Decorative tattoos and reasons for their removal: a prospective study in 151 adults living in South of France

Background Despite increasing demands for decorative tattooing in people of all ages, occupations and social classes, little is known regarding individuals’ characteristics and behaviour with respect to tattooing. Objective The objective was to describe a large sample of French people asking for tattoo laser removal, to investigate their reasons for being tattooed and for tattoo removal, and to identify groups of subjects sharing similar characteristics. Methods A prospective exploratory study was conducted on 151 consecutive subjects asking for tattoo removal. Results The study population was composed of 65 women and 86 men, aged between 18 and 60 years. The reasons mentioned for tattoo removal included aesthetic, social, employment, family or partner pressure, change of lifestyle or partner and incompatibility with present attitudes and values. Four profiles were identified. Types 1 and 3 correspond to subjects with amateur tattoos more frequently reporting social reasons for tattoo removal, whereas types 2 and 4 correspond to subjects with studio tattoos who more frequently report aesthetic reasons. Types 1 and 4 are mainly composed of men (aged over forty and under forty, respectively), type 2 of women under thirty and type 3 of subjects of either sex aged over forty. Conclusions These profiles could be used to target information campaigns about tattooing and tattoo removal techniques to avoid unwanted tattoos, and afterwards, possible disappointment after removal, as well as to target education programs on possible health risks. Furthermore, our findings open the way to focus further studies on more homogenous group of tattooed subjects.