Clinical Observation of Tattoos in the Korean Youths / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

A clinical observation of tattoos was made during physical exarnination for conscription in Choongchengnarndo and northern area of Seoul from April to August, 1988. The result were as follows 1. The most common educational level of tattoo pstient was in the middle school graduated group (55.9%). 2. The average age when first tattoo was made was 17.3% years. 3. Left arm was the most favorite site (44.45b). 4. Most of motivation for being tattooed was curiosity, heroism, for fun(51.2%). 5. Girl friends name, heart or heart and arrow, rose and one-mind were the most common contents of tattoos. 6. The average number of tattoo was 2.5. 7. More Tattoos were tattooed by themselves than by others (55.9%). 8. Most common tattoo material was chinese ink. 9. The complications of tattoo were found in 23 case (5.2%); hypertropic scar, keloid, post inflammatory hyper/hypo pigmentation and pyoderma. 10. The removal of tattoos were tried in 95 case (21.6%). The most frequent methods used were cigarette burning and scratching with a knife.