Johnny Depp once said, “My body is my journal and my tattoos are my story.” Tattoos are becoming a popular phenomenon that is seen everywhere as a social norm. The modern world, particularly the contemporary Western world, is experiencing a renaissance of the art-form and body modification practice that is tattooing. Given its marked upsurge in popularity, different opinions have inevitably arisen regarding this phenomenon, mainly consisting of those who stand in favor of it and those in opposition. While there stand to be a few minor risks in obtaining one, tattoos represent an appreciation for individualism and art that any sensible member of present day society should respect. Therefore, there is an undeniable increase in the acceptance of tattoos nowadays; however, to tattoo or not to tattoo should lie entirely upon one’s self and not be an exhibit to the society.
Today’s youth are getting permanent tattoos to be “cool and trendy,” but are not considering the long-term effects. The minor risks that surround the practice of tattooing should be acknowledged and considered before the procedure, but should not completely discourage one from getting a tattoo. The biggest dangers surrounding tattoos stand to be medical. Many challengers claim that the risk of infection, mainly Hepatitis C and Hepatitis E, plagues the procedure and should scare one from receiving a tattoo, but in reality this is simply not the case. (Jagit Singh, 2013) It is true that unhygienic tattoo parlors