In recent years, tattoos have gained great popularity. Despite the fact that the skin is constantly updated, the pattern on it still remains. Why it happens?
The history of tattoos
People began to apply various drawings and marks on bodies back in prehistoric times. Archaeologists and scientists who studied the remains of primitive people have found that distant ancestors treated wounds with sharp thin objects dipped in dye. Because of this, after healing, the paint remained under the upper layers and did not disappear for a long time.
At that time, tattoos were used not for beauty, but to indicate that a person belongs to a particular tribe. Hunters applied certain patterns to the bodies, indicating the number of trophies won. Also, warriors did something similar, noting defeated opponents. Many people of that time applied runes and symbols of gods to the body, which protected them from illness and misfortune.
Interesting fact: black tribes instead of tattoos applied scars to the body, determining their belonging to a particular tribe, since they were better visible.
Since then, mankind has begun to improve the procedure for applying tattoos. In the Middle Ages, people used needles, and with the invention of electricity, special machines were actively used that accelerated the process tens of times.
In Russia, the first tattoos began to appear around the X century. Rus applied to the body images of various objects and runes.
Tattoos were especially common in Japan. Samurai pricked a certain symbolism, supposedly giving them strength during the battles. Yakuza are also famous for the fact that clan members completely cover their body tattoos, leaving only their hands, neck and face intact.
And if almost always tattoos had a certain meaning and were applied for a specific purpose, now they often pierce the body for beauty. People make them in order to decorate themselves. Fortunately, modern paints and devices allow you to achieve the most realistic image.
Moreover, modern tattoos, although they lose their color over time, have remained bright and clear for decades.
Skin structure
To understand why tattoos remain on the human body forever, despite the constant renewal of the skin, you first need to figure out how it works.
The skin is considered an organ and consists of several layers. The average thickness is 2 millimeters. In some parts of the body, for example, feet, its thickness can reach one centimeter.
The top layer that interacts with the environment is called the epidermis. It also consists of several layers of various types of cells, performing mainly a protective function.
Under the epidermis is the dermis. It contains capillaries, glands, blood vessels and nerve endings. For example, when blood is taken from a finger, a layer of the dermis is pierced with a needle, damaging the capillaries in it.
The lowest layer of the skin is subcutaneous fat. It contains fatty deposits, blood vessels and loose fibers. At this level, useful substances are deposited, gradually consumed by the body.
Why does the tattoo remain on the body despite skin renewal?
Indeed, human skin is constantly updated. However, some clarity should be introduced into this concept. Only the top layer of the skin is constantly updated - the epidermis. The cells of the lower levels are not replaced with new ones only if regeneration is required, and even then in most cases a scar forms.
When a tattoo is applied to the body, the needle pierces the epidermis and leaves the paint in a deeper layer. Thus, ink stays where the skin is in principle not renewed. Therefore, despite the renewal of the skin, the tattoo remains.
When the skin is renewed, cells are replaced with new ones only on its upper layer - the epidermis. When applying a tattoo, the needle penetrates the lower layer - the dermis. Thus, paints remain where the skin does not renew.
