News Article

Health risks which concern commercial tattooing usually tend to be somewhat exaggerated and certain people will go to great lengths to mount campaigns against tattoo establishments and their presence in their neighborhoods. Despite all this tattoo shops have come a long way from once being a taboo to something that is a fast growing area of commerce and enterprise.

Because the numbers of tattoo shops are growing so quickly they are now being opened in spots that normally would not be called home to a tattoo shop such as middle-class cities and towns that have never had such establishments in their business districts.

In past times media has suggested that there are serious health risks related to tattooing. These suggestions include that tattooing may involve unusually high risks related to the transmission of such diseases as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.

The truth is that there has never been a documented case of HIV transmission through tattooing anywhere in the United States. However, there have been over five cases of HIV transmission associated with dentists and dental workers.

In regards to hepatitis and tattooing, there are about 14,000 cases of reported hepatitis annually. From that number 12 are associated with tattoos but 43 or more cases resulted from a trip to the dentist. There are stringent safety procedures that are required by law that tattoo studios must follow so any health risks related to tattooing are basically obsolete.

Issues concerning any health risks which may be related to tattooing largely exist because tattooing involves needles and blood. If the tattoo artists involved stick to the right sterilization and sanitation procedures, lesser chances that disease transmission will occur exist. If non sterile practices are used then there is a risk of syphilis, hepatitis B, and other diseases.

Infections can occur in new tattoos, especially without appropriate aftercare. Some people also experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks. Although the pigments used may have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for other purposes, the FDA does not regulate tattoo inks. Tattoo artists must also take special safety measures regarding their hands. Gloves help prevent disease transmission from bodily fluids, but bacteria thrive in the warm, damp environment they create. This means that artists must: wash hands thoroughly and often, inspect hands for cuts or sores and cover them with bandages, remove hangnails and keep nails short to prevent punctures to gloves, and refrain from tattooing when experiencing lesions, dermatitis or allergic reactions.

Because of the nature of the rules and safety regulations which usually apply to the practice of tattooing, tattoo parlors tend to be very careful with the issue of providing these tattoos. The health risks described under most circumstances are those which occur in cases where the proper procedures required are not adhered to. As far as the United States is concerned, getting a tattoo is something safe which you should not bother about as long as you a dealing with a safe and reputable tattoo salon.