| Every day thousands of people get new tattoos | | | | tattoo studios vary greatly around the world from |
| without any problems. But getting a tattoo carries | | | | stingent to non-existent, so it's your responsibility to |
| certain health risks unless your tattoo artist maintains | | | | make sure. |
| strict hygiene standards. | | | | 2) Watch Your Chosen Tattoo Artist At Work |
| Apart from the risk of AIDS or hepatitis, there are | | | | The next stage is to watch the tattoo artist while |
| many other nasty diseases and illnesses such as | | | | they work. In most cases they will be happy to allow |
| tuberculosis that you could catch due to poor tattoo | | | | you to observe them at work. |
| hygiene. And then there's a wide range of bacterial | | | | Start by thinking about the work area in general. Is it |
| and fungal infections that could attack your new | | | | tidy, well lit and well organized? You can tell a lot |
| tattoo causing pain and leaving scaring. | | | | about a tattoo artist just by looking at their work |
| So with that in mind, here's how to make sure that | | | | area. Keep a close look out for anything that just |
| your chosen tattoo studio does everything to | | | | doesn't seem right. And if you have any doubts, |
| safeguard your health. | | | | make your excuses and leave. Someone who works |
| Tattoo Hygiene | | | | in a mess is more likely to be a messy worker. |
| Once you have a tattoo artist in mind, the first step | | | | Next, move on to consider the process of their |
| is to visit their studio and take a good look at his/her | | | | work. Does he/she change their gloves and wash |
| working practices. | | | | their hands between clients? Does he/she touch any |
| The health regulations for tattoo studios vary all | | | | unnecessary surfaces such as light switches, the |
| around the world. Some areas have stringent hygiene | | | | telephone, computer, radio etc while wearing dirty |
| regulations, while other areas have virtually no | | | | gloves? This raises the potential for cross |
| hygiene requirements, so please check. | | | | contamination from surfaces that may not be |
| In the US, many states and local authorities issue | | | | cleaned after every client. |
| their own tattoo studio hygiene requirements based | | | | Is the studio equipped with items such as plastic |
| on EPA guidelines. It's also a good idea to check | | | | barriers on the various machines and power supply |
| whether your state operates a system of | | | | switches? This shows a general commitment to |
| professional licensing for tattoo artists. | | | | hygiene, reduces the risk of cross contamination and |
| 1) Ask Questions | | | | makes it much easier to clean up between |
| Ask them about the universal hygiene procedure that | | | | treatments. An artist who employs stringent hygiene |
| they use for every client to prevent the transmission | | | | procedures is more likely to take care of your tattoo |
| of diseases and infections. | | | | and your health. |
| Do they wear disposable exam gloves when they're | | | | 3) The Big Day |
| working? | | | | When it comes to the day of your tattoo, make |
| Are they changed between every client? | | | | sure that you tell your artist if you have any allergies, |
| Do they use new needles for every client? | | | | because in rare cases it is possible to suffer an |
| Do they use disinfectant on all surfaces and tools | | | | allergic reaction to the pigment in the ink. |
| after clearing away all the disposable items from the | | | | And before your tattoo artists begins, make sure |
| previous client? | | | | that you ask them to break open the new needles in |
| What items do they throw away after every client? | | | | front of you, so that you can see that they're using |
| How do they sterilize non-disposable equipment? | | | | new needles. |
| It's also important to ask any other questions that | | | | If you keep these basic precautions in mind you'll |
| occur to you. | | | | eventually find an artist who can provide you with a |
| And don't feel bad or awkward about asking these | | | | beautiful new tattoo and keep you safe from the |
| questions. It's your health that's at stake. Always | | | | risks of a tattoo related infection at the same time. |
| remember that the health regulations that apply to | | | | |