Historians say the art of tattooing dates back to ancient Eygpt, 2,000, years before the pyramids.

And even though the profession has had peaks and valleys throughout the years, tattooing is officially "in" and most people who have one, have two or three more.

Channel 9 Eyewitness News Reporter Cory Sutton talked to several people who have tattoos and who tattoo for a living. Most would agree the way society looks at tattoos has changed over the past few decades, and now despite health concerns people are getting lasting impressions.

Across the pages of magazines, in Hollywood, in drawings and live in person, tattoos seem to be everywhere you look. They are little self expressions that happen to last a lifetime. Mandi Owndy got a tattoo a few years ago. She says, "I was young, stupid choice."

Today, she's getting it covered up. She's one of the many people who made a lifetime commitment, to a passing fancy. She won't get rid of it, she's just changing the design. Just like the world is changing around her.

Rhonda Wolfe, from Sioux City, says, "years ago...it was a bad thing, that's how people perceived it. Now, anyone can have one and it's ok."

Ben Rehling agrees. He owns Skin Art tattoo in South Sioux City, and has been tattooing for six years. "We see every angle of society, doctors to unemployment cases to everything."

Ben says one of the reasons why a stigma might be etched in people's minds is because of health concerns. Hepatitis and infections are two of them. But Ben says getting a tattoo today is safer than it has ever been. "The process of tattooing has changed a lot over the past 10 years to where a lot of old stereotypes are dead."

To cut down on the risks, certified tattooists use sterile, single use service needles and always wear
rubber gloves. Midwest Wade is one of those tattooists. He says most people today who have a positive experience getting a tattoo- can't wait to come back and get more.
He says, "once you get the third tattoo there's almost no going back."

And with more people getting tattoos, this might be a trend that's leaving a lasting impression.

Ben says, "in the future generations, I don't see it going away because like my kids are growing up with a father that's extensively tattooed."

Local tattooist say tattooing in Siouxland didn't become commercialized until the mid-1980's and the process today is not as painful and the colors are lasting longer.

Tattooists say the most popular place to get a tattoo is on the ankle, arm or shoulder.