CLARKSVILLE TATTOO ALLIANCE
SERVING CLARKSVILLE, FORT.CAMPBELL & MIDDLE TENNESSEE WITH HONESTY, INTEGRITY & ETHICS SINCE 1997
CODE OF ETHICS FOR CLARKSVILLE ALLIANCE PROFESSIONAL TATTOOISTS
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
TATTOOISTS UPHOLD AND ADVANCE THE INTEGRITY, HONOR AND DIGNITY OF THE TATTOO PROFESSION BY; Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of the skin as a canvas Being honest, impartial, and serving with fidelity the public and clients Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the tattoo profession; and Supporting the professional and technical societies of thier profession. THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
Tattooists shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of thier professional duties. Tattooists shall perform services only in the areas of their competance. Tattooists shall issue public statements only in an objective manner. Tattooists shall act in professional matters for each client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest. Tattooists shall build their professional reputation on the merits of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others. Tattooists shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the tattoo profession. Tattooists shall continue their professional development throughout their carreers and shall provide the opprotunities for the professional development of the apprentice tattooists under thier supervision.
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Tattoo Pain
While there is no way to anticipate the amount of pain you will experience, arriving with certain amount of determination will almost certainly guarantee you that it won't hurt as nearly as much as you expected.
Getting a tattoo involves piercing the skin, and so there is going to be some pain involved, no matter how small the tattoo and no matter where it is on your body.
The amount and type of pain experienced is highly variable depending on the skill level of an artist & each individual's tolerance to and acceptance of pain. While tattooing, the needles puncture the skin at a very fast rate and at a variable depth. The outline is usually the most painful work, the needles being used to create a nice solid black line that will define the tattoo, and so this type of needle work is inserted deeply and carefully to ensure complete and effective coverage.
The shading is usually not as painful, but this also depends upon the depth of penetration and the desired effect. The pain you feel is generally as a slight burning or hot scratching sensation.
Generally, the tattoo is more painful if applied to areas of the body where there is less muscle and fatty tissue covering bone, like wrists, ankles, chests, and other normally sensitive body areas. Upper arms are usually the least painful, while the ankles and sternum can be quite sensitive.
The tattoo pain is certainly not unbearable, here are some tips for coping with and minimizing the pain: Find a reputable tattooist that you feel comfortable with to get the tattoo work done, the confidence you get from a tattooist can minimize your pain to the highest.
Don't show up drunk or on drugs. Go in with some determination and accept the fact that a few hours of discomfort without giving the tattooist a hard time will help ensure that you get a first-rate tattoo.
If you feel you can't take the pain anymore, tell your tattooist. Take a short break, or come back. Tattoos don't have to be applied all in one sitting, Although people get tattooed all the time without problems be prepared to pay the busniess for time spent holding your hand. This article is really a result of a growing trend that I have witnessed for cover up tattoos. It seems like ever day I see someone looking for a new custom tattoo design to cover up some old ink they had done. Getting rid of an old tattoo that you no longer like is not so easy but can be done. Your only two options are painful and expensive laser removal or a cover up design. Unfortunately most people can not afford the laser removal and some cover up tattoos are big, black, and can even draw more attention to itself. So honestly the best option is to think before you ink. This is going to become our new motto. Unfortunately there are tons of people out there that do not think before getting a tattoo and later end up regretting them. Top 5 reasons people state for wanting to get rid of a tattoo. Got the tattoo while out with friends. These are so common that we have come across people that are getting cover up tattoos for all of the above reasons. Recently with the growing trend of Japanese Kanji tattoos many people are paying good money for these only to find later they don't mean what they were originally told. Also they often don't translate well. For example getting something like "Bling" or "Pimp" translated to Japanese just does not work. There is no kanji for these words. Do some research on the symbolism behind the tattoo design and think about what you want it to say. Then have a professional tattoo artist do the design for you. Take the time to look at the design maybe mull over it for a few days. You can even have a tempory tattoo and spend some time thinking about it. Tattoos are expensive and custom tattoo can cost even more. It is more expensive to get a cover up done or go through laser removal. So spend some time thinking about your tattoo and do some research on the design. It is way better then regretting the design for the rest of your life.
