Tattoo is a form of body modification created by introducing indelible ink into the skin layer of the dermis in order to change its pigment. For the first time, the word "tattoo" is mentioned in the logbook of Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820), a naturalist who sailed on board the ship James Cook "Endeavor." He wrote: “I want to mention the way they apply indelible marks on their body - each one is marked according to its own mores and inclinations.” Thus, the word “tattoo” came to Europe when James Cook returned from his expedition to Tahiti and New Zealand by publishing a magazine mentioning a process called “tatau” (before that he was described with such words as “scarring” or “drawing” ) Unlike the modern process of drawing in specialized salons, tattoos of Maori (a tribe living in New Zealand) are still applied to the skin as a sacred rite. As a rule, they are spiral lines on different parts of the body in men and women, and are performed using charcoal and a stick to incise the skin.
Types of tattoos and their meaning
Conditionally, 5 types of tattoos can be distinguished:
- Traumatic, or so-called “natural tattoos,” resulting from road accidents , ink pen injuries, etc.
- Amateur.
- Professional.
- Cosmetic types of tattoos, known as “permanent makeup”.
- Medical tattoos.
It is known that workers in coal mines may have specific marks due to the ingress of coal dust into wounds. It can also occur under the influence of black powder or in cases where substances like asphalt get under the skin. As a rule, traumatic tattoos are difficult to remove, as they can spread to several layers of the skin, and discoloration and scars are inevitable.
Amateur and professional types of tattoos can be part of the rite of passage, indicate status, be symbols of religious affiliation, courage, love, serve to enhance sexual attractiveness, play the role of amulets and talismans, applied to the skin as a punishment, and so on.
The symbolism and purpose of tattoos varies by location and culture. A tattoo can show feelings about relatives (usually a mother or child) or loved ones.
Today, a drawing is often applied for decorative, cosmetic, commemorative, religious or magical purposes, as well as to identify one's belonging to groups, including criminal groups.
The cosmetic surgery industry, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the popularity of this phenomenon. Cosmetic tattoos are used as makeup or to neutralize skin pigmentation disorders.
Permanent makeup includes tattooing of eyebrows, lips, eyes and even moles.
Medical types of tattoos provide accuracy in certain types of operations and therapies.
Sometimes they are used to apply some important information about the carrier (blood type, state of health, etc.).
In addition, flesh-colored tattoos can be applied to hide vitiligo, a violation of pigmentation of the skin.