What are the differences between moles, freckles and birthmarks?

Moles

Moles occur when skin cells known as melanocytes grow in a small cluster, instead of getting spread uniformly in the skin. Melanocytes produce melanin, which give skin its natural colour (the more melanin in the skin, the darker it is).

There are 3 types of moles:

1. Congenital – moles that appear at birth
2. Acquired – moles that appear after birth, usually up until age 40
3. Atypical – irregular moles (also called dysplastic nevus)

Common moles (both congenital and acquired moles) can either be flat or raised. These usually come in a single colour (brown, black, pink, tan, even red) and are usually less than 5 millimetres in width (any more than 5mm and you may have reason to be suspicious). In terms of shape, common moles are usually round or oval, and have a distinct edge/border.  

Atypical moles, on the other hand, have an odd shape and are usually larger than 5mm. These moles are often a combination of two or more colours. These are commonly mistaken as cancerous, but they’re not.

Freckles

Freckles are commonly found on people with fair skin, usually appearing on parts of skin that get frequent sun exposure. These are brown, small spots that are formed from an overproduction of melanin, in reaction to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Freckles are generally harmless.

Birthmarks

From the word itself, birthmarks are ‘marks’ that appear on skin at the time of birth – or shortly thereafter. There are two types of birthmarks: pigmented and vascular.

Pigmented birthmarks result from an overabundance of pigment cells in one area. One example would be congenital moles.

Vascular birthmarks, on the other hand, result from malformed veins or a cluster of veins in a particular area.

Is it safe to tattoo over a mole?

Alright, I’ll get straight to the point here. No, it’s not safe to tattoo over a mole. Why? Well, there are a few reasons.

• You won’t know if your mole develops into melanoma

Moles – whether it be congenital, acquired, or atypical – can become cancerous, especially when exposed excessively to sunlight. Remember, moles are made up of tightly packed melanocytes.

Now, melanoma (a rare but dangerous type of skin cancer) starts in the melanocytes. Exposure to UV rays dangerously accelerate melanocyte reproduction, which causes moles to grow in size and change in shape. This is why it’s NOT advisable to tattoo over moles – it’s an important health indicator.

Sure, your mole may not be cancerous now, but if you’re not vigilant with sun protection, then chances are it can develop into melanoma. Here are the melanoma signs to watch out for:

• A – asymmetry (the sides don’t match each other)
• B – border irregularity (the mole’s border is uneven or ragged)
• C – colour variations (most moles are singular in colour)
• D – diameter (mole is larger than 6mm)
• E – evolution (over time, the mole may increase in size, change in colour, becomes itchy all of a sudden, and you may experience pain and soreness in the area)

Here’s an infographic to help you remember the ABCDE guidelines:

As you can see, covering up the mole with a tattoo may result to you not recognising any changes to its shape and form. It may have turned cancerous right before your very eyes, and you would have no clue.  

• It may cause excessive bleeding

Tattooing involves blood, yes, but not excessive amounts of it. In fact, depending on the tattooist’s skills and the area being tattooed, the bleeding can be downright very minimal. But when tattooing over a mole, it’s a different story.

Even accidentally cutting a mole can result to excessive bleeding. Imagine tiny needles puncturing a mole hundreds or thousands of times. Blood may not gush out, but it won’t be the light bleeding you’d expect from a normal tattoo.

Related article: Can You Donate Blood With A Tattoo

• It’s difficult to get the colour right

Moles are said to absorb ink differently from normal skin. It can distort a tattoo’s colour and can make it look pigmented. So, it’s a bit tricky for tattooists to ensure the right colour appears on the mole.

Is it safe to tattoo over freckles?

Unlike moles, it’s perfectly fine to get inked over freckles! Technically, tattooing over freckles is the same as tattooing over clear skin. It won’t bother your tattooist and you don’t need to worry about excessive bleeding.

Is it safe to tattoo over birthmarks?

It depends on the type of birthmark. Remember, moles are a type of birthmark too (and it’s not safe to tattoo over moles). Some birthmarks disappear well before adulthood. But for those that survive until your 18^th birthday (when you can be legally tattooed), it’s best to seek medical advice from your GP or a dermatologist.

Still thinking of getting a tattoo on your mole?

