Written by: Eunie Choi
Artwork by: Amy Cha
Tattoos aren’t for everyone. It can certainly be difficult to commit to a certain design forever, and the magnitude of that decision is often quite unimaginable. I, for one, would have to really, really love a design to put it on my body forever. And, of course, there is all of the social stigma surrounding tattoos, from employers discriminating against potential hires with tattoos to the elderly’s scorn at a youngster’s supposedly foolish decision. However, those who look down upon tattoos may be surprised to find that tattoos hold greater benefits than they could ever have imagined—far beyond simple aesthetics.
Medical Benefits
To start off with a bang: tattoos improve your immune system. Yes, it’s true, and it has been scientifically proven. According to a study conducted by Christopher D. Lynn, professor of biocultural medical anthropology at the University of Alabama, and his colleagues, tattooing “inoculates the immune system”, lessening reduction of immunoglobulin A levels and stimulating immune responses (Lynn, et al. 603). Immunoglobulin A is an antibody that helps ward off pathogens and improve gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. The body’s immune system also strengthens by first fighting off the foreign invader (in this case the tattoo ink), and then accepting it and letting it heal (Lynn, et al. 607). The effort the immune system must put in to go through this process ultimately strengthens it, with greater benefits observable after multiple tattoos.
Furthermore, tattoos also reduce stress by decreasing cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and it is usually associated with migraines, weight gain, and elevated blood pressure. Tattoos help mitigate these effects through lower cortisol levels, further proving their medical benefit (Lynn, et al. 603).
Self-Esteem and Mental Health Benefits
In addition to clear health benefits, tattoos have also been found to boost self-esteem and increase confidence in places someone might have had insecurities about. Particularly for people with scars from surgery, accidents, or self-harm, tattoos not only boost confidence but also represent new beginnings, symbolizing a promise to oneself (Baggs 1). Having beautiful art that is unique to you can help you feel more confident not only about your body but also your identity as your own idiosyncratic individual.
Furthermore, tattoos can serve as outward expressions of identity that allow people, especially those with psychiatric conditions or traumatic experiences, to assert control and stability in their lives and reclaim their body as their own. It can be a positive alternative to unhealthier coping mechanisms, further allowing for progress in healing (Koch, et al. 536).
Of course, getting a tattoo won’t immediately solve all of your problems, as body image and self-esteem issues are often deep-rooted. But tattoos can help push you on this path to change, and also serve as reminders when the journey gets difficult. They are physical markers of your personal journey, symbolizing progress or a promise to yourself that progress will be made. And that is the beauty of body art that lives and breathes with its canvas.
Works Cited
Baggs, Michael. “Tattoos: ‘The more I have, the more confident I feel.” BBC, 5 Mar. 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-51723016.
Lynn, Christopher D., et al. "Tattooing to “Toughen up”: Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A." American Journal of Human Biology, vol. 28, no. 5, Mar. 2016, pp. 603-609. Wiley Online Library, doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22847.
Koch, Jerome R., et al. "Tattoos, gender, and well-being among American college students." The Social Science Journal, vol. 52, no. 4, Dec. 2015, pp. 536-541. ScienceDirect, doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2015.08.001.
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