Important Things to Know About Before Getting a Tattoo

Important Things to Know About Before Getting a Tattoo Free Online Research Papers Tattoos are a wonderful way of expressing ones individuality, but people need to think about all the ramifications of getting a tattoo before they get it. â€Å"Tattoos are fast becoming a mark of the 21st century, with one quarter of those under the age of 30 adorning their skin with at least one.† (Healy, 2008, p.1) The American Academy of Dermatology reports that 89% of men and 48% of women who wear tattoos have conspicuous designs on their hands, necks, arms, legs, toes, and feet (Sayre, C. [2007]. Tattoo bans. Time Magazine. November 5, p. 56). Tattoos consist of a permanent design that is drawn on to the top of the skin, then pigments are inserted under the skin by way of a tattoo gun. A tattoo gun works almost like a sewing machine. Every time the needle hits the skin, it deposits tiny droplets of ink deep under the epidermis. Tattoo ink is classified as a cosmetic and, they are not â€Å"regulated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).† (Healy, 2008, p.1) There are specific medical risks that people need to be aware of before they get a tattoo. These risks can include: 1. Blood-borne diseases: Tetanus, â€Å"Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis, and HIV- the virus that causes AIDS.† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008, p.1) These can all be transferred by equipment that has been contaminated with the blood of someone who is infected. Because of these risks, the American Red Cross has stated that no person shall be able to donate blood within 12 months of being tattooed. 2. Skin-disorders- â€Å"Tattooing can also cause areas of raised, excessive scarring (keloids). For those people that do keloid, tattooing is not recommended as these may be hard to remove. â€Å"May form bumps called granulomas around the tattoo ink.† (Forsyth County Department of Health, 2005, p.1) Sarcoidal granulomas are firm balls of reactive tissue underneath the surface of the skin.† 3. Skin infections- â€Å"Local bacterial infections. Symptoms can include redness, swelling, warmth at the infected site, and pus-like drainage.† Some of these infections are resistant to antibiotics and â€Å"can lead to pneumonia, blood infections and the flesh-destroying condition known as necrotizing fasiitis.† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008, p.1) Between 2004 and 2005, a sepcific type of Staph infection known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA were seen in three different states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 34 people with MRSA who received their tattoos from 13 unlicensed tattooists in three different states. (Montgomery, 2007, para.9) 4. Allergic reactions-Dyes used in the tattoo ink, â€Å"especially red dye, can cause allergic skin reactions, causing an itchy rash at the tattoo site.† This can even â€Å"occur years after one gets the tattoo.† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008, p.1) â€Å"This is because the vast majority of tattoo pigments are derived from metal, which makes them a potential source for developing a skin reaction. Some pigments do have non-metallic options for those who have concerns or a past history of allergic reactions to these compounds.† Problems can also arise from the removal of a tattoo. Laser removal can be a painstaking process, and usually involves 2-3 visits and is expensive. â€Å"Treatment with the laser varies from patient to patient depending on the age, size, and type of tattoo (amateur or professional). The color of the patients skin, as well as the depth to which the tattoo pigment extends, will also affect the removal technique.† Dermabraison is also an option. â€Å"This is where the tattoo is sanded down to deep levels and generally does not hurt, but can leave a scar.† (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2008, p.1) Now there is also the option of having a doctor surgically remove the tattoo by cutting it out and stitching the edges back together. I believe that complete removal without any type of scarring may be impossible. It is also very important to make sure that the establishment one is thinking of getting his, her tattoo at follows strict health and safety guidelines. One wants to make sure that he, or she has either a state or local license. Look around the shop. Is it clean? Do the employees sterilize their equipment after each client? Do they wash their hands and put on a new pair of gloves after each client? Do they open a fresh pack of needles after each client? These are all very important things to pay attention to before one makes his, or her final decision. Never get a tattoo while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is because drugs and alcohol can lead to poor judgment. One wants to make sure that he, or she has a clear head when he, or she decides exactly what type of tattoo he, or she want and where they are going to get it. One also has to sign a contract or release form. If they do this while under the influence, it makes the contract null and void. Both aspirin and alcohol thin the blood and will promote excessive bleeding. Aspirin, ibuprofen or any other NSAIDS also tend to inhibit clotting. The alternatives are topical anesthetics which contain some lidocaine, or one can buy benzocaine over-the-counter. The drawback is that these do not work on unbroken skin. Once the first needle stick is made, these can be applied and can make a tremendous difference. What type of tattoo is he, or she looking for and where do they want to have it placed? It is important to do some research on the type of tattoo that he, or she wants’ and exactly where they want to put it. They do not want something they will regret later. I think the best way to make sure of this is to picture yourself at 80 years old, wrinkly, maybe even fat. If he, or she can still enjoy their tattoo when it is on their wrinkly, fat, 80 year-old self, then by all means, get it! Remember, it is important to ask many questions and truely pay attention to the type of work that each tattoo artist does. Each one has a uniquely different style so he, or she wants’ to make sure that they pick the one that is best suited for what he, or she wants. Since tattoos are no longer considered taboo, the popularity of them proves that skin is always in. I believe that if people go into it with a broad knowledge of what getting a tattoo entails, they will be able to make the best possible choices for themselves and, be happy with their tattoo for the rest of their lives. Research Papers on Important Things to Know About Before Getting a TattooPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductLifes What IfsNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementGenetic EngineeringThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseThe Project Managment Office SystemHip-Hop is ArtTwilight of the UAW

