Therapeutic tattooing in the Arctic: Ethnographic, archaeological, and ontological frameworks of analysis.

This essay describes the potential for using ethnographic evidence and mummified tattooed skin to reflect on past therapeutic tattoo practice in the Arctic. It also considers the ways in which circumpolar concepts of disease emerged in relation to the agency of nonhuman entities. I argue that specific forms of curative tattooing offer interpretive models for the paleopathological and bioarchaeological study of care through an ontological framework of analysis.

Possible evidence for care and treatment in the Tyrolean Iceman.

The Tyrolean Iceman is the world's oldest glacier mummy. He was found in September 1991 in the Italian part of the Ötztal Alps. Since his discovery a variety of morphological, radiological and molecular analyses have been performed that revealed detailed insights into his state of health. Despite the various pathological conditions found in the Iceman, little is known about possible forms of care and treatment during the Copper Age in Northern Italy. A possible approach to this topic is the presence of tattoos on the mummified body. In previous work, it was already believed that the tattoos were administered as a kind of treatment for his lower back pain and degenerative joint disease of his knees, hip and wrist. In other studies, the tattoos of the Iceman have been related to an early form of acupuncture. We carefully re-evaluated the various health issues of the Iceman, including joint diseases, gastrointestinal problems and arterial calcifications and compared them to the location and number of tattoos. Together with the finding of medically effective fungi and plants, such as the birch polypore or fern in his equipment and intestines, we suggest that care and treatment was already common during the Iceman's time.

Tattoos: from ancient practice to modern treatment dilemma.

Tattoos have a long history in the United States and the world. As dermatologists, we often treat patients who regret their tattoos and are seeking to have them removed. Laser technology allows for more effective tattoo removal. There are many unique risks to tattoo removal compared to general laser procedures, including paradoxical tattoo ink darkening and even allergic reactions to tattoo ink. Given the persistence of tattoos throughout history, this treatment challenge will likely persist for many years to come.

Tattoos: forensic considerations.

Tattooing refers to marking of the skin by puncturing and introducing pigmented material. Although it derives from a Polynesian word, tautau, decorative tattooing has been found in most societies over many centuries. The purpose of tattooing has varied from simple decoration, to a marker of social rank, criminal and noncriminal group membership, or a particular rite of passage in tribal communities. Tattooing may be used in medicine to mark areas for radiotherapy, and may occur inadvertently associated with certain occupations such as coal mining. Forensically, tattoos may be very useful in assisting with body identification if facial features or fingers have been damaged or removed. Aspects of a decedent's history may also be deduced from certain tattoos such as military tattoos in service personnel, rudimentary line tattoos with antisocial and anti-police messages in ex-prisoners, and syringes, marihuana leaves or mushrooms in illicit drug users. Tattoos have become more common in recent years in younger individuals in the West and so should be expected to be found with increasing incidence at the time of forensic autopsy examinations. Increasing population movements also mean that less common tattoos may be encountered during forensic evaluations.

Laser removal of tattoos.

In Western countries the phenomenon of "tattooing" is expanding and tattoos are considered a new fashion among young people. In this paper we briefly trace the history of tattooing, the techniques used, the analysis of pigments used, and their possible adverse reactions. We also carried out a review of the international literature on the use of Q-switched laser in tattoo removal and its complications, and we describe our experience in the use of this technique.

[Historical consideration of the widespread infection of the hepatitis C virus in Japan and use of a fishbone diagram to investigate the cause].

About 75% of Japanese liver cancer is caused by hepatitis C. Widespread infection of the virus resulted from inadequate medical knowledge, as well as the political, economic and administrative conditions of the time. We investigated the association between the widespread infection of the hepatitis C virus and the historical events. We used a fishbone diagram to investigate the cause of widespread infection of the hepatitis C virus and considered the issue from a historical standpoint. We found causes including treatment (medical care), transfusion (medicine), economy (expense) and people (infection route). These causes are explained in further detail below. 1) Treatment (medical care). The initial large-scale infection occurred following attempts to eradicate Schistosoma japonicum involving mass vaccination in schools and public health centers. 2) Transfusion (medicine). The use of non-heated fibrinogen for massive postpartum hemorrhage spread the virus further. In 1987, it resulted in a mass outbreak of hepatitis in Aomori Prefecture. 3) Economy (expense). Recognition of the benefit of disposable syringes was delayed. As a result, disposable syringes were too expensive to be widely available, and did not become low-priced. 4) People (infection route). The second wave of dissemination of the hepatitis C virus was stimulant abuse after World War II. Prior to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, transmission resulted from repeated use of contaminated syringes. Although we initially thought that these four causes occurred independently on a historical chronology, associations between the causes were found when we investigated the problem with a fishbone diagram.

Una moda actual, con raices ancestrales / A modern fashion with ancient roots

La piel órgano importante por derecho propio envuelve y protege al cuerpo; tiene funciones vitales; puede contraer enfermedades que no afectan a otros órganos o presentar la manifestación dermatológica de patologías en otros lugares del cuerpo y finalmente, permite ser el soporte, a la manera de un “papiro biológico”, de imágenes ornamentales, rituales o leyendas (tatuajes; estigmas; escarificaciones) en diferentes individuos y grupos sociales. La práctica de los tatuajes es de origen incierto, y con una historia milenaria. Sin embargo se han difundido notoriamente en nuestra sociedad moderna, quizá por los mensajes subliminales a través de los medios gráficos o televisivos, sin analizar mayormente sus consecuencias.

Cutaneous complications related to permanent decorative tattooing.

Decorative tattooing involves the introduction of exogenous pigments and/or dyes into the dermis to produce a permanent design. Practiced for thousands of years, it has gained tremendous popularity during the past 20 years, especially among the young. Tattoo-associated cutaneous complications have only been reported since the end of the 19th Century. With the increased prevalence of tattooed individuals, dermatologists have witnessed increasing numbers of patients presenting with complaints about their tattoos. Complications primarily include infections, hypersensitivity reaction to tattoo pigments, benign and sometimes malignant tumors arising on tattoos, and the localization of various dermatoses to tattoos.

Laser tattoo removal.

The availability of Q-switched ruby Nd:YAG and alexandrite lasers has revolutionized the treatment of tattoos. These modalities offer significant advantages over all previously available treatments and are currently the standard of care for the cosmetic removal of unwanted tattoos.

[Forum: dermopigmentation or medical tattooing. History of tattooing]. / forum: dermopigmentation ou tatouage médical. Historique du tatouage.

Tattooing has been performed all over the world since prehistoric times, as indicated by numerous ancient relics. The significance of tattoos has differed at times and in different civilisations (means of communication, social identification mark, religious origin). Today, it is performed by real artists who have inspired its medical applications. Medical dermopigmentation was initially used in the context of breast reconstruction (nipple areola complex) and, with subsequent refinements, its indications have been extended to the treatment of residual scars and to the permanent make-up.

Tatuajes / Tattoos

Revisión general de todos los aspectos de los tatuajes, palabra de origen polinesio que significa "golpear" my cuyo uso en casi todas las civilizaciones se pierde en la historia de la humanidad. Se clasifican en intencionales, accidentales y compulsivos. Se habla de las diversas técnicas y pigmentos usados y de las múltiples complicaciones: inflamaciones séptica y aséptica y asépticas, tóxicas, sensibilizacion, desarrollo de queloides e inoculaciones de enfermedades. Se mencionan los aspectos psicológicos y los métodos terapéuticos disponibles para la desaparición de los tatuajes