Inking your skin is just one last step in the journey of giving yourself a tattoo. In reality, it all starts from hours spent browsing tattoo ideas and annoying your friends with an endless stream of “what do you think?” images.

And our love for ink has never been so big. A recent study has shown that 30% of Americans have at least one tattoo, which is five times more than eight years ago.

But many people have found a source of inspiration in the recent pandemic. In fact, coronavirus-themed tattoos are becoming a quirky sub-genre which represents everything we’ve been living with in the past months. From tributes to front-line doctors to the holy symbol of pandemic chaos, a toilet paper roll, scroll down for the best ones as compiled by Bored Panda.

This post may include affiliate links.#1 

Today I got this design tattooed, it is Banksy’s tribute to Covid doctors – a child who chooses the doctor among the heroes to play with! 

emanuele.santaniello Report43pointsPOST

Scagsy8 hours ago

Can’t beat a bit of Banksy – always hits the nail right on the head2ReplyView more comments#2 

Tattoo for the doctor, inspired by the current situation in the world

ingabolotova Report41pointsPOST

Sethurama Iyer8 hours ago

Plague doctor: “Well I guess people never learn, huh”4Reply#3 

He wanted to surprise his wife with this tattoo that represents her for all the effort and sacrifice she has made and there is still to be done in this stage that we are all living. Thank you very much for the creative freedom and the good time!

blackpeony_tattoo Report37pointsPOST

Scagsy8 hours ago

What a fabulous tribute!0ReplyView more comments

It’s no secret that the booming tattoo industry has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic since it’s based on constant physical contact. Moreover, the industry doesn’t really have a well-organized inside structure that would know how to deal with this sort of crisis.

Maxime Plescia-Büchi, founder of Sang Bleu Tattoo studios, believes that “unlike any other industry, it doesn’t have any structure where a talented individual would be ‘taken care of’ or managed by another entity focused more specifically on finances, marketing, etc.”

Quite simply, if you have eyes, hands, talent, and ink, you can be a tattoo artist. As a result, some artists and tattoo parlors find themselves lacking a clear back-up plan.#4 

lammanlai Report35pointsPOST

Adam C8 hours ago

Barts face says it all.0Reply#5 

Just a quick little jammer about how we all feel about 2020

eddypiercehi Report33pointsPOST

Bambi7 hours ago

Nice! Giving 2020 the finger! Lol2ReplyView more comments#6 

Let’s be responsible in this situation. Take care of yourself and let us take care of the most vulnerable.

andresmakishi Report32pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

Love the shirt.1ReplyView more comments

Some tattoo artists are fearful about how the industry will look after the pandemic. Zac Scheinbaum, a San Francisco–based artist, told GQ: “There’s a lot of fear about what going back to work will look like. What’s it going to take for [tattooers] to feel safe to be able to go back to work and make a living?”

On the other hand, people are really hungry to get tattooed in this moment of crisis. Some want to make a tribute; others, on the contrary, to get away from the problems and immerse themselves in the creative world of skin art. 

“There’s a weird magic to tattoos that bring people happiness. It’s unexplainable,” Nathan Kostechko, the cofounder of the art collective Heavens, told GQ.#7 

francesca__verna Report30pointsPOST

Jayne Kyra6 hours ago

Some people go home to their families. Some people´s pets are their only family.3ReplyView more comments#8 

lujuriatattoo Report30pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

Yep. Not all superheroes wear capes. Some wear scrubs.6ReplyView more comments#9 

dr_vega_tattooer Report28pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

Excellent. I bet this lady is a nurse.2ReplyView more comments#10 

seanhollandtat2 Report27pointsPOST

Scagsy8 hours ago

Very clever the way the suds appear as a rosary or prayer beads2ReplyView more comments#11 

th_ink_cuba Report27pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

This one is great. We’re all in this together.2ReplyView more comments#12 

bink.tattooer Report26pointsPOST

Sarcastic Cow8 hours ago

1970 soviet scifi cover art4ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#13 

catlynefable Report26pointsPOST

Scagsy4 hours ago

These plague doctors are beginning to scare me a bit. Only a bit. But enough.0Reply#14 

Last week’s tattoo for an emergency nurse at Jove hospital. Thank you very much and thank you very much for the work you do.

dr_vega_tattooer Report25pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

This one is just beautiful. The colors are so vibrant.1ReplyView more comments#15 

lootattoo Report23pointsPOST

Vicky Zar7 hours ago

Thats excellent work0Reply#16 

The only kind of germs you DO want right now!

