Excessive tattoos mental illness

People With Tattoos More Likely to Also Have Mental Health Issues

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Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — By Janice Wood on January 27, 2019

A new study has discovered that people with tattoos were more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues and to report sleep problems.

Researchers also found that people who had tattoos were more likely to be smokers, to have spent time in jail, and to have a higher number of sex partners in the past year.

However, the survey-based study also found that having tattoos was not significantly related to overall health status.

The survey was conducted in July 2016 and resulted in a sample of 2,008 adults living in the United States, according to researchers.

“Previous research has established an association between having a tattoo and engaging in risky behaviors,” said lead author Dr. Karoline Mortensen, a professor at the University of Miami. “In an era of increasing popularity of tattoos, even among women and working professionals, we find these relationships persist, but are not associated with lower health status.”

The study was published in the International Journal of Dermatology.

Source: Wiley

Photo: In a survey-based study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, having tattoos was not significantly related to overall health status, but individuals with tattoos were more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health issue and to report sleep problems. Credit: International Journal of Dermatology.

Last medically reviewed on January 27, 2019

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Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — By Janice Wood on January 27, 2019

Your tattoos may hint at an ailing mind

Getting tattooed may not always be just following a trend. It may also signify your imbalanced state of mind and psychological disorder. Find out here.

Getting inked is a modern-day trend and is now accepted as a fashion statement. Tattoo parlours are multiplying with every passing day, thanks to the increasing demand of flaunting a tattoo. Ever thought that your urge of getting inked may imply to an unstable mind and personality disorders, especially borderline disorder and depression? Sounds weird, isn't it? But that's what several researchers say. A study conducted by the Centre for Forensic Psychiatry, Michigan Department of Community Health shows that those with a desire to get inked are at a greater risk of suffering from antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Not just that, the tattooed ones are more prone to substance abuse, sexual abuse and suicide attempts compared to those with a clean body. Researchers have concluded that tattoos are indicators of mental illness, lack of foresight and promiscuous behaviour.

Tattoos imply an urge to have multiple sexual partners: Several studies have found that being tattooed is linked with greater number of lifetime sexual partners, earlier sexual initiation and higher frequency of sexual intercourse. Not just that, those with tattoos were also found to have a rough history of sexual abuse leading to mental disparity, arousing the desire of having unprotected copulation among adolescents.

Getting inked is linked with ASPD:Those suffering from antisocial personality disorder and having impairment in both self and inter-personal functioning are more inclined to tattoos. Hence, if you find anyone who only thinks about himself, is obsessed with his personal goals and fails to conform to social norms with multiple tattoos, it will not be surprising.

Those with BPD tends to get inked than others: Studies have shown that those possessing symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) like frequent, intense mood swings and an inability to control outburst of emotions are more likely to get tattoos all over the body or in more than one body part. Researchers explain that their failure to manage their own emotions gets reflected in the pain they undergo to bear the tattoos on their skin.

Tattoos imply lack of foresight: Tattoos are a direct reflection of uncontrollable impulsiveness among teens. Those with tattoos are more likely to be associated with risk taking behaviours like smoking and cannabis use, hard drug abuse, violence and suicide.

Getting inked has a lot to do with psychological imbalance: Researchers have observed that those with a desire of getting inked are more into mental blocks and psychological disorders like depression, eating disorders, neuroticism and increased suicidal tendency. Excessive tattoos among adolescents correlate with emotional distress along with suicidal idealisation and attempts.

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Do they take in the army with tattoos? - Lawyers answer on call

A few years ago, on the resources of a dubious nature on the Internet, the misconception spread that it was possible to get rid of the army by stuffing a tattoo of a certain content. Once again, let's say straight out: this is a MYTH. Tattoos in and of themselves are not grounds for exemption from conscription. Since then, this topic has weakened significantly, but the conditions in which the spring call-up of 2022 is taking place can give a second wind to any myths and just nonsense that seemed almost forgotten.

Especially since tattoos actually often attract the attention of psychiatrists in the military registration and enlistment office and sometimes even become a reason for referral for additional examination in a psychiatric hospital.

