Tattooing isn't just a recent phenomenon-it is as old as history. We know this through evidence such as cave paintings, which show women with tattooed chests. Tattooing has been with us for thousands of years, has been practiced in most of the countries around the globe, and originally had greater significance than mere fashion. Skin was mankind's first book, a way of recording our humanity, a kind of testimony to what we are. Our skin is our individual diary and calender, a blank sheet of paper for ourselves and for others to draw on, the interface between us and the world, and simultaneously the advertising billboard as well as the packaging. A person is made by their skin, but also makes their own skin, so it becomes their destiny, life story, and adventure. Reminding us of a particular time in our life, maybe even giving psychological healing through hard times.

Human skin is alive, with a surface area of nearly 2 sq m weighing nearly 9 lb, and comprising 2,000 billion cells. It ranges between 1 and 4 mm thick and gives protection from the world around us. The other organs in our bodies are able to function effectively because our skin acts as a screen against infections, minor injuries, and the rays from the sun. Skin breathes, transmits pheromones, and plays a vital participatory role in sporting and lovemaking activities. Skin's extreme sensitivity makes the sense of touch possible. Its our first point of contact, conveys our emotions, and makes us whole: the skin acts as the natural mirror of all our desires, open or hidden.
Skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. The epidermis is the outer layer which, when marked, receives the design through tattooing. It consists of a layer of horny tissue above a rough, ridged layer which retains the tattoo artist's ink pigments, just above the dermic membrane. The strength and suppleness of the hypodermis, which consists of elastin, collagen and fibroblasts, helps maintain the skin. Because the skin is so complex, successful tattoos depend on precise procedures handed down by expert practitioners, which must be followed to avoid any damage to the skin.