Scarification

   Scarifying involves scratching, etching, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification. In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin.
  In an art history class I took I learned that scarification is an ancient African tribal body art that involves purposely scarring the skin to create raised marks and/or complete patterns. It's generally believed that scarring was developed because the dark pigmented skin of the indigenous African people was not ideal for tattooing. By opening the skin, the uppermost layer of pigment was broken and filled in with slightly lighter shades of scar tissue. There was just enough contrast for the marks to show after the wounds had finally healed. Scarification is still a ritualized practice in many African provinces but is now used here in America as a form of tattooing. YES Tattoos !
  To me it seems interesting, your skin is literally the canvas. It is a way of self expression, but on the other hand you are cutting yourself
Photos of recent and even historic scarification can be disturbing So I will only post this one:

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