Evgeny Godov

head All-Russian conscript Novosibirsk

At the same time, there is practically no sensible information on the Internet - those tips that can be found on resources similar to ours sin with incompleteness and simplification. And a tattoo is exactly the topic in which details are extremely important. Which we will talk about in more detail in this article.

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Table of contents

Tattoos and generations of psychiatrists
Content and location of tattoos
Piercing and conscription
Body modification and military service
Combination of tattoos, piercings and modifications
What to do and how to be a conscript

Tattoos and generations of psychiatrists

First of all, you need to understand that modern commercial tattoos are an attribute of a progressive society. While the army and the military environment in general, especially in Russia, is one of the most conservative social institutions. The same can be said about domestic psychiatrists who were formed as specialists in the Soviet environment. That is, military registration and enlistment offices and psychiatrists simply do not understand in large numbers why and for what a healthy, decent young man stuffs something on his body.

From their point of view, it turns out that if he did stuff something, then one can suspect that he has some kind of mental disorder. At the very least, just in case. And here, in fact, it all depends on the personal qualities of a particular doctor.

Because we are all, first of all, people with our own delusions and stereotypes, and only then specialists, professionals, etc. And the lower the professional level (and, unfortunately, for most Soviet doctors of various profiles, it is really low ), the stronger, the brighter personal, purely human qualities are manifested - first of all, not the best.

Among these qualities - conservatism, retrograde, total condemnation of everything new and modern. Age psychiatrists (again, the average age of doctors in Russia is about 44 years old) perceive tattoos in their usual socio-cultural context, which existed in Soviet times and collapsed in the nineties. Within this context, tattoos (or rather, tattoos) were made by two categories of citizens: criminal elements and just lower-level military personnel - so to speak, as a keepsake.

Now such a retrograde may seem impossible, but it's true: even very good, objectively professional Soviet-style psychiatrists cannot always refrain from criticizing tattoos in one form or another. This can be seen in individual posts and videos on their social media accounts. In a number of cases, such ideas go to extreme statements that a mentally normal person will not get tattoos. The rejection of tattoos by psychiatrists is a very real phenomenon.

Moreover, it does not at all correspond to the role that the drawings on the body played in the culture of different peoples at different times. Tattoos are an important part of many ancient and quite current professional communities. Modern commercial tattoos are one of the means of self-expression, and quite traditional, visual, accessible to a large number of young people, not requiring special efforts from them. Some people just like drawings on the body, and that's fine.

This point of view is shared by younger, modern psychiatrists, without, as they say, experience in Soviet medicine. Being part of modern society, being actively included in the modern socio-cultural context, they consider tattoos to be a common phenomenon that does not deserve special attention. It also fits in with the looser, fuzzier contemporary notions of what a decent, self-respecting young man should and shouldn't look like.

Moreover, some young psychiatrists, whose professionalism is not in doubt, themselves have rather large tattoos, for example, a sleeve - a solid image from the elbow to the wrist. This is a real example of a psychiatrist-narcologist who is popular on YouTube and runs his own private practice. It is obvious that the tattoo on the conscript's body in most cases will not embarrass them at all and will not raise any questions. Another thing is that young doctors rarely sit on the commission at the military registration and enlistment office due to an imbalance in the price and quality of such work.

So in practice it all depends on which psychiatrist you come across. The generational generalization is, of course, conditional, but such a pattern and dependence do take place. In any case, the matter, of course, will not come to a diagnosis and exemption from conscription, and even more so from military duty.

But an old-style psychiatrist may, because he did not like your tattoos (by the content or the very fact of his presence), write you a referral to a hospital. If it happened to you, and you are now thinking what to do with it, read in our separate article.

Even such a tattoo in itself is not a basis for exemption from the draft, no matter what dubious resources on the Internet claim.

The content and location of the tattoos

Although tattoos in themselves are not something wrong and / or abnormal, in some cases they can indirectly indicate certain mental problems.

