Clinical Observation of Tattoos in the Korean Youths

Lee, Sang Hak; Seok, Dai Sik; Lee, Yoo Shin

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.