Glow in the dark tattoos are becoming increasingly popular. Many celebrities are supporting this new trend. They are very eye catching but it is important to know all the facts before getting one.

Glowing tattoos are quite a novelty. They are almost invisible by day except for the minimal scarring that may occur in the tattoo process. Tattoos that glow in the dark and ultra violet tattoos will both appear to illuminate in a darkened space. There are however differences between the types of inks used to apply them that are important to know.

A tattoo that illuminates all on it's own usually contains phosphorous. Phosphors radiate light once they have been energized. They are used in glowing ink that must be injected under the skin to make the art glow. This ink will absorb light and then glow in any dark setting. The FDA has not given their approval to these inks because they are often made with toxic substances that are considered unsafe to the human body.

A black light or ultra violet light tattoo will also appear to illuminate if it is dark but only if they are under a black light. A tattoo like this will not glow on it's own. Ultra violet light tattoo ink will appear to illuminate when the pigment in the ink reacts to the black light. Black light ink appears colorless in normal light. Most ultra violet inks are considered to be safe.

The use of glowing ink to highlight other tattoos if also very popular. Adding this ink to an image can help give it added dimension. It is also an unique touch giving a tattoo a different look at night.

Better known tattoo shops try to stay away from true glowing ink because of the complications that are involved with it. It is know that there is a higher rejection rate of glowing ink than regular tattoo ink. This type of tattoo has only been around for about ten years so the long term effects are widely unknown.

Staying current with the latest trends can be fun. If the trends can have an effect on ones overall health it is important to know all the facts.