Singer Demi Lovato poses with the Favorite Pop Artist award at the 2012 People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles January 11, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

Demi Lovato sees her tattoos as a connection with her fans.

The 'Skyscraper' singer - who was admitted to a treatment facility for three months in November 2010 to receive help for an eating disorder and self-harming - explained she had hearts inked on her arms in homage to her army of followers who supported her during her time in rehab.

She said: "I got 'Stay' and 'Strong' on my wrists, and these actually were really meaningful to me. My fans constantly said it the entire time I was in treatment ... and while they said it they would also put a little heart.

"I have a signature heart that I dot my I's with. So my fans would draw it on their wrists every day until I came out of treatment. And I thought, 'What better way to thank them?'

"That's a connection I have with my fans I don't see with many other people. And it's really cool that I have that; it's really special."

However, the 19-year-old star has ruled out getting any more body inkings to add to her current collection of 10, as otherwise she will be "covered" in tattoos.

Speaking on the live MTV aftershow of her new documentary 'Stay Strong', Demi added: "I have to stop! I am going to be covered in tattoos. I am so impulsive when it comes to it."

Despite the support of her fans, Demi confessed she has relapsed into self-harming and throwing up since leaving rehab.

She said on 'Stay Strong': "I cannot tell you that I have not thrown up since treatment. I cannot tell you that I have not cut myself since treatment. I'm not perfect.

"An addiction is an obsession, something that takes over your mind and your every thought. You think that you can't live without it. For me, it was not eating and purging and self-harming."