Piercing

Body Piercing Guide: Nipple Piercings, Labrets & Lowbrets

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:52:21 +0000

Two new pages have been created for the Body Piercing Guide. The nipple piercing page advises both men and women about the procedure and risk factors associated with piercing this debated “erogenous zone.” The labret/lowbret guide page explains the difference between the two and what type of people aren’t good candidates for these piercings.

Nipple Piercing GuideLabret Piercing Guide Other Piercing Guide Pages: TongueBelly ButtonNostrilUpper & Lower LipSternumVampire BiteSnake BitesTongue FrenulumSmileyFrownyMadisonMedusaCorset PiercingsDermal Anchors/ImplantsEyebrowMonroe The guide isn’t finished yet - more pages to come soon!

In the News: SC Tattooer Linked to 2 Staph Cases

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:52:07 +0000

2 Confirmed Staph Infection Cases From Illegal Tattooer
A man named Jesus Lopez, who allegedly tattooed at least 5 underage people without parental consent, is being sought by authorities in connection with at least two known cases of staph infection. In the state of South Carolina, you’re considered “underage” for a tattoo if you’re under 21, which is kind of ridiculous (Imagine a 20 year-old in the Army, fighting for their country, having to ask Mommy and Daddy if they can have a tattoo?) but, the law is the law. The news article doesn’t specify what ages the “victims” were, but Lopez was apparently using dirty equipment and Staph could be the least of their worries. Authorities believe he attended several teen parties in which he doled out the ink, so who knows how many people he may have infected. They’re asking for anyone who knows Lopez to come forward and, if they were tattooed by him, to be tested for blood borne diseases.

Three Men Charged in Murder of CO Tattoo Artist

Former Police Officer Charged In Tattoo Shop Attack

Forum Discussion: Tattoos and Hepatitis C

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:46:51 +0000

Evalore writes: “Hi, I have a question. I am 30 years old and 3 years ago I was diagnosed with hep c. I am in good health despite having it. My question is would a tattoo artist tattoo someone who has hep c? It is difficult to tell people I have hep c, but I know I have to tell any tattoo artist that would be potentially tattooing me. I have never had a tattoo and would really like to get one.”

Note: If you comment below, please be aware that you are not on the forum. If you wish to join in on the forum discussion, please click the title link above.

In the News

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:46:40 +0000

It’s been such a busy week, it’s almost difficult to pick one story to highlight. The one that seems to be getting the most media attention, however, is the guy from Ohio who - for reasons apparently only known to himself, at least for now - tattooed the bum of a one-year-old girl with a tiny letter “A.” It’s not his kid, the mother claims she never gave him permission to do it, but the guy’s grandmother says the mother was present during the tattooing. Which would mean the grandmother was present during the tattooing as well, and I guess none of them have any sense. Good grief.

But that story really shouldn’t overshadow the fact that one tattoo shop owner was shot and killed outside his own studio, and another Australian tattoo shop has burned down. The bikie gangs down under are under suspicion for this one after all the other tattoo shops they’ve bullied, terrorized, and burned. I would hate to be a tattoo artist in Australia - until they get the bikie gangs under control, it’s a risky profession. I wish them all luck.

Man Arrested for Tattooing Baby’s Bum

Suspicious Fire Burns Down AU Tattoo Shop

Shop Owner Accused, Claims He Was Confused

CT Tattoo Shop Owner Shot, Killed

Calgary Health Dep’t Closes Several Home-Based Tattoo “Shops”

Convention Calendar Updated - 12 New Events

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:08:22 +0000

It really is amazing how many tattoo events happen around the world each year, and it’s great to see that many of them have been around for years and are still going strong. That is living proof that our industry is strong and that the general public has enough interest in body art to keep these shows going year after year. Twelve new events have been added to the calendar, including one already scheduled for 2011 - now that’s planning ahead!

Have you ever been to a tattoo convention? Where have you attended a show and what did you like best about it? Comment below!

News: Tattoo Shop Owner Dead In Apparent Murder/Suicide

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:07:51 +0000

Michael Mitzuk, owner of Mitzy’s Tattoos in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was found dead in his home along with his wife, Sarah, who was pregnant. Initial medical reports say that he killed his wife and then himself, both while their four-year-old son was in the home. It’s so sad and from everything I’m reading about the couple, they were well-liked and Michael never gave any indication that he was internally disturbed. I’m sure that this comes as a great shock to the clients and friends of Mitzy’s Tattoos. My condolences go out to all of you as well as the family.

Reader Mail: Healing Tattoo is Peeling, Looks Faded

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:01:50 +0000

Question: “I recently got my first tattoo on January 16, 2010 and I went large. My tattoo was placed on my lower back. It is a butterfly that is colored with purple and blues. It has not been a week yet and since I cannot see it I have my son looking at the progress. He tells me that the color is fading and some parts of my skin is coming off; is this normal?” - Gloria

Answer: Yes, what you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. When you get tattooed, the puncturing of the skin with the needles kills those top few layers of skin cells. When skin cells are live, they’re translucent, but when they die they turn white. So, right now you’re seeing your tattoo through dead, white skin cells, which is kind of like looking out your windshield when it’s covered with snow. Your body will regenerate those cells, and as that happens the old, dead ones will slough off - that’s the peeling you’re experiencing. It takes approximately three months to completely regenerate those cells, but at least all of the dead ones should be gone after two or three weeks, and then you’ll be able to see just how bright your tattoo is actually going to be. With a large tattoo like this (which looks beautiful, by the way) it may need a touch-up here and there if the color didn’t fill the areas completely. Most shops offer a free touch-up within a certain amount of time after getting a tattoo - contact your artist to see what their policies are.

In the News: Fire, Shooting, and Illegal Tattooing

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:01:34 +0000

It’s been a busy week; one tattoo shop caught fire and another had a shoot-off while three guys (two different cases) were all being charged for tattooing minors. The one guy in Connecticut apparently had been hanging around outside a high school, offering tattoos for forty bucks to any kid that wanted one - and then proceeded to reuse needles from one “client” to the next.

GA: Fire at Ghost Town Tattoo Shop

MO: Shooting Inside St. Louis Tattoo Shop

CT: Dad of Teen Has Tattooer Arrested

CA: New Judge Ups Charges Against Men for Tattooing 7 Year-Old

New Show & Tell: Web of Life Backpiece Tattoo

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:08:22 +0000

Read the story of how this collector combined aspects of Chinese medicine and earth’s five main elements to create a tattoo that shares her belief that all things are connected in a delicate yet complex web.

The Show & Tell feature is designed to allow you to share your favorite tattoo with the world! Tell us your story by submitting it through the entry form.

Old Piercing Hurts Like New

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:08:06 +0000

So, a couple of days ago my vertical labret piercing, which is almost two years old, felt a little sore. The next day, it was swollen and crusting and hurt like I had just gotten it done. Sometimes this happens with well established piercings; an irritant gets inside the fistula and the next thing you know it’s like a fresh piercing wound. (In my case, I’m guessing it was the Blistex I was using to heal my severely chapped lips.) If this happens to you, don’t panic and do not remove the jewelry. If you take the jewelry out and you have an infection growing, the fistula could close and trap the infection inside, which can lead to much bigger problems.

All you need to do is go back to square one - start caring for it as if it were a new piercing. Cleansing twice a day and doing one or two sea salt soaks a day for a couple of weeks until the problem clears itself up. You also want to avoid any irritants - in my case, I’m keeping makeup and lip treatments off my lips until it’s better, and will probably stay away from Blistex indefinitely. It’s annoying, yes, and not fun to go through new piercing pain all over again, but it’s better than losing it altogether.