Medical tattoo
Encyclopedia
A medical tattoo is a tattoo
used to show the illnesses or allergetic reactions one has. Medical tattoos can be used for a number of reasons:
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
used to show the illnesses or allergetic reactions one has. Medical tattoos can be used for a number of reasons:
- As a warning that a patient suffers from a chronic disease that can exacerbate suddenly and that will require immediate specialist treatment. One example is in the case of congenital adrenal hyperplasiaCongenital adrenal hyperplasiaCongenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to any of several autosomal recessive diseases resulting from mutations of genes for enzymes mediating the biochemical steps of production of cortisol from cholesterol by the adrenal glands ....
, in which patients may need steroid replacement therapy during ordinary illness. - As an aid in radiotherapy. In order to minimize damage to surrounding tissues, the radiotherapist seeks to keep the irradiated field as small as possible. Marking a number of points on the body with tattoos can aid radiotherapists in adjusting the beam properly.
- During breast reconstructionBreast reconstructionBreast reconstruction is the rebuilding of a breast, usually in women. It involves using autologous tissue or prosthetic material to construct a natural-looking breast. Often this includes the reformation of a natural-looking areola and nipple...
after mastectomyMastectomyMastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
(removal of the breast for treatment of cancer), or breast reduction surgery. Tattooing is sometimes used to replace the areolaAreolaThis article is about the breast tissue. For the entomology term, see the glossary of Lepidopteran terms. For an artistic cloud motif, see aureola. For the cactus feature, see Areole....
which has been removed during mastectomy, or to fill in areas of pigment loss which may occur during breast reduction performed with a free nipple graft technique.
External links
- Medical Tattoos More info about mastectomy tattoos & tattoos over scars.
- Medical Tattoo Pictures Pictures of medical tattoos.