Not necessarily for some disorders - most likely, for some personality traits, character, including pronounced, borderline, balancing on the verge of disorders. Therefore, a professional psychiatrist will still pay attention to the properties of tattoos, namely:

Location. Tattoos of any content on the face objectively attract attention and irritate others more than on any other part of the body. The face bears physical personality traits, so overlapping with some images seems strange. Although some famous people have tattoos on their faces and at the same time behave quite adequately, reasonably and decently.
Quantity. A clear abundance of images on visible parts of the body, especially those that do not have a clear meaning, artistic value, compositional unity, etc., may indicate a mental disorder. It turns out that a person fills them not because of their meaning or at least beauty, but simply for the very process of applying them and the fact of their presence. A tattoo for the sake of a tattoo as such is suspicious.
Content. Traditionally, few people like tattoos on visible parts of the body with unacceptable, indecent, provocative, offensive content. It raises more or less legitimate questions, why fill in the images of villains from world history, radical slogans, etc., if it is obvious that they will not be perceived by others with understanding and approval.

If tattoos indicate some kind of mental disorder, most likely it will be personality disorders and related conditions that pass under Article 18 of the Schedule of Diseases. For example, the abundance of such images, devoid of a clear meaning, may indicate a non-chemical dependence - a violation of habits and preferences, a painful desire to get tattoos. Among professional masters, this phenomenon is known as "blue disease". If you read about the most tattooed people in the world, it becomes clear that such a disorder is more than real.

Classic psychopathy can also cause a desire to get some kind of excessive tattooing. Less often, endogenous psychoses (affective - mood or schizophrenic states) or organic lesions of the central nervous system organs lead to such a result. But in such cases, tattoos will be complemented by such extensive symptoms, against which they will cause the least concern.

For example, if a guy got a tattoo during the manic stage of BAD - bipolar affective disorder, or because he was told so by the notorious "voices in his head" (true auditory hallucinations - the central symptom of paranoid schizophrenia), as you understand, the main problem will not be at all tattoo. Although the latter can also help in identifying and diagnosing the disorder. But, in fairness, it must be said that such examples are quite rare. Most tattoos don't say anything like that.

In any case, with tattoos, exemption will be given precisely on the basis of a mental disorder, the manifestation of which was the drawings tattooed on the body, and not the tattoo as such. Article 18 of the Schedule of Diseases, on personality disorders and related pathological conditions, explicitly states that the disease should "flow from the entire pathological structure of the personality," and not be the result of deliberate tomfoolery, teenage stupidity, or something like that.

Piercing and conscription

The situation is approximately the same with piercing, with the only difference that it is still more serious than a tattoo, because it involves the creation of an artificial hole in the body. Unlike tattoos, piercings are rarely discussed in the context of military service, although there is something to pay attention to. In general, the key points here are the same as for tattoos: quantity, location, size.

Location. The traditional localization and pain of the puncture in this place are taken into account. For example, earrings or other accessories in the earlobes are the most obvious, simple, neutral and not the most painful option. At the other extreme is intimate piercing: not every fan of rings on the body decides on it. Intermediate options are the nose, lips, tongue, nipples, navel, etc. A psychiatrist will not see some of these places, but a surgeon or a doctor from the anthropometry office can tell him about them, these data can be reflected in a personal file.
Dimensions. It's one thing - a small neat ring or bar of normal thickness, even if not in the most common places. And it’s completely different - large, massive, pretentiously shaped accessories, too thick rods that pull the flesh (earlobe or nipple), deforming the channel that has formed around the puncture. Self-harm, even in this format, always attracts the attention of psychiatrists: the mental norm is to avoid pain and harm to yourself.
Quantity. Obviously, there is a difference between a pair of small earrings in the earlobes or even Prince Albert (the easiest option for a glans penis piercing) and a dozen massive rings all over the ear. Not to mention the excessive number of such elements on the face. The abundance of piercings cannot but arouse suspicion of non-chemical addiction like the "blue disease". Or even in more serious, deep mental disorders.

Although piercing, along with tattoos and scarification (scarification), has traditionally been common among men in many cultures, including European and even Russian, after the Soviet period, it initially seemed unacceptable for men. Because of this, a conscript with an earring in his ear may face a more or less pronounced misunderstanding of an old school psychiatrist - the age of the doctor is also of great importance here.

But, we repeat, the most you can count on is a referral to a psychiatric hospital, and that is not always the case. And in the hospital, if they find something, then only such an insignificant one, which is enough for category “B”.

