Scarification

                              Vanity or Insanity, some people won't see the difference. Scarification has been around for ages and will not die out anytime soon. This is a method going beyond tattoos, it is done by burning and or cutting patterns, designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent mark. There are religious and social reasons for scarification, for example, it is very common in African tribes to mark milestones in a man or woman's life, such as puberty and marriage. It can also be a symbol of identity, that may emphasise a social, political, or religious role. But in more developed places is just a way of being unique or expressing ones self. there are many risks that come with scarification, including a high risk of infection. There are many methods of scarification, some include: Strike branding, Laser branding, Packing, Abrasion, and skinning. Strike branding is very similar to livestock branding, is where a piece on metal is heated and pressed to the skin, this method is also linked to slavery, or punishment of criminals, but as body art less perferable because it is not very precise and tends to spread greatly while healing. Laser branding, is not exactly using a laser, but a device which uses electricity to cut and cauterise the skin, this is more precise than strike branding because it is possible to regulate the depth and nature of what is being done. Packing is traditionally from Africa, and is when a diagonal cut is made and then a substance such as clay or ash is packed into it, when healing the wound pushes out what had been put into it. Abrasion, is when skin is removed by friction using material such as an ink less tattoo device, or very strong sandpaper. Skinning is where many single lines are cut, creating thin scars, the cuts should be in a large group, the out line of the skin that needs to be removed will be cut and peel away. So, vanity or insanity? What do you think?  

    
Picture from:  Zimbio.com