends on the size, complexity of the tattoo (different colors require different laser wavelengths so treatment will take longer), and the experience of the professional removing your tattoo," explains Geddes-Bruce.

It also varies widely by geographical region. But on average, she says it probably ranges from $200 to $500 per treatment.

For removal of gang-related tattoos, several reputable tattoo removal services can provide free tattoo removal. Homeboy Industries is one such organization.

Getting a tattoo is exciting, symbolic, and, for some, a significant milestone in their life. That said, it's also normal to feel regret in the days, weeks, or months after getting a tattoo.

The good news is there are things you can do before and after getting a tattoo that can help you work through any anxiety or regret. Just remember to acknowledge how you feel, give it some time, and talk with someone you trust before you make a decision about how to proceed.

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Tattoo Regret: Lowering Your Chances, Coping with Regret, and More

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You're not alone if you experience regret - either immediately or years later - over a tattoo. Many people do. Learn what types of tattoos people regret the most, how to lower your risk of regret, how to cope with regret anxiety, and how to remove a tattoo you no longer want.

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(Written by tattoo artists so it could be biased)

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There's always a good and bad side to everything, tattoos included. Since tattooing has been associated with everything from high rankings in certain social statuses to a symbol of criminality, tattoos definitely have some serious pros and cons in modern times. Take a look at this list here to see the top ten pros and cons of having a tattoo. And remember, always think before you ink!
Pro: A tattoo is a form of self-expression
Tattoos are a great way to display your individuality without having to say a word. Tattoos are carried by their wearer and say something about that person, whether they choose to show them to the world or not. A tattoo is something for the wearer to hold on to and works as an artistic extension of the self.

This tattoo could have lots of meanings, an obvious one being that the person is an artistic individual and that they love jellyfish or the ocean.
Con: A tattoo may limit your career path
While society is becoming more open to tattoos each day, there is still a taboo with body art that could potentially affect the kind of job you get in life. Unfortunately, chances are likely that a white-collar office job will not hire someone with visible hand and face tattoos, even if the person is qualified.

This is a bad quality photo, but it's pretty funny.
Pro: Tattoos can open a door to a whole new community
While you might not get that job on Wall Street, the tattoo community still has some amazing alternatives to explore. Whether it's going to conventions or getting involved in the alternative art scene, there is an incredible community behind the tattoo scene that supports one another in times when mainstream society won't.
Con: A tattoo can put your body on display for the rest of the world
There is nothing more annoying than being picked apart about each and every tattoo you have. When you start to get tattoos, be prepared for the constant bombarding of people asking you about them.

This girl on the other hand (literally) had her own solution to this problem.
Pro: You meet amazing people through your tattoos
Though some people may lose all social graces when they see your tattoos, others could be intrigued and may want to share their own with you. Two people having ink, or just meeting someone who is interested in tattoos, is a great way to simply start a conversation since it's already an interest you both have in common.
Your tattoos age with you
Anyone who has tattoos or has ever talked about getting them has been scolded at one point or another about how "your tattoos are going to look horrible when you get older". This is something that people have been saying to those in the tattooed community for a very long time.
The pros of aging with tattoos:
With proper care and the help of new and improved tattoo inks, your tattoos will look amazing for years to come! Despite how people think tattoos would look as you age, we all have recently discovered that tattoos actually just make you look badass when you're older! Everyone's bodies are shaped and sized differently, who's to say that your tattoos will look bad just because your body changes? Expect your tattoos to change and age with you, but don't ever let yourself think that your tattoos will look bad or make you any less attractive than you were before.

As you can see, both of these elderly people's tattoos still do really look quite nice.
The cons of aging with tattoos:
Yes, our bodies wrinkle and sag as we get older, which means our tattoos will do the same. However, tattoos that were done over 50 ago were made with different pigments which eventually resulted in the tattoos fading, bleeding, and turning blue which is where people got the assumption that tattoos look bad as you age. So unless you had your tattoos done half a century ago, your tattoos will actually look the same minus the fact that they will be needing some touching up over the years. Besides needing to touch them up every now and then, there really is no con to having your tattoos age with you!
Pro: A tattoo is your own work of custom art
A picture says a thousand words and your tattoos are your life story, regardless of the individual meanings behind them. The type of tattoos you get reflect on who you are as a person, and the individual style that each artist has helped make your tattoos just that much more unique. Tattoos are literally a physical way to have your own personal and custom piece of art on your body that you get to have for the rest of your life!
Con: Getting a tattoo can be risky business
There are so many reasons that we emphasize getting art done by a certified tattoo artist and not going the cheap route, the two major reasons being health and quality. A certified artist, though more expensive than your friend tattooing you in a kitchen, can make sure that your tattoo is done in a hygienic fashion and up to all safety standards to make sure no bacteria or infections occur. A certified artist also helps to ensure the quality of the piece through its application, design and even healing.
Pro: Tattoos can stay with you forever
If you get tattoos for the right reasons, by the right artists, and with the care they need, then you get to wear an incredible and meaningful piece of artwork for the rest of your life.

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The Pros and Cons of Having Tattoos - Tattoo.com

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There's always a good and bad side to everything, tattoos included. Since tattooing has been associated with everything from high rankings in certain social statuses to a symbol of criminality, tattoos definitely have some serious pros and cons in modern times.

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Would you get tattoos all over your body? Why or why not?

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Would you get tattoos all over your body? Why or why not?