Now that you know getting a tattoo on a mole isn’t advisable, here’s what you can do instead:

Tattoo around the mole

This is actually an ingenious solution. You’re not harming your mole in any way, shape or form. You just need to think of a tattoo design that will put that mole to good use. Here’s an example:

As you can see, the mole is hidden well in the design. Can’t see it? It’s the dot above the letter “i”. Pretty cool, right?!

Have it removed surgically

Whether it’s benign or cancerous, mole removal is an option nowadays. If you really, really want to get a tattoo on the spot right where your mole is, then consider having the mole removed. It may end up in a bit of scarring, but fortunately, your tattoo will hide it well and no one will be the wiser!

Conclusion

It’s not advisable to get tattooed directly over your mole or birthmark (freckles are fine). But if push comes to shove, you can either have it removed surgically or you may ask your artist to tattoo around the mole.

Who can give blood?

In a perfect world, everyone capable and healthy can give blood. But this isn’t the case obviously. There needs to be certain criteria in place to ensure the safety of recipients. These requirements will vary from country to country, but here in the UK, here’s who can donate:

• Age: Between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you’ve given blood before). If you’re over 70 and have donated blood in the past 2 years, you’re also eligible.
• Weight: Between 50kg and 158kg
• Generally fit and healthy
• Other conditions:
  • If you just got a tattoo / body piercing / non-medical injection, you need to wait at least 4 months before donating blood (scroll down to know why).
  • If you’ve got a cold, you can’t donate. Wait for it to clear up first.
  • If you’re feeling under the weather, get some rest to get better.
  • If you have an infection (and taking antibiotics for it), wait at least 14 days before giving blood.
  • If you’re pregnant, you can’t give blood (you and your baby need it).
  • You can donate blood after 24 hours if you had a simple dental treatment. Otherwise, you need to wait up to 14 days (or more).

For a more comprehensive list on who can donate blood, please visit https://www.blood.co.uk/.

So, people with old tattoos can give blood, yes? 

Yes, if your tattoo is more than 4 months old, you can give blood. However, you can only do so if you got inked by a licensed tattooist.

If you got tattooed by a scratcher or you had a stick and poke tattoo done by a friend at home, then it’s best to wait at least a year before donating blood.

But why the discrepancy in waiting times?

Well, if you got inked by a licenced tattooist, then it is assumed that proper sanitation is observed in the premises. This is one of the key requirements for local councils to approve a tattooist for business.

To get a tattoo licence, the shop or parlour will be evaluated and inspected first to ensure all stringent requirements are met, and that clients’ health won’t be compromised. Only then can they get a licence to operate their business.  

Now, if you got inked by a scratcher or a non-licensed, wannabe tattooist, then it’s a different story altogether. Scratchers tend to work in less than ideal, unsanitary environments. Sure, some of them may be skilled and talented. But that won’t mean a thing if you contract a tattoo infection. Or worse, a bloodborne disease like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, MRSA, and even HIV!

Tattooing isn’t just about sticking needles in someone’s skin, it’s technically a minor medical operation. Blood-borne pathogens certainly aren’t a joke, so work with someone who’s actually licenced to do the job.

The waiting time serves an important purpose…

It allows the body to produce antibodies, so that diseases can be identified. Antibodies take time to produce, so if you contracted an infection a week ago, it won’t show up immediately on blood tests. It’s important for your blood to be free of bloodborne diseases. You’re donating to save lives, not put anyone in harm’s way!

That said, always choose to work with a licenced tattooist. The risks are significantly reduced, and you get to donate life-saving blood in just 4 short months!

Disclaimer:

The 4-month waiting period applies to the UK. For other locations, please check with your local authorities to find out how soon AFTER getting a tattoo you can donate blood. Some countries/states/provinces require longer periods (6 months to 1 year). Others are able to donate a day or two later (in places which regulate tattoo shops).  

Can you donate blood BEFORE getting a tattoo?

It’s possible to donate blood before you get a tattoo, as long it’s not on the same day. This is because you may feel faint or lightheaded after donating. And seeing how painful tattooing can be, you need all your strength to withstand the pain.

Allow your body to recover from your good deed first, before embarking on your next endeavour. This may take a day or two, or however long you need to recuperate from the blood loss.

Here’s what you can do to help your body recover and prepare for your upcoming tattoo appointment:

• Eat well and get a good night’s sleep

Blood donation can take maybe 30-45 minutes. But it can be physically exhausting. You may feel weak and dizzy, so grab a healthy snack and drink water afterwards. Then get at least 6-8 hours of sleep to help your body recover.