Buffer Definition - Chemistry and Biology

Buffer Definition - Chemistry and Biology A buffer is a  solution containing either a weak acid and its salt or a weak base and its salt, which is resistant to changes in pH. In other words, a buffer is an aqueous solution of either a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. A buffer may also be called a pH buffer, hydrogen ion buffer, or buffer solution. Buffers are used to maintain a stable pH in a solution, as they can neutralize small quantities of additional acid of base. For a given buffer solution, there is a working pH range and a set amount of acid or base that can be neutralized before the pH will change.  The amount of acid or base that can be added to a buffer before changing its pH is called its buffer capacity.   The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation may be used to gauge the approximate pH of a buffer.  In order to use the equation, the initial concentration or stoichiometric concentration is entered instead of the equilibrium concentration. The general form of a buffer chemical reaction is: HA â‡Å' H   A− Examples of Buffers blood - contains a bicarbonate buffer systemTRIS bufferphosphate buffer As stated, buffers are useful over specific pH ranges. For example, here is the pH range of common buffering agents: Buffer pKa pH range citric acid 3.13., 4.76, 6.40 2.1 to 7.4 acetic acid 4.8 3.8 to 5.8 KH2PO4 7.2 6.2 to 8.2 borate 9.24 8.25 to 10.25 CHES 9.3 8.3 to 10.3 When a buffer solution is prepared, the pH of the solution is adjusted to get it within the correct effective range. Typically a strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to lower the pH of acidic buffers. A strong base, such as sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH), is added to raise the pH of alkaline buffers. How Buffers Work In order to understand how a buffer works, consider the example of a buffer solution made by dissolving sodium acetate into acetic acid. Acetic acid is (as you can tell from the name) an acid: CH3COOH, while the sodium acetate dissociates in solution to yield the conjugate base, acetate ions of CH3COO-. The equation for the reaction is: CH3COOH(aq) OH-(aq) ⇆ CH3COO-(aq) H2O(aq) If a strong acid is added to this solution, the acetate ion neutralizes it: CH3COO-(aq) H(aq) ⇆ CH3COOH(aq) This shifts the equilibrium of the initial buffer reaction, keeping the pH stable. A strong base, on the other hand, would react with the acetic acid. Universal Buffers Most buffers work over a relative narrow pH range. An exception is citric acid because it has three pKa values. When a compound has multiple pKa values, a larger pH range becomes available for a buffer. Its also possible to combine buffers, providing their pKa values are close (differing by 2 or less), and adjusting the pH with strong base or acid to reach the required range. For example, McIvaines buffer is prepared by combining mixtures of Na2PO4 and citric acid. Depending on the ratio between the compounds, the buffer may be effective from pH 3.0 to 8.0. A mixture of citric acid, boric acid, monopotassium phosphate, and diethyl barbituic acid can cover the pH range from 2.6 to 12! Buffer Key Takeaways A buffer is an aqueous solution used to keep the pH of a solution nearly constant.A buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid.Buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added before the pH of a buffer changes.An example of a buffer solution is bicarbonate in blood, which maintains the bodys internal pH. Sources Butler, J. N. (1964).  Ionic Equilibrium: A Mathematical Approach. Addison-Wesley. p.  151.Carmody, Walter R. (1961). Easily prepared wide range buffer series. J. Chem. Educ. 38 (11): 559–560. doi:10.1021/ed038p559Hulanicki, A. (1987). Reactions of acids and bases in analytical chemistry. Translated by Masson, Mary R. Horwood. ISBN 0-85312-330-6.Mendham, J.; Denny, R. C.; Barnes, J. D.; Thomas, M. (2000). Appendix 5. Vogels Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis (5th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-582-22628-7.Scorpio, R. (2000). Fundamentals of Acids, Bases, Buffers Their Application to Biochemical Systems. ISBN 0-7872-7374-0.