Tattoo Tales in the Exam Room

Last night a patient asked me to check if his tattoo was infected and when I lifted his shirt

there were seventeen more tattoos I had to examine one by one while he explained the deep meaning

behind each. By tattoo number twelve I learned about his ex wife, his motorcycle club,

and why he doesn't trust dermatologists. The infected one? It was on his ankle the whole time.

He just wanted someone to appreciate his art collection. I spent forty minutes nodding at dragons

and skulls when I could've been charting. Now every time I see a tattooed patient

I ask exactly which tattoo needs attention first.