• Drink plenty of fluids for the next few days

You just lost a lot of fluid (in the form of blood). To avoid dehydration, you should drink plenty of water and/or sports drinks like Gatorade to replace electrolytes in your body.

• Avoid going to the gym and/or exercising

For the gym bunnies out there, surely, a day or two of rest won’t kill you. But strenuous physical activity might. After donating, it’s best to get plenty of rest. Don’t forget you still need to prepare your body for your tattooing session.  

• Avoid taking blood thinning medication

This includes aspirin or ibuprofen. Doing so may cause issues with your tattoo healing properly.  

• Avoid drinking alcohol

Alcohol thins the blood. If you do have a tattoo the following day, it’s best to avoid drinking any alcoholic drinks.

If you still feel light-headed even after getting some rest, and you feel unwell the day after giving blood, you may be coming down with something. If so, speak with your GP and reschedule your tattoo appointment to a later date.

Why become a donor: Benefits of donating blood

By now, you already know that giving blood can save lives. If everyone healthy were to donate blood regularly, we’d have sufficient supply in blood banks everywhere. Anyone who needs blood won’t ever need to go into panic mode, and can focus on their recovery instead.

But what about you? As a donor, do you get anything in return for your benevolent act?

The answer is yes, you do get a lot of benefit in return! Here are some of them:

• Lowers your iron levels

Iron is important to the body. If you’re low in iron, you’re anaemic. If you’ve got too much iron, you may have hemochromatosis (more men suffer this condition, probably because females lose blood through menstruation). It’s therefore important to have just the right amount of iron in blood. And one way to maintain healthy levels of iron in blood is by donating blood regularly.

• Reduce the risk of heart attack

According to this study, blood donation can lower the risk of myocardial infarction or heart attack. People who have high levels of iron in their blood are especially at risk of heart failure and disease.

• Reduce the risk of cancer

Too much iron can accelerate the growth of tumours. High levels of iron is associated with a 25% increase in risk of getting cancer. It is therefore important to reduce iron levels in blood – and donating blood will certainly help you achieve this goal.

• Replenish blood

Women menstruate and regularly replenish blood. Men, however, don’t. So, if you’ve got high iron levels in blood, it’s best to give blood if you can.

• Feel good about yourself

Knowing you’re helping someone is a powerful mood booster! I’ve personally donated blood several times over the years, and I always feel good afterwards. You may not know the recipient personally, but the knowledge that you’re making a difference in a life-and-death situation feels wonderful.

So, how often can you donate blood?  

Lovin’ the health benefits of blood donation and thinking of donating frequently? Well, that’s great news! The more you donate, the more people get the blood they need! So, how often can you donate?

• If you get tattooed frequently, you can donate 4 months after your last tattoo.
• For men, you can donate every 3 months (there’s a shorter recovery period between donations because men have more haemoglobin).
• Women, on the other hand, can donate every 4 months (girls menstruate so there needs to be some leeway for haemoglobin levels to go back to normal).

What to look for to ensure you get a ‘sanitary’ tattoo

Keep these tips in mind if you want to ensure you get a safe tattoo, so you can continue (or start) donating blood after 4 months!

• Verify the tattooing licence

Professionally-done tattoos cost more money than a DIY tattoo or scratcher tattoo. And it’s understandable why. You’re paying for their skills, their experience, and their sanitary practices to protect you from infection and disease.  

In the UK, tattooists are advised to display their licence or certificate in a prominent part of the shop (this is usually in the reception area). Failure to do so may result in a council fine or penalty.  

• Make sure the place is clean, especially the tattooist’s working area

Do an ocular inspection of the tattoo shop you plan on getting tattooed at. Schedule a visit before your appointment and ask the tattooist if you can sit in and observe. Here are some things you should watch out for:

Do you see a sharps box?

It’s where tattooists dispose their single-use needles and cartridges after every session. If the artist throws their needles into a regular trash bin, then that’s a big no-no.

Does the artist cover up the entire working area with plastic wrap, including their tattoo machine?

It’s easy for cross-contamination to occur if they don’t. Blood and other bodily fluids can easily splash onto various surfaces. It’s important to make sure the artist replaces the wraps after each session.

Does the artist use disposable gloves?