COVER-UPS Cost of Tattoos Tattooing has always been expensive. The tattoo supply has increased dramatically with a surge in the amount of artists, but the demand has also increased, with more people getting tattoos, and tattooing becoming less taboo. So tattooing is still expensive. In America, you can expect a basic price of $100 to $200 an hour. Sometimes shops don’t charge by the hour, but instead by the piece, and that may or may not be to your advantage. There is a minimum at every shop, and although that often differs, very few shops will ever touch you for less than $50. This may seem incredibly pricey, especially since you might only want a star the size of a dime, but there’s a few reasons they won’t charge you less. Most tattoo artists pay a percentage of what they make to the shop in order to work there and use certain supplies. Most shops in America pay between 40-60% of what they make to the shop’s owner, so out of that $40 minimum, the artist may only be making $20. Also, tattooing equipment is another cost. So in order to make it worth their time at all, they usually set minimums. There are a few myths about the cost of tattoos that I’d like to correct. Color tattoos do not cost more than black and grey ones. Color tattoos do tend to take longer if they have large palettes than black and grey tattoos do, so that may be a factor, but color itself is not more expensive. Where it is on the body may differ in price at the discretion of the tattoo artist. Shoulders are easy to tattoo, while the lower back is much more difficult. So the same exact tattoo on your shoulder may cost a good deal less than it placed on your lower back. This shouldn’t factor into your decision when deciding where to place your tattoo that you will have for the rest of your life, but it is something that you might want to be aware of. Since no tattoo price is set in stone, unless the artist works exactly by the hour only, tattoo artists oftentimes try to see how much money they can get out of the customer without scaring them away. Prices are often made up on the spot depending on many factors, including whether they are excited to do the piece, where it is going to be on your body, and even if they’re broke that week. So it’s wise to find a fair and talented tattoo artist that you trust, rather than gambling at the shop where its common practise to Hype themselves up & down the other guy.. Dirty tricks are a part of any industry but Tattoo studios have an advantage over say a business that sales a product. This alone is a big reason the industry is filled with a sense of bad mystic mojo. It is the unknown, a adventure into a world where each studio is its own jungle. Its also another reason people stay within one local studio, Because they carry the bad attitude from one studio to another and find themselves face with an artist or studio with a different values of business. This article started out educating on the price of Tattoo work, I have given you an inside look about this topic. Tattoo Artist unlike other businesses can pick & choose the work they do by price alone. So in closing I will say talk to your artist truthfully, And if you get the feeling you’re a target then you probably are. TATTOO INK
Break up your session if needed.
Listen to music or let your imagination go wild during the procedure, a certain degree of distraction set by your self will help you put less concentration on the pain. After all, the pain you experience while getting tattooed is a unique and certainly bearable pain.
Take the opportunity to enjoy a new and unique experience that will mark the emergence of a "new you" from the tattoo studio.
Think before you ink?
Cover Ups Almost no matter what you have tattooed on your body, as long as it’s not badly scarred or just solid black, you can cover it up.
Not every tattoo artist is at the same skill level for cover up work, though, so research your artist well before you choose one.
There are many common misunderstandings about cover up work that have people keeping old junky tattoos that they dislike even when they don’t have to.
There’s two types of cover ups, the first is redoing an old tattoo to make it look new again, and the other is completely changing what you originally had with a new image or design.
When you have an old, faded tattoo, even if it was solid black, you can make it look as if it was just done and perfect. A nice sharp outline will give any tattoo new life, and help clean up any blurring of the old outline into the surrounding skin. The old faded black can be redone with black on top of it, and depending on how faded it is, color can be a good way to add more life.
Color can cover black, despite the common myths that nothing but more black will. Sometimes giving the redone tattoo a colored background to really make it stand out also adds to the new look.
