One of the oldest forms of art, tattooing, has become as popular with college students as backpacks -- at least according to some University of Memphis students.
Several students said they have tattoos or know other students who do.
"I really like my tattoo, and I am getting another one, but the meaning must be significant," said Brian Rogers, a senior communications major who sports a large Celtic cross on his left arm. "My ex-girlfriend convinced me it was a good thing to do, and it was a good bonding time with my mom."
"A lot of people have them that you don't think would," said Natasha Batiwalla, a sophomore education major. "For some people, it's just a sign of something special."
Other students, though, said they don't see the value of tattoos.
"You wouldn't want graffiti on a monument, so why would you want graffiti on your body?" senior education major Anne Marie Scott asked.
Lauren Isaacman, senior communications major, said, "I think tattoos are fine, but I would never get one because they are too permanent."
While reasons for getting tattoos may have changed over the years, there is extensive evidence that tattooing has been around for many centuries.
In 1991, a man who had been preserved by ice for 5,000 years on a mountain between Austria and Italy, was discovered. He had tattoos on his legs, which were thought to be applied for therapeutic reasons. Tattooing instruments have also been found dating back to the Upper Paleolithic Period (10,000 BC to 38,000 BC).
In America, records of tattoos have been found in ship's logs, letters and diaries since the early part of the 19th century.
The reason people get tattoos has been argued for centuries. Some professionals say members of some cultures and religions get tattoos for their beliefs, while others say people get tattoos out of vanity.
Dermatologists in the Memphis area said they don't recommend tattoos because they are so permanent and hard to remove.
"It's up to the person, but think long and hard before putting a permanent mark on the body," advised Pam Naquin, a nurse with Dermatology East.
Gregory Laurence, a surgery specialist, said tattoos are as popular as ever. He also pointed out tattoos have no long-term health effects.
"I am pretty open-minded and flexible," Laurence said. "I hear of patients with regrets about tattoos, but I am surprised by the number of patients without regrets."
Tattoo removal specialist Thomas Chu said the cost of removing a tattoo depends on the color and size of the art. The removal takes at least four to six sessions, he said.
Chu said since removing a tattoo without using any painkillers would feel like hot grease on the skin, he uses a topical numbing cream or numbing shots to ease the pain. Most of Chu's patients, he said, are women between the ages of 18 and 50.
"The most common reason people have tattoos removed has to do with entering the work force or changing careers," Chu said.
Several tattoo artists from local shops agreed the most popular tattoos for men are tribals, skulls and Chinese or Japanese characters. The most common tattoos for women are butterflies and flowers.
Local tattoo shops:
- Trilogy: 530 S. Highland St.
- Memphis Tattoo Company: 3387 Summer Ave.
- Rocky's Tattooing & Company: 3609 Park Ave.
- Underground Art Inc.: 2287 Young Ave.
- Beale Street Tattoos Inc.: 333 Beale St.
Tattoo removal:
- Dermatology East: 1335 Cordova Cove
- Laser Tattoo Removal and Lightening: 6825 Winchester Road
- Wellness Image Center: 5101 Sanderlin Ave.
