http://www.small-tattoos.com Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:51:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Among the most dangerous of piercing infections is endocarditis, a life-threatening infection of the heart valves. People with congenital heart disease who get pierced are particularly susceptible to getting endocarditis. Left untreated, the infection can fatally destroy the heart muscle. A Mayo Clinic study of 445 patients with congenital heart ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/health-issues/at-greater-risk.html Infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms invading the body are another health risk associated with tatttoos and piercings. These infections can occur because the needles open the skin, allowing bacteria to enter the body, and can range from mild to life threatening. Piercing have a greater tendency than tattoos to become infected. ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/health-issues/infections.html HIV and AIDS are not the only potential health risks associated with piercings and tattoos. "The primary fear most people express about getting tattooed or pierced is that they may contract the HIV virus, which may cause AIDS," writes Jean-Chris Miller, author of The Body Art Book. "HIV is only ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/health-issues/hepatitis.html Physicians recommended that before getting a tattoo or piercing, people need to understand the potential health issues associated with body art. Getting pierced or tattooed can result in both minor and major health problems. By understanding what these risks are, people can take precautions to prevent or reduce them. The most ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/health-issues/introduction.html People who choose to get pierced choose to experience pain. A person who gets a piercing must endure a hollow needle being forced through his or her skin or cartilage without use of an anesthetic. Tattooing also involves pain. When being tattooed, a person receives an injection of pigment particles ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/articles/why-do-people-get-body-art.html Whether or not body piercing and tattooing will continue to be considered an art form and increase in popularity are subjects of debate. Some believe that permanent body art is just a passing phase and that people will lose interest in getting pierced and tattooed. "I'm not under any illusions ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/articles/fad-or-forever.html The interest in custom work has led to changes in the kinds of people who become tattoo artists. In the early to mid-twentieth century, tattooists were more interested in the craft aspect of tattooing, focusing on the technical details such as building the tattoo machine and mixing the inks rather ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/articles/tattooing-as-an-art.html The rising popularity of body art along students and professionals has led not only to changes in where people commonly choose to place their tattoos but to changes in the type of typical tattoo designs people choose. In the mid-twentieth century, neither tattoo clients nor tattoo artists were concerned with ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/art/tattoo-designs.html The controversies surrounding permanent body art have affected where people place tattoos and piercings on their bodies. Many students and professionals who get body art adorn themselves in areas that can be covered up by clothing. This allows them the freedom to get a tattoo or piercing yet avoid any ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/articles/body-art-changes.html As body art has become more popular among different segments of the population, a variety of issues and conflicts have resulted. Many of these controversies are specifically associated with teenage use of body art. Such controversies range from yearbook displays to dress code policies. In 2004, for example, the yearbook for ... http://www.small-tattoos.com/articles/body-art-controversies.html