If you need to get a tattoo covered, as many people unfortunately do, it can be done. main guidelines to changing a tattoo from one design to another are:
1. You need to make the new tattoo at least 50% larger than the old one.
2. You need to change the focal point of the new tattoo away from the old focal point.
3. You need to be working on a tattoo that is fully healed and not badly scarred.
These guidelines give the new tattoo artist room to trick the viewers eye into looking at a new focal point, and taking their eye away from certain points of the old tattoo that need to be covered.
If your first tattoo has large amount of dark shading, a new bright focal point will be made to attract attention there. This is why making the tattoo a bit bigger is usually a must. As stated earlier, color can cover black in certain situations, and this can help so much when trying to give dimension to a new tattoo.
Do remember that this new tattoo might take more than one sit in order to be finished. Some cover ups need to be done in layers, in order to fully blend the ink of the new one into the skin and ink of the old.
It is also crucial to make sure you choose a design/image this time that you can live with for life, as a second cover up is almost impossible.
That is another reason why the new artist should be chosen carefully.
PICKING A STUDIO
When considering a tattoo, it is important to do some research on the local studios before deciding to hire them. There are several questions that every customer should ask before even considering hiring a tattoo artist. How long has the studio been in business?
Forget the local Better Business Bureau, most studios turning to the BBB are hiding behind them as a shield. These people have no idea how to indorse any studio. Not to mention this is a paid service from the BBB. If you have friends who also have tattoos, who do they recommend and what was their experience with the artist?
It is very important to follow up with references, along with an extensive background check of the company. The background check may be to simply make sure the company hasn't switched names a number of times or moved around frequently within the same area, which may indicate poor service.
All of these factors must be considered before selecting a tattoo studio and/or artist. In your research, try to find out which businesses have the best history with making sure their equipment is clean. This is the most important thing to consider about tattoos because, if the business is not licensed or the artist is not a professional, there is no guarantee that their instruments are clean or properly maintained.
Your health is your biggest concern so, if you are considering tattoos, be sure to select the best check with the local health dept. for studios with the highest score. If equipment/artist is unsanitary, there is the possibility of diseases being transmitted or even infections. These can be very dangerous and should not be discounted. A quality tattoo studio is one that will be welcoming to the customer, and the sure safest bet is to pick only studios who are 100% disposable.
The artist should be friendly and personable and not intimidate the customer. In addition, the artist should not push one design over another. For example, a customer should not be talked into getting a more expensive tattoo when the one they really wanted would cost much less. The same business practices, regarding sales and customer service, are the same with tattoo studios and any other business. No customer likes a pushy sales pitch or an unfriendly salesperson.
The studio that a customer ultimately selects should be one that looks clean, features friendly and courteous service and has a good record with the Health dept. and customer references. Ask about tipping, Most studios change a good price for a good tattoo. Artist or studios pushy for tips clearly do not have the best intentions concerning your art work.
The best way to locate tattoo studios is a quick search through the telephone book's yellow pages or via one of the many internet directories. By searching under the ‘tattoo' category or keyword, an individual should be able to quickly locate any studio in his/her local area. Although you maybe temped to run to the studio with the biggest ad do not over look the single line ad,
As always keep an opened mind about your options, Steer clear of any studio bad mouthing or showing bad work from other studios, Ask yourself why does this place have to tear down someone else in order to build themselves up ? Any true professional will show you their own portfolio, Leaving you to decide how they stand up to the local competitors .
Don’t be too excited about the hype coming from an artist about how long or how they was trained, Ask for the records. One problem of many studio is drugs don’t be afraid to check out your artist if you suspect drug use get out as quick as you can.
Remember you can only hear so many rumors about an studio or artist before you have to wonder if the whole world is calling them a junkie who is telling the truth ? Is the whole world lying, You have to be smart & part of being smart is keeping an open mind. Sure someone on drugs can paint your house work on your motorbike, But is that really the type of artist you want ?
