Non sterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases, such as hepatitis. The risk of infection is the reason the American Association of Blood Banks requires a one-year wait between getting a tattoo and donating blood. It is extremely important to make sure that all tattooing equipment is clean and sterilized before use. Even if the needles are sterilized or never have been used, it is important to understand that in some cases the equipment that holds the needles cannot be sterilized reliably due to its design. In addition, the person who receives a tattoo must be sure to care for the tattooed area properly during the first week or so after the pigments are injected.

If you are prone to developing keloids (scars that grow abnormally), you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin. Do not get a tattoo if you have keloid skin tissue.

The most common problem that develops with tattoos is the desire to remove them. Removing tattoos and permanent makeup can be very difficult. Pricing for touch up tattoos are usually more expensive due to the difficulty of finding something that will cover it properly.

Although tattoos may be satisfactory at first, they sometimes fade. Also, if the tattooist injects the pigments too deeply into the skin, the pigments may migrate beyond the original sites, resulting in a blurred appearance. Another cause of dissatisfaction is that the human body changes over time. A tattoo that may have looked flattering when first injected, may later clash with changing skin tones and facial or body contours and may become distorted. Also, a tattoo that seemed stylish at first may become dated and embarrassing, and changing tattoos or permanent makeup is not as easy as changing your mind. Make sure you choose your tattoo carefully. Take the time to look at the stencil to get the feel of the permanence. If you don't like it, don't get it!

If you get a tattoo that you have carefully thought out, and appreciate, you will not have to worry about getting it removed. It is often quite expensive not to mention painfull, to get a tattoo removed. Some say it feels like getting constantly popped by hot grease.

*Laser treatments can lighten many tattoos, some more easily and effectively than others. Generally, several visits are necessary over a span or weeks or months, and the treatments can be expensive. Some individuals experience hypopigmentation -- a lightening of the natural skin coloring -- in the affected area. The treatments can cause some tattoo pigments to change to a less desirable shade. Unfortunately, knowing what pigments are in your tattoo or permanent makeup has always been difficult and has become more so as the variety of tattoo inks has multiplied. Inks are often sold by brand name only, not by chemical composition. Because the pigments are sold to tattoo parlors and salons, not on a retail basis to consumers, manufacturers are not required by law to list the ingredients on the labels.

*Dermabrasion involves abrading layers of skin with a wire brush or diamond fraise (a type of sanding disc). This process itself may leave a scar.

*Scarification involves removing the tattoo with an acid solution and creating a scar in its place.

*Surgical removal sometimes involves the use of tissue expanders (balloons inserted under the skin, so that when the tattoo is cut away, there is less scarring). Larger tattoos may require repeated surgery for complete removal.

*Camouflaging a tattoo entails the injection of new pigments either to form a new pattern or cover a tattoo with skin-toned pigments. However, injected pigments tend not to look natural because they lack the skin's natural translucence.

Once again, this can all be avoided with choosing the right tattoo, making sure you take good care of it to keep it vibrant and beautiful.