my tattoos are one of my reasons

[.twilight.girl.]

I started to get tattoos when I turned 18, thinking that was something I wanted. I was young and used tattoos as a way to "develop myself" but in reality I was covering up my issues.
After living with these large tattoos for 7 years I have a lot of regret, I wear long sleeves all the time, I feel very insecure if it is too hot to be covered.
I hate seeing myself with them. One is the start of a sleeve that I wasn't able to finish because I had lost my job. No, I don't think I will like it even if I got it finished.
It is so tiresome and I feel ugly with them. I even have an anime tattoo like...what the hell I was thinking...
The tattoos are all well done, they aren't by any means ugly but I have outgrown them and I am so jealous of women who have clean skin.
They just don't look good on me and it's just a reminder that I am a fraud.

Edit : Getting them removed isn't very achievable, I do not have the financial means to do so. Same with make-up, a tube of thick enough foundation is about $40.
These are obviously helpful choices for me but I live paycheck to paycheck which is very strict. Thank y'all for the suggestions

 

[Ozzyno]

Can't you remove them? Genuine question

 

[divinemistress36]

You can get them lasered off does take time and money though

 

[.twilight.girl.]

Can't you remove them? Genuine question

yes, this is something I have thought of a lot but my issues is with finances.

 

[voir2]

You could erase them with laser treatment ?
I looked online and it seems there are many fondations which perform laser treatments pro bono to erase tattoos related to human traficking. Maybe there is a fondation for people with mental disorders willing to fund such treatments.

 

[Ozzyno]

yes, this is something I have thought of a lot but my issues is with finances.

Of course… if you are American it will be really expensive I think, a big waste of money

 

[.twilight.girl.]

Of course… if you are American it will be really expensive I think, a big waste of money

yes... it can be $1000+ per treatment. Is it cheaper where you live?

 

[Ozzyno]

yes... it can be $1000+ per treatment. Is it cheaper where you live?

I live on a border zone… in Italy for a big tattoo it's 300/400€ (Euro is more valuable than Dollar so it's something like 320/430$). In Switzerland it's as expensive as the US. I don't have tattoos but I got piercings and I got bored so I removed them, that's the reason I'm never gonna get a tattoo, I also have vitiligo so my skin is really sensible I can't even stay under the sun for too much, a tattoo would be like trying to have problems.

 

[-less-]

Do you think you could circle back around to accepting them again by giving them new meaning? Like instead of reminding you that you were trying to be someone you're not, could they become a reminder someday of how you've grown since then and how much you will continue to grow as a person in the future?

 

[MyTimeIsUp]

We've all done it. I hate(d) every single one of my tattoos, now I've learnt to live with them. Took me years, but yeah. I don't like them or hate them. But my left side was to cover self harm scars so yeah, without the tattoos, people would stare like they used to.

If I had an option, I would go back in time, but that's not possible.

You can get them lasered off, then the rest cut out once small enough? Once it isn't so obvious. Personally, I'd learn to live with them. Lasers can cause all sorts of issues, not to mention blistering and awful scaring. Painful, too.

We've all done shit we're not proud of. Plenty get tattoos when they're young -

Tattoo make up is a thing.

You can get them lasered off if you really wanted. You could save up for it? During that time, you could learn to accept them and then spend the money on something else

I had many facial piercings around the bottom of my lip, and there where times when they'd fall out (so closed up), but I got them redone WAY BEFORE I was meant to, as a result I have this disgusting scar on my face that looks like I have a thick lump of skin sticking out my face underneath my bottom lip (because I do), and the inside of my lips are covered in keloid scars. Makes me feel really insecure, but after many years I forgot they're there, because I'm used to it now. One day I'll get them removed, only the one on the outside, because when I'm doing hair removal, it can hurt and I get coldsores often.

No one really cares about tattoos anymore. It is art, and they tell a story. You could look back on them, reminiscing about your life in years to come. Tattoos aren't a bad thing, unless it's some hateful shit (which I doubt)

We're not given a manual on life. You, myself and many others make the same mistake every day. You are human, give yourself a break.

Cover ups are a thing too. Might make you feel less crappy about those tattoos.

I hope that helps you feel somewhat less crappy.

 

[CatLvr]

Oh wow! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all my ink. In fact, I noticed that the more ink I got the more comfortable I felt in my own skin. Before my ink I had always been anxious to a fault about how I looked, how others perceived me and would worry myself so much over the smallest details until I was literally physically sick.

Since I have gotten my tattooed I have noticed I do not worry what others think about how I am dressed or how my hair is fixed or whether my make-up is "appropriate" for whatever function I am attending (professional, leisure or whatever "setting"). I NEVER expected getting tattooed to be SO freeing. Literally.

Talk about unintended consequences -- I never thought that getting tattoos would be so mentally freeing. Has been a very interesting (and VERY welcome) consequence.

 

[.twilight.girl.]

I live on a border zone… in Italy for a big tattoo it's 300/400€ (Euro is more valuable than Dollar so it's something like 320/430$). In Switzerland it's as expensive as the US. I don't have tattoos but I got piercings and I got bored so I removed them, that's the reason I'm never gonna get a tattoo, I also have vitiligo so my skin is really sensible I can't even stay under the sun for too much, a tattoo would be like trying to have problems.

Wow what a difference. Thank you for the input I wonder if it's something I could travel for.

Do you think you could circle back around to accepting them again by giving them new meaning? Like instead of reminding you that you were trying to be someone you're not, could they become a reminder someday of how you've grown since then and how much you will continue to grow as a person in the future?

Possibly

We've all done it. I hate(d) every single one of my tattoos, now I've learnt to live with them. Took me years, but yeah. I don't like them or hate them. But my left side was to cover self harm scars so yeah, without the tattoos, people would stare like they used to.