I have personally known some great artist that could careless about Joe Blow customer giving them less than deservered ink work Yet grand standing at conventions & in advertising about the awards they have won, Bringing us back to don’t believe the hype
Manufacturers of inks and pigments are not required to reveal the contents.
A professional who mixes his or her own inks from dry pigments will be most likely to know the composition of the inks.
However, the information is proprietary (trade secrets), so you may or may not get answers to questions. Most tattoo inks technically aren't inks.
They are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution.
Contrary to popular belief, pigments usually are not vegetable dyes. Today's pigments primarily are metal salts. However, some pigments are plastics and there are probably some vegetable dyes too.
The pigment provides the color of the tattoo.
The purpose of the carrier is to disinfect the pigment suspension, keep it evenly mixed, and provide for ease of application.
Tattoos and Toxicity
This article is concerned primarily with the composition of the pigment and carrier molecules. However, there are important health risks associated with tattooing, both from the inherent toxicity of some of the substances involved and unhygienic practices.
Some of the risks are described in this article. To learn more about these risks, care of a new tattoo, and get other information, check out some of the sites listed to the right of each page of this article. Also, check out the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier. The MSDS won't be able to identify all chemical reactions or risks associated with chemical interactions within the ink or the skin, but it will give some basic information about each component of the ink.
Pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Pigment Chemistry The oldest pigments came from using ground up minerals and carbon black.
Today's pigments include the original mineral pigments, modern industrial organic pigments, a few vegetable-based pigments, and some plastic-based pigments. Allergic reactions, scarring, phototoxic reactions (i.e., reaction from exposure to light, especially sunlight), and other adverse effects are possible with many pigments.
The plastic-based pigments are very intensely colored, but many people have reported reactions to them. There are also pigments that glow in the dark or in response to black (ultraviolet) light. These pigments are notoriously risky - some may be safe, but others are radioactive or otherwise toxic.
Here's a table listing the colors of common pigments use in tattoo inks. It isn't exhaustive - pretty much anything that can be used as a pigment has been at some time. Also, many inks mix one or more pigment:
Compostion of Tattoo Pigments Color Materials
Black
-Iron Oxide (Fe3O4) Iron Oxide (FeO) Carbon Logwood Natural black pigment is made from magnetite crystals, powdered jet, wustite, bone black,and amorphous carbon from combustion (soot).
Black pigment is commonly made into India ink. Logwood is a heartwood extract from Haematoxylon campechisnum, found in Central America and the West Indies.
Brown
- Ochre - Ochre is composed of iron (ferric) oxides mixed with clay.
Raw ochre is yellowish. When dehydrated through heating, ochre changes to a reddish color.
Red
- Cinnabar (HgS) Cadmium Red (CdSe) Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) Napthol-AS pigment
- Iron oxide is also known as common rust. Cinnabar and cadmium pigments are highly toxic. Napthol reds are synthesized from Naptha. Fewer reactions have been reported with naphthol red than the other pigments, but all reds carry risks of allergic or other reactions
Orange
- disazodiarylide and/or disazopyrazolone cadmium seleno-sulfide -
The organics are formed from the condensation of 2 monoazo pigment molecules. They are large molecules with good thermal stability and colorfastness
Yellow
-Cadmium Yellow (CdS, CdZnS) Ochres Curcuma Yellow Chrome Yellow (PbCrO4, often mixed with PbS) disazodiarylide-
Curcuma is derived from plants of the ginger family; aka tumeric or curcurmin. Reactions are commonly associated with yellow pigments, in part because more pigment is needed to achieve a bright color.
Green
- Chromium Oxide (Cr2O3), called Casalis Green or Anadomis Green Malachite [Cu2(CO3)(OH)2] Ferrocyanides and Ferricyanides Lead chromate Monoazo pigment Cu/Al phthalocyanine Cu phthalocyanine
- The greens often include admixtures, such as potassium ferrocyanide (yellow or red) and ferric ferrocyanide (Prussian Blue)
Blue
- Azure Blue Cobalt Blue Cu-phthalocyanine - Blue pigments from minerals include copper (II) carbonate (azurite), sodium aluminum silicate (lapis lazuli), calcium copper silicate (Egyptian Blue), other cobalt aluminum oxides and chromium oxides.
