The skin provides a strong barrier against many things in the world that would otherwise do a person a lot of harm. However, it cannot protect a person from everything.
This leads to traumatic tattoos in the event of certain accidents. But what exactly are traumatic tattoos?
Abrasive vs. explosive types
According to the National Library of Medicine, traumatic tattoos can have a huge impact on a victim’s health. But first: what are they?
A traumatic tattoo may exist as either an abrasive or an explosive type. In either of these cases, the victim suffered from some sort of object piercing through or entering through the top layer of skin.
In many cases, the offending object will embed itself much deeper below the surface of the skin. However, it often remains visible at least in part through the skin’s surface, hence the use of “tattoo” in the injury’s name.
The extent of damage
Abrasive forms of the injury are often milder in nature, with a deposit of pigment or debris remaining in the outermost layers of the skin. Explosive types usually involve some deeply embedded debris, with more superficial debris surrounding it.
In almost every case, traumatic tattoos stem from severe injuries and need the appropriate quick medical attention accordingly.
Embedded pigment and debris may get removed in many ways. However, most medical teams will rely on a hard-bristled toothbrush as a tried and true method of removing these bits of debris while in the emergency room, where most people get treated for these injuries.