Getting a tattoo is often for the beauty of the art and the design placed on the skin. The image stays with the recipient and can be a reminder of things past or future that the individual wishes to keep in mind. It is with this desire for beauty and an artistic drive that often leads to new developments in the tattoo industry, as well as new types of ink.
Newer developments in the tattoo industry have brought ultraviolet tattoos which are comprised of ultraviolet ink. The popularity of these tattoos was considerable when they first came about and they were widely popular amongst club-goers and those with regular access to black lights, or ultraviolet lighting. The tattoo cannot be seen without the use of ultraviolet lighting and therefore is an inconspicuous way to add tattoo artistry to your life. This is another obvious reason for its popularity. By being able to hide the tattoo during the day, it is even more rewarding to reveal it at night by black light. It is with this kind of approach to body art that ultraviolet tattoos became more popular and widely seen.
It is important to know that most tattoo artists do not encourage the use of the ultraviolet ink, nor do they carry it in their shops. The ink is not FDA approved for use on humans and has been known to cause side effects. Complaints of burning, skin rashes, blistering, and other side effects have been seen as well as complaints that the ink interferes with x-rays and leaves pain and burning on the skin after one is performed. Since most tattoo inks are not necessarily approved or safe, it is obviously important to be aware of the risks involved when searching out a tattoo specialist. Furthermore, some have complained that sun exposure leads to a yellowing out of ultraviolet tattoos, leading to a noticeable marking on the skin during the day. When it comes to such complaints, there are obviously varying degrees of severity to be concerned about and everyone's skin and immune system responds differently to tattoo inks.
Another important thing to consider is removing ultraviolet tattoos. Since modern laser technology, tattoos may still be considered permanent, but they can be lightened and removed via laser treatment. Yet with ultra violet tattoos, if you desire to remove it, laser tattoo removal is not necessarily going to work and you may find it difficult to remove in that fashion. Since the lasers can only tackle certain colors, it is important to understand your options so that you are aware of the risks involved.
Long term effects related to ultraviolet tattoos has not been researched or studied. It is highly possible that certain side effects are simply not known and that certain symptoms may go unnoticed until years later. The point is, when making a decision that affects the health of your skin, your body, and your life, you should obviously be informed. Ask questions and seek out professional tattoo artists who are informed and who can give you sound advice.
Many people believe that Vitamin E is beneficial, and therefore take Vitamin E supplements. Despite the absence of proven advantages, antioxidant vitamins are widely used for prolonged periods of time and at high doses by healthy people, those at risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, and by individuals with cancer.
Intuitively, one would think that Vitamin E protects the body from the toxic effects of radiation. Thus, many people take Vitamin E during radiation therapy, hoping it will reduce potential side effects, but do not report it to their physicians.
Study Design To test whether or not Vitamin E administration during radiation therapy could prevent second cancers from developing in the future, a clinical trial was conducted in Canada. Its results were published recently in The International Journal of Cancer. Five hundred forty patients with early stage cancer of the head and neck who were to undergo radiation therapy were the subjects of the study.
Head and neck cancer originates in the area of the head and neck and includes malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses and lymph glands in the neck The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous (pronounced SKWAY-miss) cell cancer, which describes the type of cell from which the cancer originated. The standard of care for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck often includes radiation therapy, as well as surgery and chemotherapy.
Nearly half of the patients received 400 IU (International Units) of Vitamin E and the other half received placebo, an inactive substance. The people in the former group continued to use Vitamin E for three years after radiation therapy. Patients were followed for a total of six and a half years.
Outcome The results of the study were astonishing and revealed not only that Vitamin E was not beneficial, but in fact, was associated with a nearly 40% increase in the risk of death when compared to those counterparts who received a placebo.
Conclusions The researchers concluded that is Vitamin E is not protective, and in fact, it might actually be harmful to patients with head and neck cancer who are receiving radiation therapy.
Discussion Vitamin E falls into the category of anti-oxidants. Theoretically, the adverse outcome can be attributed to Vitamin E having a paradoxical effect, that is, instead of serving as an anti-oxidant, Vitamin E might have promoted oxidation; by displacing other antioxidants within the cells of the body, these cells might have become more vulnerable to damage from oxidation.
Recommendations People who are undergoing radiation therapy should inform their physicians of all non-prescription medications and supplements they are taking. The good news is that doctors can then counsel patients wisely as to which products may be used safely. For more information about radiation therapy, visit www.ASTRO.org, the official website of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
Dr. Kornmehl is a board certified radiation oncologist at Passaic Beth Israel Regional Medical Center, Passaic, NJ and author of the critically acclaimed consumer health book, ?The Best News About Radiation Therapy? (M. Evans, 2004). Her website is www.RTSupportDoc.com .
Both Elisa Cruz & Carol L. Kornmehl, M.d., F.a.c.r.o. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Elisa Cruz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy, Hair Removal and Painting. More information on , and a. Elisa Cruz's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.