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“Tattoos,” also known as body art or modification, have steadily gained popularity over the most recent years. The modernization of tattoo tools have made the process of tattooing less painful, and less time-consuming. The popularity of tattoos, has provided a gateway for tattoo parlors to open up in respectable venues. No longer is there a need to go into a dark back alley or the basement of some obscure building to get a tattoo. People of all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, are finding themselves drawn into the “art” of permanently painting the human body. Most tattoos consist of pictures and symbols representing various aspects of life events and are strategically placed on various parts of the body, some to be hidden and some in plain view. One has to wonder if society’s views on the art of tattooing are growing with the popularity. Whatever the reasoning is, it is growing popularity. The human body has become a canvas to express oneself image, or to record one’s life. Kirby, D. (November 2006). Tattoos are a form of self-expression for many, and simply art for others. Many people have had themselves tattooed to mark the death of a loved one, or to display the love one feels for another. Having a tattoo is something you are going to have for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure that you have chosen something you want to stay with you forever. The modernization of tattoo tools have made the process of tattooing less painful, less time –consuming, and with much better results than the crude tools that were previously used. Tattooing is actually a puncture wound made deep within the skin and filled with ink. It is done by using an electrically powered tattoo machine that sounds much like a dentil drill, by penetrating the skin with a needle. Using a foot pedal, (much like a sewing machine foot pedal) they can control the vertical movement of the needle as it releases ink into the skin area. The tattoo machine moves a needle into the skin between 50 to 3000 times a minute. Each time it punctures the skin, it releases ink into the skin. They don’t just puncture through the first layer of skin, which is called the epidermis. The reason behind that is because the epidermis is the top layer of skin that we shed and produce continually throughout our lives. The ink is injected into the second layer of our skin called the dermis, where it is very stable and where the tattoos will permanently stay. The pain thresh hold I knew was going to be intense. According to the information I had researched, if you feel like you cannot with stand the pain of getting a tattoo, or if you have any medical problems such as allergies, heart disease, diabetes, or any other health issues that may be a concern, it is recommended to consult your physician, before you decide to proceed with the procedure. The tattooing sterilization procedure has come a long way. With today’s technology, it is safer, if done properly. If you are unsure about getting a tattoo, doing some research about them and the shop you are going to get it done at is most highly recommended. To eliminate the possibility of infection and disease, the sterilization and prep work for giving a tattoo is very important. Doctors warn people that if tattoo equipment is not sterilized properly, that the transfer of infectious organisms such as HepB, C, tuberculosis, and even syphilis can occur. Tattoo artists are supposed to use disposable materials, sterilization, hand sanitation to protect themselves and their clients. Most tattoo materials come in a single use sterile package, which the tattoo artist will open in front of the client before they begin their work. Equipment materials that are useable are sterilized before each use with a sterilization method called autoclave. Autoclave is a heat/steam/pressure unit that runs a 55 minute cycle from a cold start, and it kills every organism on the equipment. Before it gets sterilized, the tattoo artist cleans the equipment and puts it in a special pouch that has an indicator strip on the front of it. When that indicator strip changes color, then you know that the sterilization process has been done successfully. Before the process a start, the artists makes sure that the area where the tattoo is going to be put at is cleaned and disinfected. The artists should put on a fresh pair of gloves before starting anything. The artists should explain the whole process of sterilization, as he opens a single-use sterilization kit. Using the tattoo machine, the artists will then begin drawing the outline of the tattoo you have chosen underneath your skin. Once the outline is done, it will be cleaned with antibacterial soap and water. Sterilized thicker needles will be put into the tattoo machine and the shading process will begin. Once the shading process is done, the color will be injected. Each bottle of ink being used should be a new one and opened up in front of the client. When the artists are finished with the drawing of the tattoo, any excess blood will be removed with a sterile cloth and disposed of properly. The new tattoo will be cleaned once again, and a bandage will be put on it. A tattoo has to be treated like a fresh wound, because that is really what it is. For at least the next 24 hours, it is advisable to keep the bandage on. Avoid picking at the scabs, and wash it with antibacterial soap to avoid getting any kind of infection. It is recommended to apply antibiotic ointment on it. Apply an ice pack to the tattoo if you happen to see any swelling or redness. Radulescu, A. (2006, February 13). Everything You Need to Know About Tattoos. Retrieved December 14, 2009, from http://ezinearticles.com/'Everything-¬You-¬Need-¬to-¬Know-¬About-¬Tattoos&id=144602 What are the Risks' (The Nemours Foundation, April 2009). Wilson, Tracy V. “How Tattoos Work.” 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. http://health.howstuffworks.com/tattoo.htm 14 December 2009