TATTOOSDesigned and Edited by: Daniel Martinoni

and their functions

TATTOOSand their functions

The word tattoo, or tattow in the 18th century,

is a loanword from the Polynesian word tatau,

meaning “correct, workmanlike”. The Oxford

English Dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo

as “In 18th c. tattaow, tattow. From Polynesian

(Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, etc.) tatau. In Marque-

san, tatu.” Before the using the Polynesian word,

the practice of tattooing had been described in the

West as painting, scarring, or staining.

/ta’too/

TATTOOS CAN HAVE MANY MEANINGS

ARTWORKThe symbolism and impact of tattoos varies

in different places and cultures. Tattoos may

show how a person feels about a relative about

an unrelated person. Today, people choose to

be tattooed for artistic, cosmetic, sentimental,

memorial, religious, and magical reasons, and to

symbolize their belonging to or identification with

particular groups. Extensive decorative tattooing is

common among members of traditional freak shows

and by performance artists who follow in their tradition.

TATTOOING IS A FORM OF ART

TATTOO USESOTHER

THANLOOKS

MEDICAL TATTOO: BLOOD TYPE INDICATION

MEDICALA medical tattoo is a tattoo used for indicating

a medically relevant condition or body location.

They can be used as warnings of a patient’s chro–

nic illness, vital information, to aid in radiotherapy,

and to restore discoloration of skin pigments.

Some examples include; blood type, allergies,

diabetes, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, and “do not

resuscitate” orders. You can be as specific

as you need to be with these tattoos.

MEDICAL TATTOO: DIABETES

COVER UPWhat better way to cover a bad tattoo than

with a better looking one? Coverup tattoos

are becoming very popular at tattoo parlors.

They either get tattoos with poor quality or

are offensive that they regret getting. Common

offensive or cliche tattoos that are covered in-

clude Confederate flags, Swastikas, and tribal

tattoos that have no meaning to the wearer.

TATTOO COVERUP PROCESS

HIDE SCARSTattoos can also be used to cover up unwanted

scars from injuries and surgeries. Tattoos are

commonly used to cover up c-section, mastecto-

mies, and self-harm scars. Other marks that

are usually hidden with tattoos are birthmarks,

freckles, discoloration of skin, and stretch marks.

In the case of a mastectomy, tattoos are used to

cover scar tissue and area of the removed areola.

COVERUP TATTOO: MASTECTOMY SCAR

BEFO

RE

UPPER ARM TATTOO

SHOULDERTATTOO

AFTER

WRISTTATTOO