Inked: How Tattoos Are Linked To Your Sex Life
February 3, 2019
Ahh, tattoos. You either love them or hate them! They are like Marmite, well and truly dividing us. I’ve always found tattoos to be fascinating and gorgeous, but that’s not how everyone feels. Some hate them. I know this because of the comments I’ve had about my own in the past.
But did you know that there are links between your tattoo and your sex life? In fact, certain aspects of your life could be influenced by your tattoos. Want to know more? Keep reading.
Where are tattoos popular?
It seems like you can’t go anywhere without discovering a tattoo shop. Recently I went to visit friends in a quaint town out in the middle of nowhere. At least that’s how it felt on the drive over. Yet walking along the ‘high street’ there was a tattoo shop. I was surprised because I didn’t expect to find it there.
It’s the same story in many different places. In fact, the people at Dalia Research wanted to know just how widespread tattoos are. They spoke to people in 18 countries around the world and discovered that around 38% of respondents had at least one tattoo.
Surprisingly they found that Italy had the highest percentage of tattooed people, with 48% having ink. Sweden came next at 47%, and the USA is third at 46%. The information is fascinating, so if you’re curious to see where tattoos are popular, check out the infographic below!
What your ink might suggest
Traditionally people hold certain views about those with tattoos. I’ve had a few comments from people with their assumptions. My mum even said that I now look like a criminal because I have tattoos. Charming, right? I’m not the only one to experience this, and the University of Miami wanted to know just how much of it was true.
Their study was published in the International Journal of Dermatology, looking into the links between tattoos, our lifestyles, and mental health. The good news? People will tattoos are more likely to have more sexual partners. Basically, we love having sex with different people!
Sounds pretty good, right? Let me stop you right there. There is bad news. Quite significant bad news, in fact. The bad news involves the rest of the findings. Apparently, people with tattoos tend to also be “more prone to engage in risky behaviours”.
What are these “risky behaviours”?
Have you been left wondering just what those “risky behaviours” are? You’re not alone. When I first heard about this study, I started thinking that they might be referring to things we do in the bedroom. In my experience, people with tattoos have a tendency to be kinkier. But this isn’t what the study was referring to.
If you have a tattoo, you are more likely to be a smoker. You are also more likely to have been to jail or prison. It isn’t just your lifestyle that the researchers looked at. They also looked at our health. They discovered that those with tattoos are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues and sleep problems.
“So what?” I hear you asking. The researchers behind this study are hoping that the findings can be helpful in the future. They want dermatologists and healthcare providers to use the study to help patients. For example, if they see tattoos on a person, they believe providers should be more aware of the mental health risks.
Are you inked or not?
Personally, I don’t feel like many of the “risky behaviours” described above apply to me. I have a lot of sex, with many different partners, and I have mental health issues. That’s it. So those don’t apply to me. I have a few tattoos and I love ink. It’s a turn on for me to see it and to hear the stories behind it, whether it is a serious tattoo or just a fun one.
Not everyone feels the same way about tattoos, and I’m curious about how others find them. Do you think someone with a tattoo is sexier, or is it just a bit of ink? If you are tattooed, do you think the findings of the study are accurate to you? Vote in the poll below or leave a comment to tell me how you feel!
Since then she has gained a fine reputation with her blogs on sex advice, sexual health and amusing news stories from around the globe. She is also a campaigner for the rights of sex workers from all over the world.
In her spare time, Lara keeps herself active by going running, and is something of a film buff. She also loves to go travelling.
- The Sexy Side of Halloween: How to Wear Your Costume Like a Pro - October 30, 2023
- A Peek Inside the Physiology of Sexual Arousal - October 23, 2023
- Popularity Of Video Game Porn Continues To Climb - April 2, 2019
