(Please read the following images in your best advert warning voice)
This is of course all in jest, however, it begs the question, is there such a thing as a tattoo addict?
Technically? No.
Many have experienced the feeling of getting a new tattoo or piercing and then immediately craving another and then having the disappointment of checking their bank account, realising that's not a possibility. But despite this being a common desire, there isn't really such a thing as an ink addiction.
The NHS describes an addiction as "not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it can be harmful to you". I imagine there are not many people out there who psychically cannot control their tattoo habits, but never say never.
There are however, scientific reasons that we repeat the process of getting tattooed time and time again.
Some people enjoy the pain that goes along with getting a tattoo. Endorphins are released in the brain at the same time, therefore some people might associate tattoos with feeling good and want to recreate that. However some argue that this does not stand the test of time as you can get used to it, so you may not feel such a rush frequently repeating the process.
We can also forget pain. We've all heard of the theory that mothers have forgotten the pain of child birth, thus resulting in them doing it over again. This is because we tend to remember the circumstances surrounding what caused the pain more than the feeling of the pain. You might remember how the pain made you feel, like anxious to get the tattoo finished and have this stinging stop but it is unlikely you will remember the actual pain.
For example, it is a common joke that the white highlighting is the worst part of getting tattooed. I can remember exactly how I was feeling mentally any time my tattoo artists have done the highlights (along the lines of 'please please please god make this stop') and yet I rack my brain and can't actually remember the feeling of the pain on my skin. Hense why I want more tattoos.
Does that make sense?
So, we might not be addicts but there is something behind our constant urge for new ink.