The safest blues and greens are copper salts, such as copper pthalocyanine. Copper pthalocyanine pigments have FDA approval for use in infant furniture and toys and contact lenses. The copper-based pigments are considerably safer or more stable than cobalt or ultramarine pigments.
Violet
-Manganese Violet (manganese ammonium pyrophosphate) Various aluminum salts Quinacridone Dioxazine/carbazole
- Some of the purples, especially the bright magentas, are photoreactive and lose their color after prolonged exposure to light. Dioxazine and carbazole result in the most stable purple pigments
White
- Lead White (Lead Carbonate) Titanium dioxide (TiO2) Barium Sulfate (BaSO4) Zinc Oxide
- Some white pigments are derived from anatase or rutile. White pigment may be used alone or to dilute the intensity of other pigments. Titanium oxides are one of the least reactive white pigments.
Tattoo ink consists of pigment and a carrier. The carrier may be a single substance or a mixture. The purpose of the carrier is to keep the pigment evenly distributed in a fluid matrix, to inhibit the growth of pathogens, to prevent clumping of pigment, and to aid in application to the skin. Among the safest and most common ingredients used to make the liquid are:
*ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
*purified water
*witch hazel
*Listerine
*propylene glycol
*glycerine (glycerol)
However, many other substances have been and may be used, including: denatured alcohols (are toxic and can burn the skin) other alcohols (methyl alcohol or methanol and isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol are commonly used, although they are toxic) ethylene glycol (antifreeze, which is toxic) aldehydes, such as formaldehyde and gluteraldehyde (highly toxic) various surfactants or detergents
There are many other substances that could be found in an ink.
A tattooist has the choice of mixing his or her own ink (mixing dry dispersed pigment and a carrier solution) or purchasing what are called predispersed pigments.
Many predispersed pigments are as safe or safer than inks mixed by the tattooist. However, the ingredient list need not be disclosed, so any chemical could be present in the ink.
The best advice is to make sure the ink supplier and the particular ink has a long history of safety. Although I have applied the word 'toxic' to many substances listed on the pigment and carrier list, that is an oversimplification.
Some of these chemicals are mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, toxins, or participate in other reactions in the body, some of which may not show up for decades.
Even if you have quality pigments and use the recommended carriers to mix the ink, there are other, less obvious potential health hazards associated with tattoo inks:
Alcohol makes skin more permeable. This means that when alcohol is used in the ink or to disinfect the skin's surface, it allows more chemicals to cross into the bloodstream than ordinarily would.
Another interesting factoid concerning alcohol is that it is known as a 'promoter'. In biomedical parlance, this means alcohol works synergistically with mutagens, teratogens, and carcinogens to make them more likely to cause harm than they would by themselves.
If any hazardous substances are present in the ink, alcohol helps them into the body and then increases the chance that they may cause mutation or disease, not just at the site of the tatoo, but throughout the body.
Medical-grade chemicals are intended for medical uses, so any impurities within them should be relatively safe.
However, the trace amounts of contaminants in high purity chemicals from a chemical supply house may be extremely toxic substances!
An example: distilled water that isn't intended for drinking, while technically pretty pure, can have highly toxic organic chemicals as contaminants. The person who mixes the ink needs to understand proper sterilization techniques.
This includes knowing how to perform heat-sterilization and cold-sterilization and understanding the sterilization needs of different materials.
Dry or mixed pigments should never be heat sterilized, since the heat can cause chemical changes in the pigment molecules, sometimes producing toxic substances.
Having said all of this,
I still think ethyl alcohol, in the form of vodka, is the safest carrier for the pigments.
Propylene glycol and glycerine do a great job of keeping the pigment in solution.
Medical grade propylene glycol and glycerine are often available at pharmacies, feed supply stores, and stores that carry supplies for soap making or herbal medicine preparation.
