“I have no regrets of my tattoo. My dad owns a tattoo shop and it’s a pretty normal it’s just like any other job,” junior Vy Lam said.

Lam got her tatoo of a dragon, over the summer at her father’s tattoo shop.

“When he was doing my tattoo it hurt but it was a good type of pain It was a type of pain that you can handle,” Lam said.

“It took me months to think of the design for this tattoo. Overall it took an hour and a half to get the tattoo done.”

Today, tattoos can be found on any part of the body on millions of people. Virginia law states that if a person is 16 years old, they are allowed to get a tattoo with a parent consent or on their own if they are 18. 

  “I got my tattoos at Patriot Ink and if you’re under 18, you have to make sure to have  a consent from a parent of legal guardian. My advice for anyone interested in getting a tattoo is to get something that is meaningful to you, not just something that looks cool,” senior Cody Reagan said.

Tattoos can be done in tattoo parlors where you get professional assistance. It’s very important to understand long term effects when getting a tattoo because they are permanent.

The word “tattoo” originated from the Tahitian term “tatua” which translates to mark. In the late 1700’s, tattoos were considered dangerous and unacceptable in society. Over time, they began to develop as ways of showing self-expression and identification of a person’s body.

In the 20th century, tattoos became affiliated with people outside of ordinary society such as criminals, military and sailors in order to express themselves. However, in the 21st century, tattoos were starting to be considered art and different designs were developing.

According to an FDA fact sheet, colored ink contains heavy metals that can cause allergic reactions or diseases. The PAH’s in ink include benzo(a)pyrene that has been linked to skin cancer in oil workers.

“Since I am 18 there’s no parent signature needed, just forms saying you are aware of the circumstances of getting a tattoo; the danger of infection, the permanency of a tattoo and the effects of improper care, ” senior Bennett Collins said.

As you get older, tattoos begin to fade, but the ink does not just disappear. According to the FDA, yellow ink can be broken down by the body’s enzymes or sunlight and can be spread throughout the body.

“My advice for anyone getting a tattoo is make sure you’re getting quality work. A poorly done tattoo is worse than no tattoo, ” Collins said.

Even though tattoos are permanent, people get themselves inked based off of religious reasons, fashion, affiliations, expressions, memories, among many other personal decisions. If a person experiences an event that triggers strong emotions, it can be a reason to get that particular moment tattooed to always remember.

According to the American Red Cross organization you must wait 12 months after receiving a tattoo in order to donate blood if the tattoo was conducted in a state that does not control tattoo facilities.

There are however limitations to this rule such as if the states using sterile needles and ink is applied is acceptable. Fourty out of the 50 states currently regulate tattoo facilities.

There are ways of removing the permanent ink with the use of laser surgery. This however is highly costly and time consuming.

Most dermatologist surgeons say that removing a tattoo is not entirely possible. This is when the importance of the quality of the artist is implemented.  Tattoos with more professional doing are more likely to be removed with more accuracy due to the professional impact of the ink pigments with the skin.

Many common tattoos among teenagers are the infinity symbol, flower ‘s and the dream catchers.

Many celebrity influences have fed into the demand for these common tattoos.

It’s important to think of the long term effects of getting a tattoo before getting it done .