A piercing may only be granted a reprieve or exemption in two cases: if it is a manifestation of a mental disorder, or if it has resulted in a significant impairment of the function of any organ or part of the body. In practice, both options are, firstly, rare, and secondly, they are usually interconnected: a mentally healthy person will not perforate his body to the point of physical pathology. But, we emphasize, in any case, it is not the mere fact of having a piercing that gives a delay or release, but mental and / or physical illnesses that have become the cause or consequence of decorating your body with rings.

Body modifications and military service

When it comes to tattoos and piercings, the so-called body modifications (body modifications) cannot be ignored. This is a more serious phenomenon: as a rule, such changes are made surgically and affect the state of the body to a greater extent. Here we must understand that body modifications are different, from generally harmless to real self-mutilation, in every sense of the word.

To begin with, here are a few relatively "harmless" options (if they can be called harmless):

Scarification is a superficial and relatively harmless procedure, the least dangerous and most traditional among body modifications. Subject to all the rules of scarification, there should not be serious health consequences.
Implantation of implants - objects made of bioinert synthetic polymers. They are inserted through a special incision under the skin in order to change the relief of its surface. The consequences may be different, the attention of a psychiatrist is provided.
Cutting the tongue - usually a quarter or a third, less often up to half, even more rarely - further. This can lead to dysfunction, it all depends on which part of the tongue is cut. But the attention of a psychiatrist is most likely secured.
Tunneling is basically making large holes into which polymer washers are inserted. Most often they are placed in the auricles, where it does not impair hearing. But the holes in the middle of the cheeks, at least, will attract the attention of a psychiatrist.
Elf Ears is an artificial change in the shape of the cartilage of the upper part of the auricle, making it pointed, like elves in their image from popular culture. This is a relatively harmless phenomenon, physical consequences are rare.

As an example of the most radical modification of the male body, we will give a very rare, but extremely extreme variety - nullification, that is, the complete removal of the external genital organs (penis and testicles along with the scrotum). With all the organizational and legal difficulties, it has some, albeit an insignificant number of fans. In terms of military medical examination, only the absence of the penis matters here (paragraph a) of Article 73 of the Schedule of Diseases, category “D” - not good), although here, in addition, it is difficult not to suspect some kind of mental disorder.

Body modifications are more complex than tattoos or piercings. In their case, it is important not only or even not so much the assessment of the psychiatrist as the surgeon. And in some cases, it is he who can issue a referral for a stationary examination, because a surgical change in normal anatomy can disrupt the natural course of physiological processes - that is, lead to impaired organ function. But then again: the conscript will receive a deferment or release, if any, not because of the very fact of the presence of a body modification, but because of illness as a cause or effect of this.

A combination of tattoos, piercings and modifications

Often tattoos are present simultaneously with piercings, less often they are complemented by moderate bodily modifications. How are such combinations assessed from the point of view of a psychiatrist? In general, the same, only the degree of interest can be higher. The evaluation parameters are the same: quantity, content, location. A neat tattoo on his shoulder, an earring in his ear, and a fake scar on his chest even look quite normal together.

Everything, again, comes down to how organic, moderate, meaningful tattoos, piercings and modifications are. At the same time, all these areas are closely related, a young man with a painful passion for stuffing patterns on his body often at some point decides to increase his degree and turns to piercing. "Blue disease" does not come alone, so in the context of conscription for military service, the attention of a psychiatrist here is quite understandable.

Just in case, we emphasize: even a combination of a tattoo and piercing will not be the reason for exemption from the draft. The maximum possible effect is the same referral to a psychiatric hospital with suspicion of some kind of personality disorder or related condition under Article 18 of the Schedule of Diseases. And then if the psychiatrist turns out to be quite conservative, principled, attentive and stubborn.

Evgeny Godov

head All-Russian conscript Novosibirsk

Once again: absolutely nowhere, in any by-laws governing medical examinations and other aspects of the selection of recruits, there are provisions for piercings, tattoos and body modifications as such. Nowhere is it written that with such and such tattoos or with piercings in such and such a place, a young man cannot be called upon. They can only be assessed indirectly, in the context of functional disorders.

