Skin Branding: Important Reminders

Skin branding is a form of scarification that involves burning a design or a symbol on the skin, usually, by using heated metal instruments. Skin branding are third-degree burns purposefully done to create permanent scarring. The instruments used are heated up about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme heat destroys the skin nerves immediately upon contract and actually reduces the pain.

Skin branding, like other scarification methods, are common in ethnic tribes. In the past, skin branding is used to mark slaves and to punish criminals. Today, while there are still some who view skin branding as barbaric or an indication of a mental disorder, a growing number of people get their skin branded as a form of self-expression. For instance, it is common for fraternity members to have the symbol of their organization branded on their skin to express their solidarity.

The most common method of skin branding is strike branding, wherein the branding artist molds individual metal pieces to form the desired symbol, heats each piece and press it on the skin for half a second. The number of strikes depend the number of metal pieces needed to complete the design. Skin branding using a cautery pen is another popular method used to create designs with a bit more detail. Other methods make use of lasers, chemicals and freezing methods.

When choosing a skin branding design, keep it simple. Remember that scars grow in size so when you burn lines or dots onto skin, the scars that will form will be bigger in size than the original design. This why branding artists leaves spaces in between each strike so the lines will not overlap and create bumps. Additionally, consider which part of your body you want the branding on. You may want to choose an even and muscular area for best results.

Obviously, skin branding is painful and permanent. In addition, it also has some very serious risks. Never attempt to do skin branding on your own. The procedure of skin branding is not as simple as heating any metal piece and pressing it onto your skin. A trained branding artist uses the proper instruments and ensures the application of the right temperature and the right pressure.

It is also very important, if you are considering this type of body modification, that you are prepared and well aware of the procedure and potential complications some of which are bacterial infections, allergic reactions, and transmission of disease-causing agents. For this reason, go to clean shops only and seek a professional body artist who is experienced in skin branding.