Health Risks of Tattooing and Piercing
Tattooing and piercing are permanent makeup procedures that may increase the risk of contracting a number of serious blood-borne diseases. All consumers should be aware of the risks involved in order to make an informed decision. Since instruments used in tattoo and piercing come in contact with blood and bodily fluids, diseases may be transmitted if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilized.
Skin and mucous membranes in the mouth and nose protect us from many infections. Both tattooing and piercing procedures involve piercing the skin or mucous membrane with a needle or other sharp instrument. Infections and diseases that could be transmitted via the use of unsterilized tattoo equipment include surface infections of the skin, tetanus, staph, some forms of hepatitis, and HIV, and in some cases even allergic reactions. Consumers involved in the process may also have bacteria or viruses present on their skin that can enter their body and cause infection when their skin is pierced.
Practitioners who do the tattooing and piercing are also at risk of becoming infected through accidental cuts and punctures.
Visit before tattooing and tattoos and permanent makeup pages to find out what risks tattoos and permanent makeup pose, ways to protect yourself and what to do if you no longer want the body art.
The best protection against infection and disease is to carefully choose where you obtain your tattoo or piercing. So, take the time to find a good professional artist. Good professional artists wants your whole experience to be positive and will be just as concerned as you are about preventing infections and producing good art work.
Persons considering getting a tattoo should be aware of the potential for CA-MRSA infection associated with unlicensed tattooists. Find out more about skin infections among tattoo recipients...
Before you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body pierced at the particular establishment, check with the local health department and with the staff at that establishment what sterilization procedures they use to prevent the spread of infections. Don't hesitate to ask many questions, and make sure you get satisfactory answers. If the artist can't or won't answer all of your questions, don't be intimidated or afraid to leave and find a different artist. Keep in mind that it's your body, your money and your choice.
FDA urges consumers and healthcare providers to report adverse reactions from tattoos, permanent makeup, and temporary tattoos, as well as problems with tattoo removal.
USA: Consumers and healthcare providers can report problems to MedWatch, FDA’s problem-reporting program, on the Web or at 1-800-332-1088; or by contacting the nearest FDA consumer complaint coordinator.
CANADA: Contact your nearest Health Canada Product Safety Office or visit your health care provider for treatment and complete an incident report.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
© Maya Gavric, entrepreneur, consultant, freelance writer, web developer, artist, former realtor, and marketing coach has been working, researching and reporting on the Internet for years. Her numerous articles and books offer valuable insight and tips on wide variety of topics. In recent times she has paid particular attention to knowledge management on the Internet, health topics and environmental problems, exploring how our attention to hot issues might best transform current situation into better practice. For more health tips and info visit: Romwell Health Pages
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Learn More:
What You Should Know Before Tattooing and Piercing
About Tattoos & Permanent Makeup
Everything You Should Know About Tattoos
Tattoo Removal
Temporary Tattoos & Henna/Mehndi
Tattoos and Piercings: What to Know Beforehand
Transmission of Hepatitis
Hepatitis
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