If I had an option, I would go back in time, but that's not possible.

You can get them lasered off, then the rest cut out once small enough? Once it isn't so obvious. Personally, I'd learn to live with them. Lasers can cause all sorts of issues, not to mention blistering and awful scaring. Painful, too.

We've all done shit we're not proud of. Plenty get tattoos when they're young -

Tattoo make up is a thing.

You can get them lasered off if you really wanted. You could save up for it? During that time, you could learn to accept them and then spend the money on something else

I had many facial piercings around the bottom of my lip, and there where times when they'd fall out (so closed up), but I got them redone WAY BEFORE I was meant to, as a result I have this disgusting scar on my face that looks like I have a thick lump of skin sticking out my face underneath my bottom lip (because I do), and the inside of my lips are covered in keloid scars. Makes me feel really insecure, but after many years I forgot they're there, because I'm used to it now. One day I'll get them removed, only the one on the outside, because when I'm doing hair removal, it can hurt and I get coldsores often.

No one really cares about tattoos anymore. It is art, and they tell a story. You could look back on them, reminiscing about your life in years to come. Tattoos aren't a bad thing, unless it's some hateful shit (which I doubt)

We're not given a manual on life. You, myself and many others make the same mistake every day. You are human, give yourself a break.

Cover ups are a thing too. Might make you feel less crappy about those tattoos.

I hope that helps you feel somewhat less crappy.

Thank you that is helpful.
It is a route I have tried to take, it isn't as bad as it used to me but it doesn't help my already low self esteem.

Oh wow! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all my ink. In fact, I noticed that the more ink I got the more comfortable I felt in my own skin. Before my ink I had always been anxious to a fault about how I looked, how others perceived me and would worry myself so much over the smallest details until I was literally physically sick.

Since I have gotten my tattooed I have noticed I do not worry what others think about how I am dressed or how my hair is fixed or whether my make-up is "appropriate" for whatever function I am attending (professional, leisure or whatever "setting"). I NEVER expected getting tattooed to be SO freeing. Literally.

Talk about unintended consequences -- I never thought that getting tattoos would be so mentally freeing. Has been a very interesting (and VERY welcome) consequence.

Yes, I used to feel empowered (mainly cause it was all a facade) I think if maybe it wasn't stupid anime characters, or nerdy things. if I had chosen flowers or something less on the nose I wouldn't mind AS much.

 

[F@#$]

What about cover up. I have/had a ridiculous fuckin tattoo on my leg that I got when I was 19. I thought it was the coolest/funniest thing ever(for a year or two). Once I realized how stupid it was I hid it for years. One day I'd had enough, found a really good shop(artists at large, Wichita ks). They covered it with an amazing piece of art that I'm proud to have.
Maybe?

 

[Ozzyno]

@.twilight.girl. I don't think it would be intelligent to get here in Italy to just remove some tattoos ahahahah, saving 500€ and spending 300€ for the flight and then having to deal with medical personal that doesn't speak your language, not smart

 

[pointblank]

Anime tattoos are fire
What char did u get tattoed?

 

[CatLvr]

Wow what a difference. Thank you for the input I wonder if it's something I could travel for.

Possibly

Thank you that is helpful.
It is a route I have tried to take, it isn't as bad as it used to me but it doesn't help my already low self esteem.

Yes, I used to feel empowered (mainly cause it was all a facade) I think if maybe it wasn't stupid anime characters, or nerdy things. if I had chosen flowers or something less on the nose I wouldn't mind AS much.

Ahhhh ... You know, that could be. All of my stuff is floral. But you shouldn't be self-conscious at all. Your ink is a manifestation of something you love(d). And an insight into what an interesting individual you are. I cannot tell you how many wonderful people I have met because of either mine or theirs tattoos. Carry your head high. Other people may not understand your ink, but it is uniquely yours. And it helps the world to see the interesting and beautiful self you.

 

[.twilight.girl.]

What about cover up. I have/had a ridiculous fuckin tattoo on my leg that I got when I was 19. I thought it was the coolest/funniest thing ever(for a year or two). Once I realized how stupid it was I hid it for years. One day I'd had enough, found a really good shop(artists at large, Wichita ks). They covered it with an amazing piece of art that I'm proud to have.
Maybe?

unlikely for me, i just don't like the way i look with tattoos at all.
thank you for the reply.

Anime tattoos are fire
What char did u get tattoed?

senku from dr.stone. i haven't caught up with the show at all, no idea what is going on there. I also am not asexual or apart of the lgbt community anymore so it just doesn't even apply to me.
thank you for your reply.

@.twilight.girl. I don't think it would be intelligent to get here in Italy to just remove some tattoos ahahahah, saving 500€ and spending 300€ for the flight and then having to deal with medical personal that doesn't speak your language, not smart

i think if people with less intelligence than i can go to third world countries to have their behinds enlarged, it's a risk I am willing to take. Also, an opportunity to go somewhere new.

Ahhhh ... You know, that could be. All of my stuff is floral. But you shouldn't be self-conscious at all. Your ink is a manifestation of something you love(d). And an insight into what an interesting individual you are. I cannot tell you how many wonderful people I have met because of either mine or theirs tattoos. Carry your head high. Other people may not understand your ink, but it is uniquely yours. And it helps the world to

Ahhhh ... You know, that could be. All of my stuff is floral. But you shouldn't be self-conscious at all. Your ink is a manifestation of something you love(d). And an insight into what an interesting individual you are. I cannot tell you how many wonderful people I have met because of either mine or theirs tattoos. Carry your head high. Other people may not understand your ink, but it is uniquely yours. And it helps the world to see the interesting and beautiful self you.