By Mattie MacDonald
Tattoos are made on the body by introducing pigments into the body through pierced skin. Once the pigments are introduced, they can be seen as ink. This process is carried out in a tattoo studio by specialists called tattooists. The individual being tattooed is under the risk of infections because their bodies are penetrated up to the blood vessels.
The process of getting a tattoo requires the skin, which is a protective layer for the body to be perforated. Perforated skin is vulnerable to infections and other health risks. Health problems of getting tattoos are many hence, one should exercise some caution to avoid getting infected. This article outlines safety steps one needs to take before they walk into a tattoo shop to be tattooed.
The inks used in tattooing are not restricted in any way by the Food and Drug Administration. This has the meaning that manufacturers can introduce potentially harmful substances into them and no one would care. The FDA does not control pigments, but only reacts to issues after they have happened. From this, it is obvious that there could be some harm already happening now that no one has already noticed.
Finding out whether or not shops in a state need licensure or registration to operate should be the priority step towards ensuring safety. The health department is in the best position to answer this question. A list of all registered studios in a state can also be got at the local health offices. One should look to see the nature of complaints filed and the shops against which they were filed. This information should be the basis for picking a shop to tattoo from.
Once a couple of registered shops have been identified, attempts should be made to know how they sterilize their pieces of equipment. The first requirement should be an autoclave for sterilizing used appliances. Every client must be tattooed by different sterile needle, which is then thrown away after a single use. Additionally, the shop should have high levels of hygiene. The artist must wash their hands thoroughly with suitable detergents and change the gloves after working on a client. One should check another shop, if the hygiene conditions are violated.
Once the conditions are confirmed to be safe, it is time to get personal with the artist. This should involve asking about the level of training and certifications earned. To confirm this, it is safer to request to see the certificates. If the person is reluctant, it may imply that they are not qualified for the job because most people are normally proud to reveal such information.
One can also learn a lot about a studio by watching the artist work. Therefore, it is advisable to sit around and watch one or two clients being inked. This is the time to determine whether the artist was truthful or not. One should not feel guilty for walking away if safety protocols are not adhered to.
One should not trade quality of service with low cost. One gains more by paying more money but staying safe from infections. Failure to understand this makes people to go for cheap services but get infected by serious infections.
The process of getting a tattoo requires the skin, which is a protective layer for the body to be perforated. Perforated skin is vulnerable to infections and other health risks. Health problems of getting tattoos are many hence, one should exercise some caution to avoid getting infected. This article outlines safety steps one needs to take before they walk into a tattoo shop to be tattooed.
The inks used in tattooing are not restricted in any way by the Food and Drug Administration. This has the meaning that manufacturers can introduce potentially harmful substances into them and no one would care. The FDA does not control pigments, but only reacts to issues after they have happened. From this, it is obvious that there could be some harm already happening now that no one has already noticed.
Finding out whether or not shops in a state need licensure or registration to operate should be the priority step towards ensuring safety. The health department is in the best position to answer this question. A list of all registered studios in a state can also be got at the local health offices. One should look to see the nature of complaints filed and the shops against which they were filed. This information should be the basis for picking a shop to tattoo from.
Once a couple of registered shops have been identified, attempts should be made to know how they sterilize their pieces of equipment. The first requirement should be an autoclave for sterilizing used appliances. Every client must be tattooed by different sterile needle, which is then thrown away after a single use. Additionally, the shop should have high levels of hygiene. The artist must wash their hands thoroughly with suitable detergents and change the gloves after working on a client. One should check another shop, if the hygiene conditions are violated.
Once the conditions are confirmed to be safe, it is time to get personal with the artist. This should involve asking about the level of training and certifications earned. To confirm this, it is safer to request to see the certificates. If the person is reluctant, it may imply that they are not qualified for the job because most people are normally proud to reveal such information.
One can also learn a lot about a studio by watching the artist work. Therefore, it is advisable to sit around and watch one or two clients being inked. This is the time to determine whether the artist was truthful or not. One should not feel guilty for walking away if safety protocols are not adhered to.
One should not trade quality of service with low cost. One gains more by paying more money but staying safe from infections. Failure to understand this makes people to go for cheap services but get infected by serious infections.