Explore Prior To Piercing and Tattooing

By: Dennis Wendo

Worth Noting:

• Salabrasion consists of the abrasion of the epidermis and dermis with a salt-based solution. Dermabrasionis similar except it uses a mechanical method that consists of the abrasion of the epidermis and dermis with a rotating mechanical instrument. Both processes are very painful and cause visible long-term damage to the epidermis.
• Skin excision involves the surgical removal of the tattooed skin. It leaves a scar, depending on the size of the tattoo. Subcutaneous injections, involves injecting solutions under the skin, with the intent of leaching out the tattoo ink. These solutions often have an effect on the epidermis and dermis and leave long-term scars or burn-like marks.

Fashion is a less-enduring way of self-expression. A tattoo is an immutable form of fashion, it entails rupturing the skin with a needle to insert indelible colors that leave lifelong marks. Variantly, tattoos hold rich historical and cultural gravity on the body, conveying personal, social and spiritual connotations.

Fashion and tattoos are intrinsically linked and have an almost magnetic appeal to many teens. By and large teens and their parents are often at odds over the acquisition of bodily decorations. For a teen, piercing or tattooing is personal adornment and beautification. To parents it is a battleground; they construe them as oppositional and enraging affronts to their authority.

Religious standpoints on tattooing encompass diverse attitudes within different religious traditions. Interpretations of tattooing vary widely, from acceptance and endorsement to strict prohibitions associating it with the desecration of the sacred body. For instance, in Christianity, opinions range from discouragement based on the sanctity of the body as a temple. Judaism prohibits tattooing as self-mutilation. Islam discourages tattoos as altering the natural state of the body.

Youngsters get enticed to tattoos through peer pressure, media influence or for personal expression.  Presently,the trend is gradually on reverse with the trade of tattoo removal scaling up within cities and towns in the country. Complete tattoo removal is difficult, skin colour variation always remains, regardless of the specific method used.

Exceptionally, the process, cost and duration of removing tattoos is sturdy, agonizing, expensive and time consuming. There is a need to delve deeper and analyse the pros and cons of tattooing before embracing.

Disciplined forces such as national youth service, police, prisons and military do not entertain a prospective recruit bearing a tattoo. Majority of employers have followed suit and do not offer opportunities to candidates harbouring indelible body marks or designs, despite having the required qualifications. Such scenarios end up terminating careers and yield frustration to parents who have worked hard and invested in educating their children. Instances of stress and depression have been witnessed on teens that fail to secure opportunities because of tattoos.  Many resolve into drug and substance abuse and criminal activities to vent anger and make ends meet.

Strikingly, it takes 6 to 10 sessions, scheduled 6 to 8 weeks apart to 98 percent remove a tattoo. The length of time depends on various individual factors such as skin tone, age, size of tattoo and location, ink types and depth, aftercare, sun exposure and immune health. Common techniques used to remove tattoos include, salabrasion and dermabrasion, skin excision, subcutaneous injections of solutions, tattoo removal cream and laser surgery.

Salabrasion consists of the abrasion of the epidermis and dermis with a salt-based solution. Dermabrasion is similar except it uses a mechanical method that consists of the abrasion of the epidermis and dermis with a rotating mechanical instrument. Both processes are very painful and cause visible long-term damage to the epidermis.

Skin excision involves the surgical removal of the tattooed skin. It leaves a scar, depending on the size of the tattoo. Subcutaneous injections, involves injecting  solutions under the skin, with the intent of leaching out the tattoo ink. These solutions often have an effect on the epidermis and dermis and leave long-term scars or burn-like marks.

A tattoo removal cream is painless and attractive due to its low cost and perceived ease of use. However, it remains extremely difficult to remove ink from the dermis with a cream.  Laser surgery involves releasing a single powerful pulse using a special type of laser.

As we admire and cuddle fashion, it remains key to understand threats that come along with it. Tattooing is a process that needs experts on initiating and clearing. This is not the case; quacks have taken advantage of the situations and are minting cash by offering these services to the many gullible youths.

The re-use of needles on various clients has largely contributed to the re-infection of HIV/AIDS to the consumers. Able youths have lost lifelong opportunities by virtue of having these body marks that are unacceptable by different employers and forces. They have been exposed to health risks, permanent deformities, severe illness, and deaths.

In January, 2020, 10 students of St. Mary’s Boys Secondary School in Nyeri were suspended for having tattoos. There is a need to have legal provisions  to regulate this emerging  trend as well as increased  campaign awareness in our learning institutions championed by teachers, lecturers, student leaders and associations, media, inter-faith based organizations, civil societies  as well as at family level units on the effects of tattoos.

Dennis Wendo

Founder- Integrated Development Network

Email: dambehi@gmail.com