Tattoos are a popular practice for decorating the human body. According to a Fox News report in 2006, one in four American adults under age 50 have a tattoo. However, the study pointed out that 17 percent consider removing the tattoos later. As of May 2010, all tattoo inks commercially available result in a permanent decoration of the skin. But one company has made it easier to make a tattoo temporary. These inks may be removed after six months.
History
The Smithsonian reports that tattoos have been a part of human culture for thousands of years. The motivations behind a tattoo vary widely. Some cultures use tattoos to represent spiritual beliefs. The modern reasons for getting a tattoo are as varied as these ancient acts, but some individuals ink their bodies as an expression of love for another person.
Purpose
Aphrodite Women's Health notes many reasons why people may eventually seek the removal of their tattoos. Embarrassment, problems with employment and conflicts with clothing preferences are among the most common reasons given. A temporary tattoo offers customers more flexibility should they change their minds in the future. Developments in tattoo ink now make it possible to more easily remove a tattoo for these reasons. The tattoos may be kept indefinitely or removed any time.
Freedom2
A 2007 article in the Technology Review of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported on significant breakthroughs at Harvard Medical School in the composition of tattoo inks. One of the project's inventors, Rox Anderson, helped develop an ink that is more easily affected by modern laser removal processes. He is now marketing the ink as "InfinitInk" under the company Freedom2. The pigments of this ink are comprised of naturally occurring substances, such as carbon, iron oxide and beta-carotene.
Process
InfinitInk tattoos are applied to the skin in the manner used by conventional tattoo artists. However, the inks contain nontoxic polymer materials that suspend the ink in the skin tissue. The polymer prevents absorption of the ink by the body so that it remains permanent as long as desired. Also included in the pigment are inconspicuous chemicals that react to tattoo removal lasers configured for black coloration. Despite the actual pigment, all InfinitInk colors contain this black-sensitive ingredient, which allows a single laser pass to eradicate the entire tattoo. The overall design is referred to as "microencapsulation" due to the way in which the chemicals remain segregated until laser contact.
Benefits
Removing a tattoo out of personal preference is just one of the conveniences provided by this new ink design. The tattoo industry is not regulated by the FDA and tattoo inks often contain ingredients that are unknown to most customers or tattoo artists. The scientific development of InfinitInk began with safe materials to ensure that toxicity was eliminated from the process. According to Anderson, the founder of Freedom2, some individuals experience serious reactions to the ingredients in tattoo inks that can require surgery to resolve. Irritation and allergic reactions could also occur. In the event that a tattoo results in these problems, its removal could improve the overall health of the patient.
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