It would be so unsanitary if he/she didn’t! And make sure that those gloves stay on, they don’t touch uncovered and unprotected surfaces. Otherwise, that defeats the purpose of wearing gloves in the first place, right?

Ensure the artist does not use recycled tattooing equipment

Some tattoo parlours use autoclaves to sterilise their tattooing equipment. But nowadays, it’s more practical to just use single-use needles. Check that the needles, tattoo ink, and gloves aren’t reused, and are used straight from the packaging.

• Follow proper aftercare

You’ve got 4 months to wait from the moment you get inked until you can finally donate blood. Your tattoo will be fully healed by then. In fact, if you carefully follow aftercare instructions, your tattoo should heal up within 3-4 weeks. Here’s an infographic to give you an idea of what goes on during aftercare:

Related article: Tattoo Etiquette: The 12 Do’s and Don’ts of Getting a Tattoo

Conclusion

You can still donate blood even if you’ve got a tattoo. As long as you meet the donor criteria, and clear the 4-month waiting period, then blood donation should be on your to-do list. You’ll not only save lives, you’ll also reap plenty of health benefits, too!

How to do a permanent tattoo?

Obviously, I’m not talking about peel ‘n stick tattoos, henna tattoos, airbrush tattoos, the so-called ‘sunburn’ tattoos, and other similar temporary “tattoos.” Permanent tattoos refer to skin art that’s done by sticking needles – often, lots of them! – in the skin.

Technically, you only need a needle and ink to make a permanent tattoo – this is what happens with DIY tattoos or stick and poke tattoos. This traditional way of doing tattoos is said to be more painful since one needle poke translates to just one dot on the skin.

A tattooist using a tattoo machine on a client (Photo by Antonino Visalli)

By contrast, modern tattooists use tattooing equipment such as coiled and rotary tattoo machines. These machines allow artists to use a cluster of tattoo needles to achieve different goals. Some needle groupings work great for tattooing small lines, thick lines and outlines on the skin. Other needles are more efficient for colour fillings and shading work.

What this all means is that tattooists can finish a large and complex tattoo in a relatively short period of time. This is because these machines can poke the skin hundreds or thousands of times a minute (no human can manually do this).

The tiny holes in the skin make it easy for tattoo ink to seep through to the skin’s inner layers. This is why it’s important to work with someone who knows how to do tattoos the right way.

An inexperienced tattooist can either puncture the skin too shallow or too deep – either won’t bode well for your tattoo. There’s really only one right way to do a permanent tattoo – and that is to deposit ink in the dermis layer of the skin.

If you’re asking how far tattoo needles need to go in your skin, well, that really depends on the area being worked on. Some body parts have more skin fat, while others are literally skin over bone. An artist who has prior experience in the same area will know exactly how deep the needle should go.

Related article: Tattoo Pain Chart: How Bad Do Tattoos Hurt?

How tattoos work: why are tattoos permanent?

Here’s a video showing why tattoos last so long on skin:

If you can’t play the video above, here’s what happens on the skin:

Tattoo ink is inserted in the dermis

Before we go further, I’d just like to say that I find it incredible that thousands of years ago, someone discovered (most likely by accident) that ink needs to be deposited at a certain depth so it can stay there permanently!

Now, as you can see in the image below, the human skin is made up of 3 layers:

• the epidermis (topmost layer)
• the dermis (middle layer)
• the hypodermis (bottom layer)

For tattoos to remain in the skin forever, the ink needs to be deposited in the dermis layer. This is because unlike the epidermis, the dermis does not shed or renew every 3-4 weeks.

Getting ink on the epidermis during the tattooing process is totally normal. However, you can expect it to disappear within a few weeks once the entire skin layer renews. This is the case with so-called “semi-permanent tattoos.” The ink gets absorbed in the epidermis but vanishes after a couple of weeks.

But what about the hypodermis, you ask?

Well, when ink gets into the hypodermis, it causes an effect called a ‘tattoo blowout.’ The ink underneath the skin spreads out and looks blurred. This is because the hypodermis is made up of blood vessels and lobules of fat cells, so it’s much harder for the ink to settle (unlike in the dermis). If you find your skin bleeding far more than usual, it’s highly likely the ink made its way into the hypodermis.

How does tattoo ink stay in the skin (or more specifically, the dermis)?

