Sunday, May 25, 2008

Health Risks and Your Tattoos

By Mike Wamoult

Any health risks related to commercial tattooing are usually exaggerated and sometimes people will go as far as to mount campaigns against tattoo shops opening up in their neighborhoods. Tattoo shops have come a long way from once being a taboo practice to now being one of the fastest growing categories of retail business.

Due to the fact that tattoo shops are growing rather quickly and in spots that would ordinarily not play host to any such establishment. Some examples of such locations are various middle-class cities and towns across the United States and the world.

In recent times, it has been suggested by media outlets that there are various risks that are associated with tattooing. Some of these purported health risks include the transmission of diseases such 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.

With respect to hepatitis and tattooing, more than 14,000 cases of the condition are reported on an annual basis. 12 or so of these cases have been associated with tattoos but more than 43 of these cases resulted from a trip to dentist. Tattoo studios follow stringent safety regulations laid down by law so health risks which are related to tattooing are more or less 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.

Infection usually occurs with new tattoos when there is no proper aftercare. A number of people also experience allergic reactions to various tattoo inks. Though most of the inks used in tattooing have approval from the U.S Food and Drug Administration, the FDA is not responsible for the regulation of tattoo inks. The artists themselves must take safety measures such as the use of gloves and the inspection of hands to determine whether they have any cuts or sores and to close up these sores. Hangnails should be removed and fingernails should be kept short and trimmed in order to prevent the gloves from puncturing. You should stay away from tattooing when you are experiencing lesions, dermatitis as well as 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.

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