ACC received 304 claims relating to tattoos in 2013 at a cost of $45,749.
Of that, 11 claims were made in Otago and Southland, at a cost of $574.
The figures show 11.3% more claims were made in 2013 than in 2102 and 35.7% more than in 2011.
Crazy Horse Tattoo Studio owner Chris Downing, of Dunedin, said he was ''frightened'' about the growing trend in Dunedin of people getting amateur tattoos from ''backyarders'', resulting in him having to cover over with another tattoo.
''I do three fix-ups a week.''
A backyarder could buy a tattoo machine from the internet cheaply and every week he was told of a new Dunedin backyarder.
''Every week I see another mess from someone else I've never heard of tattooing before, masquerading as a tattoo artist.''
The most frightening part of getting a backyarder tattoo was the health risk from an incorrect procedure and dirty equipment.
''It is cheaper to come to a professional tattooist because it is cheaper all round.
''You're not going to get a botched job and you're not going to die from hepatitis.''
Jackie Parker, of Dunedin, said she wanted to cover up an ''awful'' tattoo she got on her ankle while holidaying in Phuket, Thailand last year.
''It got infected - it was really nasty - the whole thing was an open wound for two weeks.''
The tattoo was supposed to be of chrysanthemums but the tattoos resembled ''balls'' rather than flowers, she said.
Dave Dickie, of Dunedin, said he paid Mr Downing to tattoo over tattoos on his body, which included a one-breasted woman on his arm.
Mr Dickie said he was getting the cover-up by Mr Downing because the original tattoos he picked held little meaning for him.
