Is it safe to have a tattoo put over a birthmark ?, that is besides the normal risks involved in having a tattoo.

Is the birthmark like a mole? Or is it simply skin that is a different color?

If it is simply skin that is slightly different color.. no reason why not to beside the normal risks.

I "had" a nickel sized very dark birth mark on my left upper thigh (it looked just like the united states upside down) and i had a tiger cub tattoo placed over it. I have had no problems with it.

Any birth mark that is raised should be dealt with at the doctors office. People get tattoos over their birthmarks and scars to hide them. BUT depending on the size and darkness of the birthmark you might have to get a dark or large tattoo that you don't want. inorder to cover up a dark tattoo you must get a dark tattoo or the original skin color will bleed through. Ask your doctor and talk with the artist about it.

Would it be possible to use the color of my skin for a tattoo to cover up my birthmark, to make it appear like there is nothing there.

You would have to find a good tattoo artist who could mix pigments to get a natural flesh tone (fyi, he would use ochres which are iron oxides mixed with clay). But even if he were able to match your current skin tone you will have to consider the changes you skin tone might go through throughout the seasons and exposure to sun. Besides, covering a dark area with flesh colored tattoo pigments will not end up looking natural. Honestly, your best bet is to invest in a Ben Nye Concealer wheel or Ben Nye Tattoo Covers and use the makeup to cover the birthmark. There are many different brands and types of makeup you can use to cover a birthmark but I mentioned the Ben Nye line because of the wide variety of colors and this line has neutralizing colors that you would use before applying the flesh colors. With a little practice you can cover this area and make it very natural looking.

Doctors often use lasers to remove birthmarks. Its pretty amazing what can be done these days.

Many people get cosmetic tattoos to cover imperfections in the skin. This is becoming very popular with burn victims. I have a friend who got 3rd degree burns from cooking oil. She is African American and will go in a year to have the discolored burned area "colored" in. There are parts of her hand that are white. The tattoo will be the same color as her skin. I believe the doctor will do the tattoo in the hospital. It won't be done by some guy from a local ink shop.