To Ink or Not to Ink?

The Food and Drug Administration are finally cracking down on the issue of the safety of tattooing. Over the years, tattooing has been regulated by state and local authorities. It has come to public attention, however, that inks used in the tattoo process could be regulated under FDA rules for cosmetics and color additives. Due to recent popularity in inking, the FDA has become more aware of the public health concern present in the pigments used to create body art. Incidents involving bad reactions due to a tattoo including inflammation and itching have been reported to an agency called "Think Before You Ink." Now the FDA is investigating the chemicals used in tattoo inks and how they break down in the body. "Our hope is to get a better understanding of the body's response to tattoos and their impact on human health, and to identify products at greatest risk," said Dr. Linda Katz, director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The earliest records of American tattooing began amongst sailors in the nineteenth century. This practice common around sailors was first known as pricking. Sailors became more experimental with tattoos when they became intrigued by how Native Americans would decorate their bodies in this way. Tattoo shops began to open near ship ports as tattooists became more skilled with a needle and ink. Popular tattoos among sailors were that of inspiration and spirit. These designs included an anchor, crucifix, lady, lion, and eagle. These symbols also often were religious, patriotic, representations of courage and defiance of death, and of nautical themes. Tattooing became even more common after electric tattooing was developed in 1891.