| The recent growth and popularity of tattooing has | | | | poses a greater risk. It's important that your tattoo |
| created numerous safety and risk issues throughout | | | | artist has been vaccinated against this disease. To |
| the world. Before getting a tattoo it's important to | | | | safeguard against blood borne diseases it's very |
| research safety issues related to tattoo procedures, | | | | important that the tattoo artist wear gloves when |
| studio hygiene, aftercare, and removal. Additionally, if | | | | applying a tattoo. The tattoo artist should also |
| you have sensitive skin you may want to investigate | | | | change gloves between different clients. Additionally, |
| the ingredients used in tattoo inks, pigments, and | | | | tattoo instruments should be sterilized using an |
| ointments. The most common risks associated with | | | | autoclave which is a container that cleans the |
| tattoos are allergic reactions, exposure to | | | | instruments with intense heat and strong |
| transmittable diseases, and infection. | | | | disinfectants. Leftover ink tubes that were used on a |
| Allergic Reactions | | | | client should be disposed of and never used to apply |
| Immediately after receiving a tattoo the application | | | | a tattoo on a different person. Reputable tattoo |
| area may be itchy, red and slightly swollen. This is | | | | studios will brief their customers on these risks |
| normal and usually disappears after a few days. | | | | before applying a tattoo. |
| However, if these symptoms persist, increase in | | | | Infection |
| intensity, or are accompanied by oozing or bleeding | | | | The cleanliness of the tattoo studio and the |
| medical assistance should be sought. Allergic reactions | | | | procedures followed by tattoo artists are integral to |
| are usually linked to an intolerance to tattoo inks. | | | | safeguarding against infection. The biggest risks are |
| Certain hues of red and green inks tend to cause | | | | staph infections which spread quickly in the body and |
| more irritation than other colors. Some of the inks | | | | can be deadly. Additionally, individuals with prosthetic |
| used during the tattoo application process are | | | | knees or hips should investigate the safety practices |
| industrial grade and not safe for those with skin | | | | of the tattoo studio because blood borne infections |
| allergies. In some instances the strength of the | | | | tend to target prosthetic areas. Pregnant women |
| pigment mixed into the inks may not be appropriate | | | | should be especially cautious about getting tattoos |
| for skin contact. As such people with skin allergies | | | | because of the risk to the unborn fetus. |
| should request that the tattoo artist perform a | | | | Since several states have enacted regulations that |
| swatch or patch test in which a very small section of | | | | outline mandatory safety practices of tattoo studios |
| skin is tattooed and then observed to determine the | | | | the risks described above are fairly uncommon. |
| body's reaction to the inks. | | | | However there are thousands of tattoo artists in the |
| Transmittable Diseases | | | | U.S. that operate illegally or who have studios that |
| Because tattoo instruments and tattoo artists come | | | | aren't regulated by health department standards. As |
| in contact with blood and bodily fluids the risk of | | | | with any procedure that introduces trauma to the |
| getting a transmittable disease is a concern. Although | | | | skin it's important to take precautions to diminish the |
| HIV is the disease that people getting tattoos | | | | chances of adverse reactions and safeguard against |
| express the most concern about, Hepatitis B actually | | | | infection and disease. |