The Risks of Getting Tattoos
There are many health risks to getting tattoos. You are best advised to be acquainted with these risks before proceeding to have a tattoo placed.
First, the most important risk is infection. Blood-borne infections such as hepatitis A, B, C and HIV are the most dangerous, with hepatitis C and HIV being potentially fatal. These infections are transferred through unclean or unsterilized needles and can be transmitted from the artist to the patron or from patron to patron.
You can also develop localized skin reactions, some leading to cellulitis requiring antibiotics or even hospitalization.
Occasionally, although quite rare, some individuals may exhibit an allergic reaction to the pigments used for which some artists can offer a patch test.
Some individuals are also allergic to latex and if this is the case then it should be brought to the artist's attention ahead of time since all artists mandatorily now wear latex gloves when working.
Increased risk of infection can also result from not following the artist's after care instructions which usually contain recommendations about relating to the methods and frequency of bathing and cleaning and new tattoo.
Today numerous safeguards are in place to minimize these risks. Most high street tattoo artists are required to be registered with local health authorities. They should have a current license displayed in their studio. They are expected to maintain a certain level of cleanliness and sanitation. Single-use needles are required to be disposed properly after each tattoo. Multi-use needles are to be sterilized between each tattoo. Also color palettes are to be sterilized or disposed between uses.
Although reputable, licensed tattoo artists should act in accordance with these laws, there are still a slender minority who may not follow these rules, not to mention the amateur and backstreet practitioners who do not fall under this jurisdiction. Ultimately, the responsibility for choosing the tattoo studio falls on you, the patron, so wise deliberation is imperative.