“A lot of people who have gotten tattoos at work, generally have to keep clothes off the tat so that it can heal and not be rubbed on. I’m getting my first tattoo soon but most likely I will get it on my chest or back, places I need to wear clothes on. Is the no clothes thing true? and if so how long do I have to keep it like that?” - HrtlessJekka

Question: Hi there, I have a question or two for you. I have 10 tattoos and they
have all been done by the same person. I am getting my 11th on Friday and
apparently she has switched to disposable needles, and they are
plastic….or something…. I am wondering what the difference is between
metal and plastic, other than the obvious. I was told that it hurts alot
more with a plastic one than with the normal needle. I would appreciate
anything you have for me. Thank you very much!!

Answer: Unless there is some new product out that I’ve never heard of, disposable
needles should still be metal. The disposable grip tubes are lexan
plastic, but not the needles. So, the pain should be no different. Plastic
would not be able to properly pierce the skin - I think someone has given
you some wrong information.

Let me know if I’M wrong! But I’ve never heard of plastic needles for tattooing.

At least five! Victor Rogers sent me this fantastic photo of his 5 tongue piercings done at Freaks in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve seen three done at once before, but this is a first for me. Anyone got a photo to beat it? If you’ve got a picture (of yourself!) with more than 5 tongue rings at once, send it along to me at tattoo.guide@about.com with your name and piercer’s information. Let’s see if we can get a little competition going here!

Note: When sending a photo, please use this one from Victor as an example - clear image, good size and great detail. This image was actually sent to me much larger and I was able to crop and resize it, which was great.

Although most piercings heal well without any major issues, sometimes they can lead to difficult and painful problems. If you’re having a problem you can’t identify or aren’t sure how to fix it, these articles may help you.

Migration and Rejection
If you’ve got a piercing that seems to have moved or shifted or is suddenly causing unexplained pain, it could be a migration or rejection issue. Find out how to determine what’s going on with your piercing and if there is any way to save it.

Infection, Growths, Bumps, Cysts and Keloids
A bump isn’t “just a bump” when it’s growing on or around a piercing. This article can help you identify what is causing the growth and how to deal with it.

Metal Hypersensitivity
If you’ve had your piercing for weeks or months and it just refuses to heal no matter what you do, it could be an allergic reaction to your body jewelry. Learn the differences between the different types of metals used to make body jewelry and find out what might be a better option for you.

An orthopedic patient awoke from her surgery to find a small heart shaped temporary tattoo on her tummy, just below her panty line. The surgeon says this is a regular thing he does to interject a little humor into a difficult situation and give his patients a reason to smile. The woman, however, was mortified by the “violation” and has sued the doctor for putting the tattoo on her without her permission.

Since my husband just had hip surgery, I asked him what he would have thought if he had awoken to find a temporary tattoo placed on his body near his nether-regions. He said he probably would have seen the humor in it and it wouldn’t have bothered him. I have to say I agree. I think it was a cute gesture and this woman shouldn’t be making such a big deal about it - especially to go so far as sue the guy. This is why the rest of us get lousy doctors who don’t enjoy their jobs anymore. What do you think? Comment below!

Other News This Week:

Jade Dragon Sued for Misspelled Tattoo - Again

Tattoos are appearing on everything from t-shirts to shoes, but department store fashion lines aren’t the only ones getting in on the action. The very artists who have made this artform so popular are contributing their status, names and art to create and endorse even more (and better) apparel and novelties. Instead of a shirt with a generic heart with wings designed by some unknown artist, now you can get a shirt featuring the work of some of the best tattoo artists in the world.

“When I first became familiar with tatoos, Retinol products were only available by prescription, so it never occurred to me to wonder if they were okay for tattoos. I have a new tattoo and my favorite lotion has some form of retinol in it, and it gave me pause. Is there any general school of thought about the use of retinoids on tattoos? And does the age of the tattoo make a difference?” - jzm

Note: This topic and others reside on the message board. Please post your comments there in order to contribute to the conversation.

“I got a new tattoo yesterday (my second) 6 years after my first. Alright, so, I know from reading here that plastic wrap is not good for a new tattoo, but my artist, and all artists in my city (very small country by the way) advise to do that, so I need to ask here. Is it alright to leave my tattoo uncovered? I don’t want it to get infected, but on the other hand, I know that plastic wrap is really bad. The thing is that I have a cat and a dog, who are always inside the house (my dog sleeps outside though), but I have cat and dog fur all over me all the time on my clothes, and I’m used to that, so if I leave it uncovered (it’s on my right shoulder blade), wouldn’t it get contaminated easily? And also what about clothes rubbing it? And my bra strap?
I did cover my tattoo with plastic yesterday after removing the bandage and this morning after showering, so do you think I should remove it and leave it alone?” - Estef

You think you have it rough because your boss makes you cover up your tattoos at work? You want to cry “discrimination” when your school makes you remove your piercings? Try living in Japan, where you can’t even enter the local gym or water park without hiding your ink.

Although many Japanese people get tattoos simply for decoration, just as in every other country in the world, Japan still takes a very antiquated view of tattoos and still associate them with the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Gyms require tattoos to be taped or wrapped and public bath houses ban those with the colorful body decoration. And now even amusement parks are blocking anyone trying to enter with exposed tattoos.

I really think it’s high time for Japan to join the 21st century and realize that not everyone wearing a picture on their body is a criminal. The rest of us can appreciate that we still have a lot more freedom to express ourselves with our art, even if we still have to cover up for work.

More News This Week:
Boy Burned by Black Henna Tattoo

NYC Opens First Tattoo Museum

Tattoo Shop Sign Stirs Controversy

Question: I just read your article about sexual abuse. A
similar thing happened to me as well, but it was a tattoo. A big one
and the abuse lasted for about 2 hours. I reported it to the police and they have pressed charges against the
man, but I have a question.

The thing that bugs me the most about this whole situation is that I
paid for it. Is there any way I can get any financial reimbursement? I
am 18 years old and my parents don’t know about the tattoo. I haven’t told them about the abuse either.

Also, I really appreciate the article you wrote. Although it was too
late for me when I read it, i know it would have helped greatly if I
had read it then.

Answer: I am really sorry about what happened in your situation. This kind of thing really makes me angry because that is not how most artists behave, but all it takes is one person and one disgusting act to blemish the entire industry. I’m glad to hear that you reported him to the police and pressed charges - that is probably the best course of action you have against him and hopefully he will serve time for it.

As far as financial recourse goes, I’m not a lawyer but I do advise you to contact one. I agree that having to pay for this abuse is just like rubbing salt in a wound. I don’t know how long it’s been since this happened or whether he was a scratcher working out of his home or if this happened in a tattoo shop. These things will matter when it comes to determining whether you have a legal case or not.

I also advise you to talk to your parents about this if you have a good relationship with them and trust them. If it were my daughter, I would certainly want to know and I would do everything within my power to help her recover emotionally and make sure the abuser pays for what he did. You shouldn’t have to go this alone and it will help you to have an adult on your side to help you through it. If not your parents, at least talk to someone you trust that can support you through this process.