Tattooing is richly laden with cultural and personal meaning, but despite the increasingly mainstream status of this art form, individuals with tattoos may experience stigma, stereotyping, and discrimination in their personal and professional lives.

The needle quickly goes in and out of the skin, leaving a trail of ink. The artist repeats this process until the tattoo is complete. The tattoo machine deposits the ink into the dermis, which is the second layer of skin. The dermis comprises collagen and elastin fibers, which help anchor the ink in place.