Introducing permanent colors under the surface of the skin to make decorative designs on the skin: People who were tattooed even as far back as a thousand years ago, had it done originally as a means of identification.

When the skins of people are tattooed, even by professionals, it is potentially dangerous; especially, if the person who tattoos does not follow strict sterile procedures because hepatitis and AIDS can be transmitted through the needles that introduce the dyes.