What to do and how to be a conscript

To understand that the perception and evaluation of tattoos and piercings do not lie in a medical plane, but in a social and cultural one. The medical aspect occurs only if there is reason to suspect a mental disorder. Piercings and especially body modifications can also cause physiological and functional problems. In practice, it all depends on the personality of the psychiatrist: someone will not pay attention to the sleeve in runes, and someone - this is an absolutely real story - will issue a referral to the hospital because of a tattoo on the edge of the palm in the form of the inscription "Happiness" in Spanish. How (un)lucky.

In any case, if you are not eager to serve, and because of a tattoo or piercing you are sent to a psychiatric hospital, you have the right to refuse hospitalization - in accordance with the law "On psychiatric care and guarantees of the rights of citizens in its provision" she voluntary, if there is no immediate threat to others and to oneself. But if you agree, it is unlikely that you will receive some kind of terrible diagnosis that does not correspond to reality. But you will gain time and be able to find a real legal basis for deferment or exemption from conscription.

There is an opinion that in practice they try not to recruit young people whose tattoos cover most of the body, are on the face or have indecent, intimate content and are located on visible parts of the body, for example, on the edge of the palm. What can be said about this. Well, probably, at the level of individual military commissariats, such a practice can actually exist informally.

But it is precisely that in some, informally, and can - and not in all, officially and must. That is, everything is here, as in the case of gays - you may be lucky, but most likely you will not be lucky. Especially in the conditions in which the spring call-up of 2022 is taking place, when recruits are needed.

Therefore, if you have tattoos, piercings and even body modifications, don't rely on them especially, except, of course, in very extreme cases. But they are rare and cannot be the basis for mass recommendations. The only thing is that it is better to remove the piercing, and if you do not have iron reasons not to serve, remove it in advance. In the army, you will not be able to properly care for him, and this is a threat to at least health.

The same applies to bodily modifications - it is best to remove implants and washers from the tunnels. Theoretically, if the modifications can be eliminated, but this takes time for surgery and recovery, they can put the category “G” with a delay for health reasons for a period of six months or a year. For example, under articles 83 or 85 of the Schedule of Diseases.

And if you don't have anything like that, don't rush to get it in the hope of getting away from the army in an easy way. It is better to spend time and other resources on confirming the legal right not to serve. To do this, go through examinations, collect medical documents, read the relevant laws and by-laws (regulations).

And if it is difficult to do it yourself, contact the experts. For example, sign up for a free consultation with us, where our lawyer will provide you with basic information on your issue. Under the contract, we will help to collect documents, prepare and send applications, challenge illegal decisions, protect your rights and legitimate interests.

Alexey Opryatnov

Director of the All-Russian Conscript in Saratov and Rostov-on-Don

Ask a question

Do tattoos cause cancer? A selection of studies

Tattooing is a global and ancient practice that has survived to this day.

It was originally used to denote religious beliefs, tribal affiliation, loyalty to a leader, or had a therapeutic function.

Adverse reactions from tattoos are common and skin reactions to red pigment have been widely reported (1,2). Here we report the case of a 30-year-old female patient admitted to our dermatology department with a reaction to a tattoo localized in the purple and black areas of the tattoo on the upper part of her left leg.

The patient reported that the tattoo was made two years earlier, but the skin changes appeared after she decided to change the color from pink to purple. On physical examination, multiple erythematous nodular pruritic lesions were present at tattoo sites in which purple and black were used (Figure 1). She was treated with antibiotics to no avail, followed by topical corticosteroids with temporary remission of signs and symptoms. Personal and family history is negative.

The patient reported an allergy to jewelry that was never investigated. Based on a suspected allergic reaction, we decided to perform a patch test of the SIDAPA series and a patch test of a special series of tattoos (copper sulfate 1% water, dimethylaminoazobenzene-p 1%, aminoazotoluol-o 1%, blue diffuse 3 1%, blue diffuse 124 1 %, yellow diffuse 3 1%, orange diffuse 3 1%, red diffuse 1 1%, gentian violet 2%, cadmium chloride 1% in water, nickel sulfate 5%, iron chloride 2% in water, potassium dichromate 0.5%, chromium trichloride 2%, aminoazobenzene-p 0.25%, cobalt chloride 1%, aluminum chloride 2%, titanium dioxide 0.1%, zinc 2.5%, mercury chloride 0.05% in water, caton sg 0.01 % in water, phenol 0.5%, ethylenediamine hydrochloride 1%, phenylenediamine base-n 1%, formaldehyde 1% in water, phthalic anhydride 1%, rosin 20%, dibutyl phthalate 5%, hexamethylenetetramine 1%, benzophenone 5%).

