El Dolmago

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

Ha! Yes, that was a good one. Sometimes the pre-offended newbies are fun conversations. Like the piercer from the place in NJ who admitted her Yelp reviews were fake but was still upset about them. It took quite a while for those bannings to occur.
+1 to @AverageJer as well. It gets tiring to have these us-versus-them posts. If anyone has a suggestion, there is a thread about asking questions - go over there and suggest how you think this forum could be improved. <---And THIS is a reason this forum format is cool - how many times has someone asked a question, and someone else comes along with the link to a long thread with tons of good information??? This cannot happen if there is a new thread every other microsecond.
But like I'm a masochist or something, I'll still continue to step in and offer the bull-in-the-china-shop analogy until I get just as tired of it as the old timers who are mostly ignoring this thread because they're tired of saying it too. If you don't like the format....there are other forums.
This kind of stuff is the reason that many of the tattooers aren't contributing to this forum anymore, and unfortunately, back-and-forths like this are one of the reasons why, and new folks have no idea this is happening. And we are losing valuable resources and informative conversations.
Soooo, [bIG SARCASM ALERT BOYS AND GIRLS]I guess makes me a mod-wanna-be.
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And @polliwog - you've built up street cred with your thoughtfulness and interesting conversation. Start threads when you want. NOT BECAUSE I'M BEING ALL MOD_WANNA_BE :)

I wish people would stop starting new threads to show off their new tattoos. That's what Latest Tattoo Lowdown is for. Otherwise you're just cluttering the feed. If someone wants to ask an actual question that's okay with me even if it's been asked before.

Alice by Jennifer Lawes at Pearl Harbor - this may have been my easiest tattoo ever. 

I'm a prof and so is my husband - two academics, visible tattoos and zero issues. 

I'm a prof and so is my husband - two academics, visible tattoos and zero issues. 

Interesting!
Seeing as you've been working with your Dr already - your only option would be to look at having your Dermatologist remove it - As my understanding of common tattoo removal goes it involves a laser breaking down ink pigments (different wavelengths affect different colour molecules)  - this wouldn't affect a phosphorescent pigment - your best option would be to have it removed surgically if it's something you are concerned about. LS has an excellent tattoo removal thread with some great advice by a seasoned pro.
Is it possible for someone to apply a crude tattoo without your knowing? Sure depending on your state at the time - the 80's were a thing for sure. Was it likely applied with a tattoo machine? Probably not - more likely your skin was cut and pigment was rubbed in it. 
Good luck!

It may be a good idea to see a dermatologist so they can see what's happening to the skin. I missed the description - there may be an explanation as to why it's phosphorescent - as it could be something you may want removed... good luck!

I have been admitted to university, so after 10 years of working full time I'm now working and studying. I'm happy, but also scared I can tell you :)

@oboogie Regardless of what you apparently think, you have no bearing on my digital world. I have literally replied to you in one thread prior to this one. In this instance, I was addressing a three page thread and said absolutely nothing about or to any of your comments. I've been here for years and have never made it my style to call people out or anything of the sort. Feel free to check any of my posts.  
Additionally, It's also hard to not comment on threads you post in - you post in almost every thread. 

I treat the internet exactly the same way I try to live my "real life." If I don't have anything nice to say, I really try not to say anything at all. Also like "real life," I do my best to ignore idiots. If I see a thread from a by a poster I don't particularly like or don't know or I see that they're the most recently reply, I skip it (or save it for true boredom). I don't have to read everything on here just because it's there. And I sure as shit don't have to reply to it just to hear my own digital voice. Just because I (think I) have pretty ok tattoos doesn't mean I can talk down to someone who has crappy tattoos. It doesn't mean I'll be high fiving them or whatever someone said, but I'm not here to shit all over clowns online, either.
It seems there are a few people on here lately who think they're the gatekeepers to either good tattooing or this website, when in reality they're just a joker with a keyboard and some tattoos.
Back to mostly browsing the lowdown, upcoming, and contest threads almost exclusively.

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

Deitzel inspired lady Head (Glennie Wittall), traditional hand holding flower (Nikki Balls) and a wee Sailor Jerry sparrow (Nathan Draper)

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

Deitzel inspired lady Head (Glennie Wittall), traditional hand holding flower (Nikki Balls) and a wee Sailor Jerry sparrow (Nathan Draper)

Deitzel inspired lady Head (Glennie Wittall), traditional hand holding flower (Nikki Balls) and a wee Sailor Jerry sparrow (Nathan Draper)

so maybe that's why it's deserted here lately ,why shouldn't we welcome all these newbies ? won't they eventually hopefully turn into regular smarter about tattooing members ? as they learn when we tactfully and in a friendly manner try and answer their questions instead of being snarky,rude,or ignoring them ? so we can pass on our vast veteran knowledge to these people that will like I said,come here and learn,we have all asked stupid questions at one time or another and I'll guess you did too when you first started getting tattooed.
anyway,for me,I don't believe there are stupid questions,there are just questions.
 
so that's my .02

Japanese dragon sleeve by Scott Ellis is finished!
 

My tattoo artist had a moment of inspiration and made one of my moles my buddha's bindi - which I thought was awesome.

Less is more. I mostly heal dry now out of 1) laziness and 2) convenience. I just put tiny dabs of lotion on when the itching is so bad I can't stand it any more, at most once a day and seriously like a pea-sized dab or less. Your body can take care of itself at this point, there's no need to keep it clean once it starts scabbing and flaking. Any lotion you might put on is pretty much for your own comfort.

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

This - all this...
Honestly watching the number of long-time valuable posters (many of whom were artists) disappear I'm guessing is for the same reason I rarely post - I'm tired of the snark. if it's lame ignore it and let the post sink.  I'm here to talk good tattoos - not torture those with bad ones. 

I agree with this. You don't have to make someone feel stupid for not knowing as much as you.
This is not always true. Telling someone their brand new tattoo is shit, or even that you think it's ugly, is never helpful and is pretty rude.