Macrophage immune cells in the skin can capture pigments from tattoos and hold them in place, causing tattoos to persist even after new macrophages move in to deal with the contaminants:
[...] That's what French scientists observed from studying tatted mice. In their model of tattoo persistence [open, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20171608] [DX], published Tuesday in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, macrophages — immune cells that ingest foreign or unhealthy debris in the body — play a starring role. Targeting these cells, the authors suggested, might help improve tattoo removal procedures for people.
As a tattoo is given, macrophages descend to capture invading ink. Probably because the ink granules are too bulky for the microscopic Pac-Mans to break down, they hold onto the pigment, your body art shining through their bellies.
With time, these original macrophages die and release their pigments, which get vacuumed up by new macrophages, starting the cycle over, said Sandrine Henri, a researcher at the Immunology Center of Marseille-Luminy who led the study with her colleague Bernard Malissen.
[...] Jared Jagdeo, a dermatologist at the University of California, Davis, has also wondered whether macrophages impede tattoo removal by reabsorbing lasered ink particles. Since 2014, he has performed a laser removal procedure that uses anti-inflammatory ointment to suppress macrophages. "It makes a difference," he said, noting that he often removes tattoos in 10 or fewer treatments [instead of 20].
(Score: 5, Insightful) by FatPhil on Tuesday March 13 2018, @08:27AM (7 children)
How is "permanent deposition of alien material into your dermis" not something you "do"?
> Do you consider those who have pierced ears to be idiots as well?
In my experience, thinking negatively about tattoos is very highly correlatedwith thinking negatively about permanent mutilation of ones facial features.
So if you're trying to trap people into saying something negative about piercings, you have failed, they already express such opinions freely.
> How about those who wear jewelry?
That's not permanent, nor a modification of living tissue.
> Dye their hair?
That's not permanent, nor a modification of living tissue.
> Shave their faces?
That's not permanent, nor a modification of living tissue.
> wear clothes?
That's not permanent, nor a modification of living tissue.
> All of those things are similar to getting a tattoo.
If you can't predict a big fat "oh, no, they're not" coming, you're gonna be shocked...
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @09:05AM (1 child)
What's your point?
Do you think you have the right to control how others adorn their bodies, whether permanent or not?
If so, you're an ass.
If not, why are you bothering, unless you're just looking to pick a fight?
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday March 14 2018, @01:46AM
I conclude he was the supplier of one of the downmods I got.
And given the content of your post, I conclude you are him again.
Thinking that this is a fight rather than an argument implies that you know the argument is lost.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @09:13AM (4 children)
Personally, I have observed a strong correlation between tattoos and gang activity, and often hang out in prisons.
I consider it a warning that it may be wise to avoid contact. Like in nature, brightly colored things are often not wise to mess with.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @09:48AM (3 children)
I know a lot of people who have tattoos.
Most of them have never been to prison.
What's more, I've dated a number of women who have at least one tattoo. None of them have been to prison either.
In fact, I know very few people who have been in prison. Or in gangs.
Perhaps you should upgrade either the places you hang out or the people you hang out with. Just a crazy thought.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @11:02PM (2 children)
None of the following are necessarily true for a particular woman with a tattoo, but all are more likely:
smoker
drinker
pothead
even worse drugs
has an STD
obese
infidelity/cheater
low level of education
criminal
doesn't plan for the future
doesn't have savings/assets
doesn't have much income
has debt problems
has a dysfunctional family
Obviously this is not wife material. You're risking STDs, child support, police raids, fights with her, fights with her friends, and so on. Don't stick your dick in crazy.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 13 2018, @11:36PM
My 21 year old niece has a tattoo.
She doesn't smoke
She's not much of a drinker
She is a pothead
She doesn't do even worse drugs
She doesn't has an STD
She's not obese
She doesn't do the infidelity/cheater thing
She's in graduate school at the moment
She has no criminal record
She has many plans/goals for the future and is working hard to achieve them
She doesn't have a lot of savings/assets, but she's a grad student. That's par for the course at her age
She doesn't have much income, but she's a grad student. That's par for the course at her age
She doesn't have debt problems
She has a loving family to whom she is very close. And a great extended family who is happy to help her any way they can, but we don't really need to because she's bright and successful all on her own.
My niece will make someone a wonderful wife (should she choose to marry. Women aren't just baby factories -- they're fully human with agency and the same right to live their lives as they wish, like any man) someday, and will be a great, loving mother (again, if she chooses to have children) too.
Times have changed, AC. The fat 50 year old you meet in a bar that's half in the bag and has stretched out tattoos is from a different generation. Back in the day, tattoos were considered to be the province of the low-lifes and criminals. Things are different now.
Sticking your dick in crazy can be lots of fun! It's just important to protect yourself if you do. You don't have much imagination, do you? More's the pity.
Then again, your pastor (who is a good friend and mentor, isn't he?) encourages your narrow world view, doesn't he? Is Jesus Christ yo' nigga? [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday March 14 2018, @02:03AM
Some are well-founded, there is a positive correlation between having tattoos and being a thrill seeker.
Being a thrill seeker is positively correlated with several things on your list.
Here's a list of traits positively correlated with not having a tattoo:
being unadventurous
being boring
That's not necessarily the perfect partner either.
Here's a handy hint, or even 3, as I'm generous:
1) if you like tattooed females, prioritise finding a partner from within a demographic with a higher preference for getting tattoos.
2) if you don't like tattooed females, prioritise finding a partner from within a demographic with a lower preference for getting tattoos.
3) if you are neutral regarding tattoos on females, don't feel obliged to prioritise finding a partner from within a demographic with an unusual preference for getting tattoos.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves