Tattoos are a beautiful display of art, meaning and message. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark something" and it is believe that the first known tattoo dates back 4,000 years B.C. to the body of a man found preserved in a glacier. Tattoos have been found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies, Greeks used it as a communication method among spies and Romans used tattoos to mark their criminals and slaves. 1 Today, tattoos continue to serve a variety of purposes, most often to display artwork or to convey a message. As beautiful and intricate as many tattoos are, safety and cleanliness need to be the number one priority when choosing a tattoo artist. Infection from tattoos is common and can become serious if not treated. The use of dirty needles can cause the transmission of Hepatitis B or C and sometimes the use of certain dyes can cause allergic reactions 2 .
There are many great tattoo artists in the United States, but finding one that is both safe and artistically talented may take a bit of work. The best way to find out if they are safe is to ask all of the questions below and take a good look at their studio. You may want to begin your research by asking where others have gotten their tattoos, especially if you really like the work that you see. Look through publications that focus on tattoos for referrals or even attend occasional tattoo and body piercing conventions if you live in or near a large city. Go ahead and visit several studios in your area and ask to see photographs of the artist's work. Most often, the pictures will have been taken right after the work was completed, so redness and swelling are common. In spite of that, there are things you can learn. Are the lines clean and smooth or broken and jagged? Do they meet up? Does the artist work in the style you are looking for? Taking time to check out a few artists and shops will ensure that you will be happy with your results.
Make sure the shop is neat and clean. What you see in the front room is a good indication of what you will see elsewhere in the shop, but look in the other rooms just to make sure. Ask questions about the shop's safety procedures. What are they doing to ensure your health and well-being? Do they sterilize their equipment or use single service equipment? Do they have their permits on the walls and have they been updated? Is there a separate room for sterilizing and a clean restroom for customers? The artists/shop owners should be willing and able to answer you questions. If you feel they are brushing your concerns aside or do not make you feel comfortable, leave and seek out a more professional shop that is willing to answer all of your questions 2 .
All equipment should be single service. This means that each needle and tube set is individually packaged, dated, sealed and sterilized. The artist should open a fresh set of needles and tubes in front of you. Any ointments, pigments, needles, gloves, razors, plastic trays or containers used in applying your new tattoo should be discarded after use. After the tattoo is applied, the artist will disinfect the work area on your skin with an EPA approved virucidal that will kill any surface bacteria or viruses.
With the advent of many communicable diseases, some fatal, it has become necessary to institute certain isolation and sterilization procedures in the tattoo process to assure the public of a safe, risk-free tattoo 2,3 . Professional tattoo artists working with local, state and national health authorities have prepared the following advice:
Feel free to question the tattoo artist about any concerns that you have, including his or her sterilization procedures and isolation techniques. Take time to observe them at work, it will help you to feel more comfortable and may help the artist as well.
Getting your first tattoo can be a very exciting experience and being prepared for what to expect can keep it fun. However, it is important that you should be well rested and well fed before tattoo application. If you are tired, or your blood sugar is low, you may experience a higher level of discomfort than you normally would. It is not advisable to drink alcohol before getting tattooed because not only do you become dehydrated, it will also cause you to bleed more and consequently have a negative effect on your new tattoo 3 .
The amount varies from person to person, but usually it is about what you would expect from a scraped knee or rug burn. The level of pain also varies from person to person, but most people do not find it unbearable. The best thing to do is accept the discomfort and relax. Fighting or tensing will only increase your discomfort. Deep breathing helps and possibly having a friend there to talk you through, might relieve some of the pain.
If you start to feel faint or a little "green" tell your artist right away instead of toughing it out. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break. Your artist should be prepared for this and should know how to handle it. If you need to change position or stretch, go to the bathroom, sneeze or wiggle for any reason, let your artist know BEFORE you do it.
Your new tattoo will get a patch of shiny skin over it or it may scab over. Leave the scab alone and wait for it to heal. If you do pick your scab you may run the risk of infection or damage to your tattoo. The scab will come off gradually in the course of a week or two. While the tattoo heals remember to keep it clean and protected from the sun. Applying Neosporin can help the healing process and keep it clean. If you have any questions during the healing process, call your artist. Don't rely on stories told to you by your friends or acquaintances 3 .
It is also recommended that you wear sunscreen with a SPF 30 on your tattoo for the rest of your life to because the skin that has been tattooed is more susceptible to the harmful rays of the sun.
Yes. A number of cases have been reported. The best known of these occurred in 1960 when New York City health officials blamed tattoo artists for 30 cases of hepatitis B and one death. The alleged cause of the problem was improper sterilization of instruments and the use of contaminated pigments. As a result, the New York City Board of Health outlawed tattooing in 1961. Two New York tattoo artists appealed the ruling and the case dragged on until 1966, when the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the lower court. However if tattooed by a licensed professional, the risks of contracting hepatitis B are much lower. It is also possible to contract Hepatitis C from needles used during tattoo application so make sure that the artist uses single service equipment 4 .
The most commonly reported reaction is called the “red reaction”. This consists of swelling, inflammation, redness, and itching of the tattoo caused by the red pigment used in tattooing. It is often initiated and aggravated by exposure to sunlight. The reaction usually appears many years after the tattooing is completed. In many individuals it is a minor and possibly annoying inconvenience, but in some it can become so severe that it could require treatment by a dermatologist 4 . Fortunately, there have not been any other reported reactions to the other color pigments.
Mild cases can be treated with topical ointments but more severe cases may require medical attention. They may require the removal of the tattoo by dermabrasion (replenishing the skin layers) or other surgical methods. Recently the red reaction has responded to carbon dioxide laser treatment, which has led to complete resolution of symptoms with an excellent cosmetic result and preservation of the tattoo design.
After the tattoo is applied it is extremely important that you take care of it and keep it clean and protected. Skin infections are common and can range from allergic reactions and dermatitis (severe skin irritation) to the development of this scars called keloids. If you already have a skin condition such as eczema, you may have flare-ups as a result of the tattoo 4 .
If you have any further questions, feel free to stop by the Health Resource Center or visit any of the links listed below. You may want to contact your local health department and ask if there have been any reports of unsafe tattoo salons.
1. Tattoos by design (2004). http://www.tattoosbydesign.com/history.html
2. Tattoos (2005). http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/safe_tattooing.html
3. Basic Guidelines for Getting a Tattoo (2004). http://www.safe-tattoos.com/faq.htm
4. Gilbert, Steve (2000). Safe Tattooing. http://tattoos.com/safe.htm
