Tattoo or Not to…Thomas J. Berger, Ph.D.,
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| During the spring and summer, it's almost
impossible to walk through a mall for more than a couple
minutes without spotting people of all ages with tattoos. In
the United States tattoos have steadily gained popularity as
a fashion trend in the last decade - a trend that shows
little signs of slowing down. Tattoos come in all shapes and
sizes, and they can appear almost anywhere on someone's
body. Permanent cosmetic studios also tattoo on eyebrows,
eyeliner and lip liner for those who want to make their
makeup to be permanent. In these cases, you may not even
know that you are looking at a tattoo! But before people make a decision to get a tattoo, they should learn
about the possible health hazards associated with the
practice. These include the possible transmission of
diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis and possibly HIV. The
American Academy of Dermatology says that non-sterile
tattooing practices have led to the transmission of
syphilis, Hepatitis B (i.e., HBV), and other infectious
diseases. In addition, allergic reactions to the ink or its
pigments can occur. None of the 50-plus colors and shades of
pigment used in tattooing are currently regulated by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Is tattooing regulated in the state of Missouri?
Can your teen get Hepatitis C (i.e., HCV) by getting a
tattoo? In other countries, HCV infection has been associated with folk medicine practices, tattooing, body piercing, and commercial barbering. However, in the United States, case-control studies have reported no association between HCV infection and these types of practices. In addition, the CDC identified patients with acute Hepatitis C during the past 15 years who denied a history of injecting-drug use. Of these patients, only 1% reported a history of tattooing or ear piercing, and none reported a history of acupuncture. Among patients who were injecting-drug users, frequency of tattooing and ear piercing also was uncommon (3%). Although any percutaneous exposure (i.e., penetration of the
skin) has the potential for transferring infectious blood
and potentially transmitting blood borne pathogens (i.e.,
HBV, HCV, or HIV), no data exist in the United States
indicating that persons with exposures to tattooing alone
are at increased risk of HCV infection. Further studies are
needed to determine if these types of exposures and settings
in which they occur (e.g., correctional institutions,
unregulated commercial establishments), are risk factors for
HCV infection in the United States. Can you donate blood if you have a tattoo? The Red Cross will not accept blood donations from someone
who has been tattooed within the past twelve months. Some things you should expect from a tattoo artist: State law requires tattoo artists to be licensed. They
should also be educated about how HIV is transmitted and
take precautions to prevent transmission of HIV and other
blood borne infections in their establishments. If you are
considering getting a tattoo, ask the staff at the
establishment what procedures they use to prevent the spread
of HIV and other blood borne infections such as the
Hepatitis B and C viruses. In addition, ask the tattoo
artist if s/he uses antiseptic techniques, keeps permanent
individual records, and uses sterile tools and equipment
because those items are required under state law. Above all,
make sure the tattoo artist uses fresh, sterile needles for
each color and/or design. Can tattoos be removed? There are several methods available for tattoo removal, but always consult a physician, surgeon or dermatologist first. Successful removal depends upon a variety of factors including the type of ink, depth of ink, intensity of color, and the age of the tattoo. Never attempt to remove a tattoo yourself!
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Last Updated 08/06/2006
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