Top 4 Tattoo Fails

The following top 5 tattoo fails prove you should really think before you ink a permanent mark on your body. From bad meanings to scratcher skills, the following tattoos are all strange and bad in their own unique way. Before you opt for body art, put a little thought into your tattoo pieces. Don't go to a shop drunk, under the influence, or after a bad break-up just to feed a fix. Remember, tattoos can also be addictive. Once you have one, you'll understand just how easy it is to want another. Tattoos tell a story, and no matter how good or bad, they entice you to turn the page and keep telling it. The following top 5 tattoo fails should have never made it past the rough draft of the design process. Ever. These are just a few small examples of what can happen when you fail to think before you ink. Don't be left with body art that needs to be removed or covered. Be smart and plan your design with diligence and find an artist that can bring a tasteful and well thought design to life. Your body deserves a thoughtful and professional tattoo.

1. Fashion Brands

Image courtesy Paul H. @ Flickr

Fashion brands are a tattoo don't! If you must wear a logo, then spend your money on the clothing or the bags, not on permanent body art. This Louis Vuitton print, while classic and stately in design, just doesn't work on anything but waterproof canvas.

2. Car Brands

Image Courtesy Daveotter@Flickr

Put it this way, unless you invented the wheel, try not to wear the tattoo. This Honda brand tattoo is old and faded, but still holds some sentimental value, as most Hondas do. Placed in such a prominent area, this tattoo could be worse. It really could. It could be a Pontiac, or a Saturn and the list could go on. Think twice before you get any sort of name tattoo.

3. Name Tattoos

Inage courtesy teamjimmyjoe

Name tattoos are also a bit of a risk, so why keep making them repeatedly multiple times across your body? This guy obviously likes to go by the name Mr. Ice, and he's even bone-chilling ready to prove it to ya. But who cares really? Do you?

4. Face Tattoos

Image courtesy Jennifer Cochren@ Flickr

Let's face it. Nobody really knows what this tattoo is supposed to mean. It looks like maybe this guy is into metaphysical beings, but I'm not so sure. It could be an alien life form, or a simple depiction of the human body in a natural and relaxed state. Either way, he shall live the rest of his life with people squinting, tilting their heads in disbelief with their mouths opened, first in amazement and then in concern, rather than checking out his unique green eyes. Epic fail. Why on earth did this man tattoo this design on his face?

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Inked and Regretful Removing Tattoos

That tattoo on your arm of a former flame the one that seemed like a great idea years ago is kind of embarrassing today. And your spouse is not too crazy about it either.

You may not know that FDA considers the inks used in tattoos to be cosmetics, and the agency takes action to protect consumers when safety issues arise related to the inks.

At the other end of the tattoo process, FDA also regulates laser devices used to remove tattoos.

FDA has cleared for marketing several types of lasers as light-based, prescription devices for tattoo lightening or removal. A Massachusetts company recently received FDA clearance to market its laser workstation for the removal of tattoos and benign skin lesions.

According to a poll conducted in January 2012 by pollster Harris Interactive, 1 in 8 (14%) of the 21% of American adults who have tattoos regret getting one. And the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) reports that in 2011, its doctors performed nearly 100,000 tattoo removal procedures, up from the 86,000 performed in 2010.

Unfortunately, removing a tattoo is not as simple as changing your mind.

Artists create tattoos by using an electrically powered machine that moves a needle up and down to inject ink into the skin, penetrating the epidermis, or outer layer, and depositing a drop of ink into the dermis, the second layer. The cells of the dermis are more stable compared with those of the epidermis, so the ink will mostly stay in place for a person’s lifetime. Tattoos are meant to be permanent.

An effective and safe way to remove tattoos is through laser surgery, performed by a dermatologist who specializes in tattoo removal, says FDA's Mehmet Kosoglu, Ph.D., who reviews applications for marketing clearances of laser-devices.

Lasers Used for Decades

"Laser" stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Kosoglu says that pulsed lasers, which emit concentrated light energy in short bursts, or pulses, have been used to remove tattoos for more than 20 years.

However, it can be a painstaking process. "Complete removal, with no scarring, is sometimes not possible," Kosoglu notes.

FDA clearance means this method for removing tattoos complies with agency requirements for safety and effectiveness, according to FDA dermatologist Markham Luke, M.D. Other methods include dermabrasion—actually "sanding" away the top layer of skin—and excision—cutting away the area of the tattoo and then sewing the skin back together.

There are also do-it-yourself tattoo removal ointments and creams that you can buy online. "FDA has not approved them, and is not aware of any clinical evidence that they work," says Luke. In addition, Luke says that tattoo removal ointments and creams may cause unexpected reactions, such as rashes, burning, scarring, or changes in skin pigmentation in the process.

How Does It Work?

With laser removal, pulses of high-intensity laser energy pass through the epidermis and are selectively absorbed by the tattoo pigment. The laser breaks the pigment into smaller particles, which may be metabolized or excreted by the body, or transported to and stored in lymph nodes or other tissues, Kosoglu explains.

The type of laser used to remove a tattoo depends on the tattoo's pigment colors, he adds. Because every color of ink absorbs different wavelengths of light, multi-colored tattoos may require the use of multiple lasers. Lighter colors such as green, red, and yellow are the hardest colors to remove, while blue and black are the easiest.

Does It Hurt?

"That depends on a person’s pain threshold," Kosoglu says. Some people compare the sensation of laser removal to being spattered with drops of hot bacon grease or snapping a thin rubber band against the skin. A trained dermatologist will be able to adjust the treatment to the patient’s comfort level.

Generally speaking, just one laser treatment won't do the trick. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the procedure requires multiple treatments (typically six to 10) depending on a tattoo's size and colors, and requires a few weeks of healing time between procedures. Some side effects may include pinpoint bleeding, redness, or soreness, none of which should last for long.

Luke says that these laser devices are cleared for use by, or under the supervision of, a health care professional. The removal procedure requires using the correct type of laser, understanding the reaction of tissue to laser, and knowing how to treat the area after the procedure.

"If you have any concerns about having a tattoo removed, it's a good idea to consult your dermatologist, who is knowledgeable about laser treatments," Luke concludes.

The ASDS has a list of dermatological surgeons who specialize in tattoo removal.

Consumers are asked to report adverse (negative) reactions from tattoos, as well as problems with tattoo removal, to FDA’s MedWatch

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