As soon as the tattoo needle punctures the skin and ink is deposited, the body’s immune system springs into action to try and repair the skin. It perceives the ink as a threat and sends macrophages to the area to try to contain it, so it can get rid of it.

Unfortunately for the macrophages (and fortunately for us tattoo lovers), the ink particles are way too big for them to absorb and destroy. So, they end up absorbing the ink and keeping them permanently in the dermis.   

However, over time and with frequent sun exposure, the ink particles will get broken down into smaller particles. This allows the body to get rid of the pigment where it gets carried away by the bloodstream, into the lymph nodes, and eventually, gets eliminated as waste. This is why tattoos look faded as the years go by.

What is tattoo ink made from?

Now that you know how tattoos work, it’s time to know what’s in the ink used in most tattoos. You may be surprised to know that the tattoo ink industry isn’t regulated, so there’s a wide variety of ingredients used to make the ink.  

That said, tattoo ink has two components: pigment and carrier. The pigment is basically the dye that gives colour to the tattoo. The carrier, on the other hand, is the liquid base that helps ‘transport’ the pigment from the needle to the skin.

Pigment

For pigments, the material used depends on the colour. To clue you in on how unsafe some tattoo ink ingredients are, here’s a partial list:

• Black ink – carbon, nickel, iron
• Red – mercury, cadmium
• Yellow – lead, cadmium, zinc
• Orange – cadmium
• Green – lead, chromium, aluminium, copper

As you can see, some of these ingredients are heavy metals! Sure, they’d add a nice colour to your tattoo, but don’t be surprised if you get a tattoo ink allergy. Also, some heavy metals can cause a reaction even on old tattoos. Cadmium, for instance, is photosensitive, so when it’s exposed to the sun, it can cause your tattoo to itch unbearably!

Carrier

Ink carriers play a huge role in ensuring the ink gets to the right spot. Distilled water can be used, yes, but many manufacturers (and artists who make/mix their own ink) prefer alcohol-based carriers. The alcohol prevents bacteria from growing in the liquid solution.

That said, some of the safer options out there include ethyl alcohol, glycerine, listerine, witch hazel and propylene glycol. Watch out – and stay away – from tattoo ink that uses denatured alcohol, methanol, rubbing alcohol, formaldehyde and antifreeze as carriers!

Fortunately, many ink manufacturers are now using more skin-friendly ingredients. Don’t be afraid to ask your tattooist about the ingredients used in their ink. You’ve got the right to know, it is your skin after all!

Related article: The Truth About Tattoo Ink: What Is Tattoo Ink Made Of?

What to look for in a tattoo artist?

Professional tattooists can charge a handsome price for their services. They spend years learning their craft. And it’s not a job for the faint-hearted. I mean, they are technically doing a minor medical operation and leaving a permanent mark on people’s skin. If they botch the job, it can come back to haunt them big-time.

Registered

Stay away from scratchers, a.k.a. unlicensed wannabe tattooists. You should only work with a registered tattooist. Their certificate or license should be displayed in their shop. If you can’t see it, then ask to see it. Better safe than sorry, mate.

Clean premises

Tattooing is a bloody business. You wouldn’t want to get blood and other organic matter from other people on you, right? That would be highly unsanitary and can lead to tattoo infection and various diseases!

Visit the studio prior to your appointment and take note of what’s going on inside:

• Does the tattooist put on fresh new gloves for every client?
• Do they use fresh, disposable needles for every appointment?
• Is the tattoo machine and its power supply wrapped in disposable plastic?
• What about the chair you’ll be sitting on? Is it wrapped in plastic as well?

You want to work with a tattooist who prioritises everyone’s safety. Bloodborne pathogens and viruses are no joke, as you’re probably aware of the recent coronavirus pandemic.

Experienced

If you want to get your money’s worth, then it’s best to work with someone who actually knows what they’re doing. If you’ve got a specific design in mind, you can look for a tattooist who specialises in your type of design.

If you don’t know anybody, don’t be afraid to ask for referrals. The tattoo community is relatively small and tight-knit, and referrals happen all the time. That said, if you don’t have a specific design yet, ask to see their portfolio so you get a few ideas. You can also ask if they have any pre-designed artworks available.

Final thoughts

Now that you know how tattoos work, go on out there and have fun! Keep in mind all the pointers you’ve learned in this article, and you’ll have a safe and hopefully enjoyable tattooing session.