Society tends to make us feel as though anything that makes us different is a weakness or disadvantage. In a world with picture-perfect beauty standards, scars and birthmarks are seen as imperfections rather than unique aspects of a person’s history.
Cover-up tattoos are a popular choice for those who feel as though they need to hide marks on their body, but there are also people who merely want to use a tattoo as a way of accentuating their marks, turning them from something they may have thought was shameful to something beautiful.
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Stitches
This is an incredibly clever way to turn a scar into a dynamic piece of art on one’s body. Bravo.
Cinderelly
This one is part of a really cool trend in which people get tattoos that pull focus away from their scars. Smart and gorgeous!
Berry Nice
Color tattoos tend to blend really nicely with skin discoloration or birth marks with darkness in them. A simple idea with amazing results.
Zip It Up
Not only does this one make the original scar look like a zipper track, but the zipper itself is so detailed and gorgeous that it pulls focus.
Topper
Nothing like an interesting and dynamic illustration to show off part of your personal history.
Apparition Aspirations
If it’s already ghost shaped, why wouldn’t you go this route?
I Mustash You A Question
This is the only mustache on earth that actually works well.
The Past Is In The Past
Self harm scars can be extremely difficult to walk around with, so having a wicked piece of art in order to change their meaning has the ability to change someone’s entire attitude regarding their self worth.
Blizzard
This piece is so well done that it almost looks as if the red was put their purposefully.
Wine Stain
This one is not only well drawn and applied, but wonderfully clever.
Nothing Fishy Here
Once again, if you have a scar or birthmark that really resembles something cool on it’s own, you almost have to go for it.
I Walk The Line
You can’t even tell that this one is a cover-up. I’m obsessed.
Frame It
Another awesome piece of art that honors and matches the original mark. Holy moly.
Personal Growth
What better way to show how you’ve grown and change than to plant your own little birthmark homage garden?
Absolutely Breathtaking
I can’t stop looking into that flower. Honestly. It’s so darn cool.
Birds Of A Feather
Perfect use of negative space here. So awesome.
Remember Who You Are
A touching tribute piece and a wicked way to turn something painful into something beautiful.
Two Halves Make A Whole
Simple, but elegant in every way.
Fish Out Of Water
Something about the lines and straight angles of fish and tails make them perfect for scar cover-ups.
Lady In Waiting
How are people THIS GOOD AT ART???
Transformation
Association is everything, and if a beautiful art piece helps someone have a more positive association to being in their own skin, the money to get the tattoo is worth it 100x over.
Phone Home
How do these people have such cool imaginations? And how do I hire them?
Under The Sea
Again, sea creatures are a no-brainer. They always look good.
Hard At Work
These people’s bodies are like illustrated history books.
If There Be Thornes
Striking and powerful, which is hopefully how this person feels after getting this tattoo.
Spacey
Did anyone else book their next tattoo halfway through this list? I sure did.
A Splash Of Color
This is one of those ones that looks like the design was purposefully supposed to be like that, no matter where the scar was.
The Heart Wants What It Wants
A gorgeous frame to someone’s lived history.
The Whole Bouquet
You could even add more flowers as you get older to represent your growth! Such a cool idea.
Need A Hand?
Such good use of color here. Absolutely beautiful.
The Whole Truth
That’s definitely one way to go about your healing journey!
Use Your Imagination
A line could just be a line…or it could be a ray of energy pulling a T-Rex up to a flying saucer. It’s all up to you.
The Ultimate Seamstress
This is one repair that you’ll never have to touch up.
Half The Battle
You know that these people are all sitting in cool coffee shops looking cool with their cool tattoos. You just know.
Fly Away
This kind of cover-up takes some serious skill.
A Scar For A Scar
Is there a better way to pay homage to your history than with some art of Scar himself? I don’t think so.
Perfect Fit
You can tell that the artist drew the flower in a way that perfectly matches the scar. I’m awestruck.
All Out In The Open
The detail on this one is absolutely incredible , and really does justice to the original scars by turning them into a piece rather than covering them up with one.
A fixer-upper.
Great placement, great artwork, and such a neat addition! Deep-sea divers always make for cool tattoos.
New art nouveau!
I’ve always thought these art nouveau style tattoos were gorgeous, and this one proves me right yet again!
Full of life.
This person the tattoo is of Mother Nature, which makes perfect sense! Nothing like the embodiment of color, life, and beauty to honor your past.
Less can be more.
An almost minimalist piece, this tattoo brings out an old faded scar, perfect for highlighting that which makes you stronger!
1, 2, time to get a tattoo.
I may be biased because I love A Nightmare On Elm Street , but come on, this is so cool.
Safety first!
Small, cute, and even funny! A smart accent that gets the message across.
Out and around.
The way the birthmark is centered in this piece and becomes part of the art around it is stunning!
Stronger together.
Heartwarming and touching, this dad got a tattoo that copies his daughter’s birthmark so they can both be confident about it together! Grade-A parenting right here.
Where flowers grow.
The color on this piece is amazing, letting the scar blend in perfectly!
The Milky Way
What do you do when a birthmark isn’t in a particularly usable shape? Make it a beautiful backdrop.