Microdermal Piercings

         Something new in the piercing world and is gaining more popularity among teens is the microdermal piercing also known as dermal anchoring or microdermal transplant. It is a semi-permanent piercing that is a fashion statement for most. It’s great because it can be done just about anywhere on the body and it can be worn by itself, in a pattern, or even incorporated into a tattoo.

 

 All photos from : tattoo lou's

          The microdermal jewelry comes in two parts: the anchor and the stud. To insert the jewelry, the skin is first sterilized and then the piercer marks the location of the piercing with a surgical ink. A dermal punch is then used to remove tissue underneath the skin and then forceps are used to insert the anchor under the skin, any blood from the piercing site is removed with a Q-tip. It is normal for the piercing to bleed a little in the first few minutes to an hour after it is initially pierced. A band-aid is then applied to the piercing to keep bacteria and dirt from entering. To see a more thorough step by step and more images, click here.

          Microdermals take around 4-12 weeks to heal and is cleaned like most other piercings. It is best to clean it with anti-bacterial soap, or clean/ soak it in saltwater solution using non-iodized sea salt.

          Although Microdermal piercings seem really cool, there are some downsides. First, because some tissue is taken out in the process, it is slightly more painful that regular piercings. Second, there is always a chance of rejection with piercings, with the body trying to protect itself and pushing out the piercing. With a microdermal piercing, rejection can cause permanent scaring in the location of the piercing. However, there is only a 2% rejection rate when it comes to microdermals, which is good. Third, because the piercing is underneath the skin, it is difficult to remove. A scalpel must be used to cut the skin open a little in order to remove the anchor which is painful and it’s best to go to a professional when it comes to the removal of a microdermal piercing to be sure that it’s taken out correctly and with a minimum amount of scarring.

          I think that microdermal piercings are pretty cool but I don’t think they’re for me. It’s seems quite painful and it’s pretty permanent once you get it so it’s kind of a commitment once you have one. But if you are interested in getting one, ask around, do some research and be sure to go to a professional.

 

 

 

"Microdermal Piercing - Types, Locations, Risks, Infection, Removal." Microdermal Piercing - Types, Locations, Risks, Infection, Removal. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. http://howshealth.com/microdermal-piercing-types-locations-kit-risks-infection-removal/.

"Â ." Recent Health Articles Microdermal Piercing Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. http://www.hxbenefit.com/microdermal-piercing.html.

Kumari, Kalpana. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 13 Apr. 2010. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/microdermal-piercing.html.

"Long Islands Best Tattoo Shop:." Long Island Microdermal Piercings. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. http://www.tattoolous.com/microdermal-piercings.html.

 

Black Light Tattoos

                     Photo Credit: Amanda Burns

     No, this picture is not an x-ray, it's a black light tattoo. It's a new advancement in the tattoo world and it's pretty cool. Black light tattoos uses special UV reactive ink that allows it to glow under UV/black lights. They are not to be confused with glow-in-the-dark tattoos which do not currently exist. They have to be under black light to be seen. They are really cool and impressive, but also fairly new, and common among new things, have some downsides.

     First off, it's not so easy to find a tattoo artist who's willing to do a black light tattoos because not everyone think they are safe, which leads to not all tattoo artists having the supplies. Black light tattoos require UV reactive inks and some include Everglow, a paint not safe for humans, or phosporous and carcinogens, chemicals that are also not safe to humans. At the moment, the safest black light tattoo ink in the market is Chameleon black light tattoo ink.

     Second, there have been a few complications reported with black light tattoos. Because there are more chemicals in it, there is a higher risk of your body rejecting it and it can cause itchiness and rashes. Though it is meant to be invisible under normal light, there might be visible scarring depending on the artist who does the tattoo. There are also others who report that their black light tattoo has turned a brownish color over time.

     I think that black light tattoos are really cool but there's no denying that it's not completely safe. If you're interested and determined on getting one, do your research, and go to an experienced tattoo artist. Also inquire about the inks they use and make sure it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals. Better yet, wait a few years. New things emerge all the time, I'm sure they'll figure out a way to make it safer in a few years' time.

If you want to see more photos, check out this blog I found:

http://blacklighttattoos.blogspot.com/

Torim. "Black Light Tattoos." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"Black Light Ink Tattoo Pictures, Health, & Designs." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
    

The Art of Gauging

     Lke tattoos, gauging (also know as ear stretching), could be dated back to Otzi, an Iceman who died around 3300 B.C, and whose body was found in 1991 with tattoos and gauges. Ear stretching is also something that has been long practiced in some ancient tribes in Africa and other parts of the world. In the Mursi Tribe in Ethiopia, having stretched ears and lips meant that a female has reached a certain point of maturity. In some Asian tribes, it was seen as a way for women to enhance their beauty.

     There are several ways to stretch the ears and achieve the desired size. In the past, one way was to use weights. Large weighted earings were used to stretch the lobes. This is not something that is commonly used in modern day practice. The most common way today is by tapering, pushing a rod that is bigger on one end through the earlobe to stretch it. There is also dead stretching, where a big piece of jewelry is simply forced through the piercing, but can lead to tearing of the flesh. Another way is to use a scalpel to cut around the existing piercing so that its diameter could be expanded. Others also opt for silicone plugs, soft plugs that can be folded and inserted into the piercing and once inside, they expand and stretch the ear lobe.

     Just like with tattoos and piercings, gauging has become more common in this day and age and though there are not many statistics, "there is extensive anecdotal evidence that ear stretching is on the rise" (McClatchey). There are many popular artists wearing them such as rapper Travie Mccoy and singer Adam Lambert. As teens see their favorite artists with stretched ears, they become intrigued and some follow suit. DIY kits have become more widely available and there's a great variety of jewelry to choose from.

     Gauges has been seen on catwalks and on celebrities. It's not just for hippies, punks or for the rock crowd. It can suit anyone from a girly girl to a grown man. It has become more mainstream in the past decade and though there are those who might find it scary or even disgusting, for those who have it, it is "a thing of beauty"(McClatchey).



McClatchey, Caroline. "Ear Stretching: Why Is Lobe 'gauging' Growing in Popularity?" BBC News. BBC, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

"The History, Method, and Warnings of Ear Gauging." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Mohan, Rohini. Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 30 May 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

My body is a journal in a way. It's like what sailors used to do, where every tattoo meant something, a specific time in your life when you make a mark on yourself, whether you do it yourself with a knife or with a professional tattoo artist.
                                                                                         ~Johnny Depp




"Quotations about Tattoos." Welcome to the Quote Garden. N.p., 14 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Feb. 2013. <http://www.quotegarden.com/tattoo.html>.