A 10-year-old Thai boy has been left traumatized after classmates cruelly tattooed the word "p -- y" across his forehead using a makeshift tattoo gun.
The child, named Kao, from Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand, was reportedly bullied by his so-called friends, who also marked his arms and legs with crude designs.
Photos of the boy's injuries quickly circulated on social media, prompting local eyebrow tattoo artist Janjira "Frame" Kaewket to step in and help.
Kaewket, who owns beauty salon 'Chaiyaphum Beautiful Eyebrows' in Kanchanaburi, offered to remove the tattoos free of charge using a laser removal treatment.
In footage from October 4, Kao can be seen wearing goggles as he undergoes the painful treatment.
"I was shocked that someone would dare tattoo such a young child," Kaewket said.
"But I assured him the tattoos could easily be removed because they were only using a tool, a sewing needle attached to a pen.
"The removal itself only took 15 minutes to finish, but we had to leave the anaesthetic on for about an hour because the boy is so young.
"It wasn't just on his forehead. There were over ten spots on his legs, all of which we managed to remove for him." she said.
Kaewket also revealed the boy had "simply been following the instructions of older children".
Thankfully, due to the lack of depth on the tattoos, they will take around three sessions to be completely removed.
The incident has since gone viral on social media, with many branding it as "inhumane".
Others, praised Kaewket for being a "good Samaritan".
"Not all heroes wear capes," said one.
"Thank you to this very good-hearted woman," said another.
"This was very kind of her. The world needs more people like this," weighed in a third.
In August, a Thai father filed a complaint with police against a tattoo parlour in Chon Buri after his 14-year-old son was given a full torso tattoo without parental consent, according to the Bangkok Post.
The family alleged the shop, located in the Km 10 district, tattooed their son without asking for identification or permission from a guardian.
A preliminary police investigation reportedly found the parlor had tattooed several minors under 20 without checking ages or seeking consent.
According to Thailand's Public Health Act, individuals under 18 wishing to get a tattoo must require parental consent.