tatty.cake Report22pointsPOST

depicus4 hours ago

Very cute but deadly1Reply#17 

strangemmmaker Report22pointsPOST

Scagsy4 hours ago

Good times for curtain-twitchers though1ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#18 

electricinkskinaunz Report22pointsPOST

chi-wei shen8 hours ago

Was this spelling mistake on purpose?6ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#19 

ivanlopezart2e Report21pointsPOST

Zoe’s Mom1 hour ago

Excellent work1ReplyView more comments#20 

divergent_ink Report21pointsPOST

Scagsy7 hours ago

Wow! That’s a beast of a tat3ReplyView more comments#21 

Quarantine love

lovettetattoos Report21pointsPOST

Scagsy7 hours ago

Banksy-esque updated for the current times1Reply#22 

lenapercyrosyfaict Report21pointsPOST

Scagsy4 hours ago

Kinda looks like ‘Never forget the toilet roll’. Do you think that’s intended or have I missed the gist?0ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#23 

dimm_tattoo Report21pointsPOST

Audrey Tate7 hours ago

Hope theres not another pandemic in 26267ReplyView more comments#24 

thewolfrosario Report21pointsPOST

Sethurama Iyer8 hours ago

I like the pink outline a lot5Reply#25 

mvttys Report20pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

The only time I go out is to get groceries. But that keeps me sane.1Reply#26 

gattagnudatattoo Report19pointsPOST#27 

betty_tattoos Report19pointsPOST#28 

My newest tattoo in honor of COVID-19 

dapherding Report18pointsPOST

Scagsy7 hours ago

Far, far and away the best one here1Reply#29 

spooky__hand Report18pointsPOST

Audrey Tate7 hours ago

don’t jinx it!!!!!!!4ReplyView more comments#30 

cavemantattoo Report16pointsPOST

troufaki137 hours ago

It’s funny now but I wouldn’t want something like that permanently inked on my body8ReplyView more comments#31 

jiuseppe88 Report16pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

Not smiling under the mask.1Reply#32 

whitneyhavok Report16pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

This one says so much.2Reply#33 

tattoosbymeri Report16pointsPOST#34 

vinivolpini Report15pointsPOST

Kate Yeti12 minutes ago

Yep. After all this mess, I’m never gonna shake anyone’s hand ever again.0Reply#35 

inkme.shell Report15pointsPOST

Zoe’s Mom1 hour ago

This would really good in color.0Reply#36 

jairosotofedez Report14pointsPOST

Linda van der Pal7 hours ago

Too bad he’s wearing the mask wrong…8ReplyView More Replies…View more comments#37 

nickyjudstattoo Report14pointsPOST#38 

Children’s drawings are wonderful. Teo is five years old and that is how he drew the coronavirus. His father tattooed it on him and I did it with all my heart 

criminal.poke Report14pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

The virus is smiling at all the trouble it’s caused.1Reply#39 

b.ironside.art Report14pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

Nurses are unsung heroes2Reply#40 

donavankinyon_thegoldenowl Report13pointsPOST

Scagsy7 hours ago

Those darn drunken bats. Starting all this. Keep off the liquor Batfink2ReplyView more comments#41 

lamasqwerty Report13pointsPOST

Scagsy4 hours ago

SOMETHING’s in the air but I’m not sure you’d class a pandemic as ‘Love’0Reply#42 

Say hello to Mr. Covid

ramotattoo Report13pointsPOST

Scagsy4 hours ago

Surely his hair is too neat and tidy to have lived through 2020. I’ve forgotten what a barber looks like.0ReplyView more comments#43 

morduba.art.tattoo Report13pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

“This is only going to hurt a little bit.”1Reply#44 

Many people get tattoos to commemorate significant, profound experiences in their lives… And this one is for the Year 2020: Chapter Toilet Paper Apocalypse

janetchunky Report12pointsPOST#45 

inkme.shell Report12pointsPOST#46 

supersteatattoo Report12pointsPOST

BusLady8 hours ago

Didn’t catch it at first.0Reply#47 

covid19tattoo Report12pointsPOST#48 

thomi.louie Report12pointsPOST#49 

Tattoo to let your grubby friends know they need to wash their hands

_fatmum_ Report11pointsPOST#50 

brianna.tattoo Report11pointsPOST#51 

sweetglenntattoos Report11pointsPOST#52 

martina.leopizzi.tattoo Report11pointsPOST#53 

minette1217 Report11pointsPOST#54 

weirdworld.tattoo Report11pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

And tomorrow and tomorrow…0Reply#55 

badvibestattoo Report11pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

He’s glad he’s on the moon.1Reply#56 

ponghipolito Report11pointsPOST#57 

juanunion Report11pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

The world has a major headache.0Reply#58 

inky.island Report11pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

” Respect my authori-tie”1Reply#59 

Damn you coronavirus lurking around and screwing up 2020.

sydneygirl63 Report10pointsPOST

Scagsy7 hours ago

Looks cool peeking over the socks0Reply#60 

pott.ink Report10pointsPOST#61 

dida_tattoo Report10pointsPOST

Zoe’s Mom1 hour ago

This one is so well done.0Reply#62 

madmax_veracruz Report10pointsPOST#63 

bear_submongkol Report10pointsPOST#64 

Check out this coronavirus getting attacked by hand sanitizer!