You can use this article to scare hypochondriacs away from tattooing (grin), or to prepare yourself to ask the right questions of a tattoo professional to ensure the safest tattooing, or as an introduction to preparing your own tattoo ink
vitamins.
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The alliance members all agree that proper apprenticeships are the foundation to great level headed artist. When set out upon the tattoo community and even bigger the Tattoo industry, these people represent the education in which they were trained. CTA offers professional apprenticeship programs with any our member studios.
Apprenticeships aren’t easy, but with good mentors, anyone can develop and find their artistic limits. From there growing into a seasoned artist, building a career with a foundation deep in the Tattoo tradition. By entering this industry the right way & paying your dues, you will gain respect from all the artist who came though the program before you.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
A tattoo is one of the most dynamic symbols of self expression ever created and itís important to rely on the expert guidance of your artist for the proper aftercare of your life-long treasure. You were tattooed in a modern studio with sterilized instruments and pigments and, after the process, the artist may have dressed the tattoo with a small amount of Tattoo Goo.
The long life of your tattoo depends upon the care you give it during the critical first few days and weeks. Quality parlor operators worldwide have helped compile these simple directions for quick healing. However, we urge you to consult your own tattoo artist for any special instructions related to the aftercare of your specific tattoo.
Do not re-bandage the tattoo. Do not apply Vaseline, lanolin or petroleum based products.
Do not apply alcohol. Do not rub, scratch or pick at the tattoo.
Do not expose the tattoo to direct sunlight, swim or soak in sauna, steam bath or bathtub for two weeks. Be sure clothing touching your tattoo is clean and soft.
A tattoo is considered minor surgery. It may bleed a bit at first but it will stop within a couple of hours. Most artists recommend the tattoo be kept bandaged overnight or for at least two to five hours.
If the gauze sticks to the skin, soak the area with cold water until the gauze loosens, then remove carefully. Once the tattoo is exposed, wash it carefully in cold water, gently applying antibacterial soap with fingers (never use a cloth) to remove all surface blood. Rinse with cold water, pat dry with a clean towel, and air-dry for 15 minutes. Then, gently and sparingly apply a thin layer of Tattoo Goo salve. Repeat 3 or 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days. After 5 to 14 days, the tattoo may start to peel (this is normal ñ like a sunburn) and scab. DO NOT pick or peel the skin away. Let it fall off naturally during washing or application of Tattoo Goo.
Fresh skin will soon replace the dead skin. Colors may fade during the process, but will return when healing is completed. Tattoo Goo salve and lotion keep your tattoos from drying and the skin areas soft and moist. Always apply sparingly. Too much prevents the skin/tattoo from breathing, and can cause leaching of the colors. If this happens, discontinue use, wash the tattoo, pat dry, and consult your tattoo artist at your earliest convenience. After a few weeks, all scabbing will be gone, but the area may still be sensitive.
____________________________________ You've never really thought about the importance of your skin? Here are the things you should know... The skin's jobs are: to form a protective layer over the body to help prevent injury and disease to keep moisture in the body (water retention) to make vitamin D to regulate body temperature To excrete waste
The outer layer of skin is the epidermis
The inner layer is called the dermis. It contains hair follicles, nails, nerves (the body's sense of touch), sweat and oil glands and blood vessels.
Outer layers of cells is devoid of blood vessels or lymphatics. It gets its nutrition from the underlying dermis which is richly endowed with blood vessels and lymphatics. Epidermis consists of several layers of cells. The stratum corneum which is the outermost layer is composed of dead non-nucleated keratinized cells. Below that, in order are stratum granulosum containing coarse cytoplasmic granules, 5-10 layers of polygonal cells called stratum Malpighii, and the basal cell layer composed of columnar cells. Cells of the basal layer divide progressively and migrate outwards undergoing progressive changes to become keratinized within a period of twenty eight days. The keratinized cells are shed from the surface.
