This index lists kinds of portrayals of tattoos in media.
Compare Scar Tropes, Cosmetics Tropes.
- Animated Tattoo: A tattoo that can move.
- Body Paint: Wearing body paint as a decoration.
- Birthmark of Destiny: A birthmark marks a character as special in some way, possibly as The Chosen One.
- Claimed by the Supernatural: A person claimed by a supernatural entity develops a physical mark showing this.
- Embarrassing Tattoo: A character has a tattoo that's undignified, often because they got it while intoxicated or because it reflects views they no longer have.
- Facial Markings: A character with permanent markings on their face.
- Human Notepad: A character covered in tattooed writing.
- Intimate Marks: A character has a tattoo located somewhere risque, such as on their buttocks or near their genitals.
- Knuckle Tattoos: A person has tattoos on their knuckles.
- Marked Change: A pattern appears on a character's skin as a visual shorthand for them tapping into their powers.
- Mark of Shame: A marker to remind a person of a shameful event.
- Mark of the Beast: A physical mark indicating a character is associated with a malevolent being.
- Mark of the Supernatural: A unique physical trait marks a character as being magical or supernatural.
- Power Tattoo: A tattoo that grants power.
- Scannable Man: A working barcode tattoo.
- Storyboard Body: A character's tattoos show something important to their backstory or personality.
- Tattoo as Character Type: Tattoos are used as a visual shorthand for characterization.
- Tattoo Conceals Scars: Tattoos are used to conceal or downplay physical scarring.
- Tattooed Crook: A criminal with tattoos.
- Tattoo Sharpie: A permanent marker that's truly permanent, even on skin.
- Themed Tattoos: Two or more characters have tattoos that share a theme.
- Tribal Facepaint: Tribal people with elaborate face paint or facial tattoos.