Also, mama always said, if you don’t make jokes and laugh about it, you’ll think too hard and cry about it.

emmajrage Report10pointsPOST#65 

We all experience COVID-19 our own way. Here is how Cédric felt: a virus very well revered.

lilice.tattoo Report10pointsPOST#66 

simonemuttitattoo Report10pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

People who believe that Covid does not exist need to visit a hospital and see people who are dying.0Reply#67 

ta2s_by_rudy Report10pointsPOST#68 

mikec.tattoo Report10pointsPOST#69 

sabrina_bellinelli_tattoo Report10pointsPOST#70 

mart.a.r.t Report10pointsPOST#71 

jayfourtwozero Report10pointsPOST#72 

goldenrosetattoo.satx Report10pointsPOST

SaraFromHell18 minutes ago

I don’t like these…too old school.0Reply#73 

tattoo_studio_suvorov Report9pointsPOST

BusLady7 hours ago

It’s distressing to think about the people who actually believe that Covid is a hoax.1Reply#74 

sterile_electric_tattoo Report9pointsPOST#75 

prideandglorytattoos Report9pointsPOST#76 

vf.tattoo Report9pointsPOST

SaraFromHell17 minutes ago

Little early for celebrating…0Reply#77 

giselamanz Report9pointsPOST#78 

artistinktattoo Report9pointsPOST

Enuya6 hours ago

Cover your nose too!3Reply#79 

sparklefight Report9pointsPOST

BMS Link5 hours ago

nice0Reply#80 

evilcko Report8pointsPOST

Zoe’s Mom1 hour ago

Really like the style.0Reply#81 

Small Coronavirus tattoo I did before the lockdown. Crazy what’s happening right now

willycutliptattoo Report8pointsPOST#82 

paula666tattoo Report8pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

Oops!0Reply#83 

bobbydeez Report8pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

When TP was worth more than gold.0Reply#84 

alexramosart Report8pointsPOST#85 

k.morgen.ink Report8pointsPOST#86 

maxd2012 Report8pointsPOST#87 

acciotattoos Report8pointsPOST#88 

lemerluiz Report8pointsPOST

Adam C8 hours ago

alien-covid-side0Reply#89 

b4bygorill4 Report8pointsPOST#90 

darksky_tattoo Report8pointsPOST#91 

honeybri.tattoo Report8pointsPOST#92 

trixtattoo Report8pointsPOST

Zoe’s Mom1 hour ago

Wonderful colors.0Reply#93 

irvingderma Report8pointsPOST#94 

d.vol_tattoo Report8pointsPOST

Enuya6 hours ago

You can’t be sure yet…0Reply#95 

jaume24k Report8pointsPOST#96 

straats_tatts Report8pointsPOST

Bacony6 hours ago

One of the best ones.0Reply#97 

COVID-19 germ as a part of my spooky sleeve

AmandaBarton27 Report7pointsPOST#98 

__borderlinetattoos__ Report7pointsPOST#99 

Welcome to my arm, Miss Rona 2020! Why not commemorate an important moment in time with something a little bit silly.

This piece of my arm is dedicated to essential workers everywhere

princessmayhem Report7pointsPOST#100 

cortesi_francesco Report7pointsPOST

BusLady4 hours ago

My sentiments exactly.0Reply#101 

pippa_kovacs_tattoos Report7pointsPOST#102 

zago_tattoo Report7pointsPOST#103 

floweisstattoo Report7pointsPOST

Enuya6 hours ago

I’m not a big fan of this one with covid, but hey, this cactus is pretty cool! Also, I like art style here.0Reply#104 

sydneygirl63 Report7pointsPOST#105 

mikemcgrathtattoos Report7pointsPOST#106 

zonacentro_tattoobarbershop Report7pointsPOST#107 

ink.jennydarh Report7pointsPOST#108 

primalspirittattoo Report7pointsPOST#109 

bear_submongkol Report7pointsPOST#110 

lizz_monterrosa_ink Report7pointsPOST#111 

bs13tattoo Report6pointsPOST

SaraFromHell13 minutes ago

Cool concept.0ReplyView more comments#112 

honeybri.tattoo Report6pointsPOST#113 

butterflytattoo_este Report6pointsPOST

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Akvile is a list curator at Bored Panda. After finishing her Creative Industries studies, her career took off here at our office.She’senious in finding the best pictures of funny and adorable animals, though she especially loves supplying readers with tattoo designs.If she were a president, she would make good coffee and sweets free of charge for the whole country. For now, she’s just a listmaker at Bored Panda…P.S. Tell your dog Akvile said hi! Read more »

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