The epidermis contains melanocytes which are derived from the neural crest. The melanocytes produce melanin pigment. They are also found in the matrices of hair follicles. The melanocytes which are dendritic cells derived from neural crest produce melanin from tyrosine through the action of the enzyme tyrosinase. From the melanocytes the melanin passes into the surrounding epidermal cells which passively engulf melanin. Melanogenesis in man is affected by various factors including hormones like ACTH, sex hormones and thyroxine, and physical agents like light and constant irritation.
Other dendritic cells seen in the epidermis are Langerhan's cells which constitute about 4% of the total cell population. They can be identified by staining with gold chloride. These cells are derived from bone marrow. Similar cells are seen in the dermis, lymphn odes and thymus. They take part in antigen processing and form the afferent limb of the immune response.
Dermo epidermal junction: This is lined by a basement membrane to which the basal cells are attached. This membrane is wavy and dermal papillae project into the epidermis. The dermal papillae are richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. The nerve fibers ramify between the deeper layers of the epidermis.
Dermis (corium): The dermis is made up of collagenous connective tissue mainly and elastin in smaller amounts interspersed in the ground substance which is made up of mucopolysaccharides. There are also fibroblasts, histiocytes, and mast cells, which are mesenchymal in origin. The dermis shows epidermal down growths of hair follicles, the sebaceous glands and sweat glands. It also contains an extensive network of blood vessels and nerves. The caliber of the dermal blood vessels can be controlled by arteriovenous anastomoses which act as shunts. The blood vessels are under neural and hormonal control as in other parts of the body. This mechanism ensures a proper supply of blood to the cutaneous appendages like hair bulbs, sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The arrangement of dermal blood vessels plays a major role in temperature regulation.
Cutaneous Nerves:- The cutaneous nerves in the dermis are both autonomic and sensory. The arterioles are supplied by adrenergic sympathetic nerves which mediate vasoconstriction. The adrenergic sympathetic fibers also supply arrectores pilorum muscles, and the myoepithelial celIs of the apocrine and eccrine sweat glands. The secretory fibers for the eccrine sweat glands are cholinergic sympathetic. The skin is devoid of any demonstrable vasodilator nerves.
The sensory end-organs conveying pain, temperature, and touch are seen in the dermis. There is no absolute specificity for these receptors except for "Vater-Paccini corpuscles", stimulation of which gives the sensation of pressure. The free nerve endings can convey all modalities of sensation. The sensation of pruritus is mediated by the small unmyelinated nerves which, mainly subserve the sensation of pain. The stimulation of these nerves results in pruritus, the stimuli being less intense than that required to evoke pain.
The Glands of the Skin
a. Sebaceous glands: These are of epidermal origin seen in close proximity of the hair follicIes at the upper part of dermis. They are most numerous on the scalp, face, front of the chest and back and they are absent on the palms and soles. Their secretion, sebum is formed by disintegration of the lining cells and this is not under neural control. The sebum is discharged to the surface through the hair follicle. The sebaceous glands hypertrophy during puberty under hormonal influences.
b. Apocrine glands: They are large coiled, tubular glands opening into the hair follicles and their function is not clearly known. They are seen in the axillae, around the nipples, perineum, and genital regions. Specialized apocrine glands are seen in the eyelids, and in the ear canal. Apocrine glands are surrounded by contractile myoepithelial cells which help to expel their contents. These myoepithelial cells derive their innervation from adrenergic twigs which respond to emotional stimuli.
c. Eccrine glands: They are more numerous over the forehead, axillae, palms, and soles though they are widely distributed throughout the body. The secretory portion is situated in the dermis and this is supplied by cholinergic sympathetic fibers. Adrenergic sympathetic fibers which supply the myoepithelial sheath help to expel their contents. Sweat in the healthy person contains all the electrolytes found in the plasma or interstitial fluid but to a lesser extent. Heat and emotional stress are the main stimuli for sweat secretion
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__________________________________________________________________________________________ CLARKSVILLE TATTOO FAIR Read all the details about the 2009 show here http://www.myspace.com/clarksvilletattoofair
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