Both patches tested positive for 5% nickel sulfate at 48 hours (++) and 72 hours (+++). We then performed a needle biopsy of 4 mm nodular lesions located in black and purple areas.

Histological examination revealed skin sclerosis, characterized by an inflammatory reaction with lympho-mononuclear infiltration in the perivasal zone. Macrophages with red and black pigment were present. The histological picture was consistent with a granulomatous reaction. Tattooing can lead to a wide variety of complications, the prevalence and frequency of which is still unclear.

Some authors (3) classify such skin complications in different ways, for example, according to: - the duration of their development: acute and chronic reactions; - delayed onset after tattooing: early - in the healing phase - or delayed - after the tattoo has healed; - type of reaction: infection, hypersensitivity reaction, etc.

The practice of tattooing may have local or systemic complications. Dermatoses such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, lichen planus, and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia can be localized in the tattoo area, but allergic sensitivity to one of the pigments is the most common cause of dermatological reactions at the tattoo site (4,5).

In fact, adverse reactions to tattoo pigments, especially red, are well documented in the literature. In addition, these compounds often contain components that have not been systematically characterized. In our case, the granulomatous reaction did not correspond to an allergic reaction to the pigment. In fact, the patch test was negative for all pigments tested, showing a positive result only for nickel sulfate.

However, the specific and well-defined localization of the nodular lesions in the black and purple areas led us to assume that the tattoo pigments in these areas contain some unknown component causing the reaction.

In our opinion, a possible explanation could be that the new pigment used contained a small amount of nickel sulfate, which caused a granulomatous reaction. In conclusion, we have presented this clinical case to highlight the widespread side effects associated with tattoos, which are mainly caused by red pigment.

Dermatologists should constantly strive to become familiar with current research on this practice and its complications. On the other hand, people with potential risk factors for adverse reactions should see a specialist before getting tattooed. Tattoo artists should use a checklist and informed consent to screen people with these potential risk factors. In addition, more research needs to be done on ink and pigment components in order to systematically characterize the substances used in tattoos.

Background

Although the skin is involved in about one-third of sarcoidosis cases, granulomatous reactions to tattooing are an uncommon manifestation of the disease. It is important to recognize this phenomenon as it often leads to the diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis.

Case Presentation

A 35-year-old Caucasian woman with multiple tattoos reported a 5-week history of black ink tenderness in a dragon tattoo. She also described a 15-month history of fatigue, polyarthralgia, and mild dyspnea. Skin biopsy showed multiple dermal noncaseating granulomas with matching tattoo ink. Further investigation revealed the presence of systemic sarcoidosis. Her symptoms and skin changes improved with conservative treatment.

Materials and Methods

Pubmed and Google Scholar searches were performed using the terms melanoma tattoo, tattooed skin tumor, and ink melanoma.

Conclusion

Sarcoid reactions to tattoos in people without systemic sarcoidosis are rare and their presence should prompt a search for a systemic lesion. Accurate identification of the skin lesion in sarcoidosis is important because it tends to occur early in the disease and the skin is an easily accessible biopsy site, allowing a quick diagnosis.

Conclusion

Tattoo removal is a medical procedure that must be carried out in a specialized medical institution. Learn more about tattoo removal with the most advanced cold alexandrite laser Picosure

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Excessive tattoos mental illness

People With Tattoos More Likely to Also Have Mental Health Issues

Read this next

Your tattoos may hint at an ailing mind

Getting tattooed may not always be just following a trend. It may also signify your imbalanced state of mind and psychological disorder. Find out here.

Total Wellness is now just a click away.

Do they take in the army with tattoos? - Lawyers answer on call

Tattoos and generations of psychiatrists

The content and location of the tattoos

Piercing and conscription

Body modifications and military service

A combination of tattoos, piercings and modifications

What to do and how to be a conscript

Do tattoos cause cancer? A selection of studies

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