Tattoos can pose major health risks

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Tattoos can pose major health risks

By Deborah Cullen For the Sun-News

Apr 5, 2006, 06:00 am

It's becoming increasingly common to see students in the school nurse's office with body piercings and/or tattoos. Many of these students end up in the nurse's office because their tattoo or piercing has become infected. On occasion, a minor child has been able to obtain the body piercing or tattoo without the written consent of a parent or guardian.

Before you decide to get a tattoo or a body piercing, consider this: New Mexico is one of only two states in the United States that does not have a state law regulating the body art industry (excluding earlobe piercing). In 2005, a bill was introduced and recommended by the New Mexico State Senate Public Affairs Committee that would regulate the body art industry, but action was postponed.

Since tattooing and body piercing involve the penetration of body tissues by needles, instruments should be free of materials capable of transmitting infectious diseases. Blood-borne viral infections can cause serious chronic diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. It is also possible to develop serious bacterial infections such as staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.

There are many reputable, safe body artists that have self-imposed regulations even though the state of New Mexico does not require these regulations by law. Do your homework. If appropriate disinfection and sterilization techniques are used, the health risk associated with tattooing and body piercing is small. Here are some specifics to pay attention to when looking for a body artist:

• The artist should be willing to show you the shop and equipment, and answer any questions you might have.

• The shop and furnishings should be clean and orderly.

• The shop should use an autoclave and weekly spore tests should be done. (Tests should be negative; ask if you can see records.)

• Do not use an artist that uses a body piercing gun. Piercing guns cannot be properly sterilized.

• Ask friends about their tattoos and piercings. Do theirs look like something you would want? Did they have any problems or infections afterwards? Did the artist tell them how to care for the tattoo or piercing afterward?

• Artists should remove a new needle and tube set from a sealed envelope before the tattoo. Used needles should go into a sharps container.

• A new ink supply should be used with each tattoo.

• Make sure the artist puts on a new pair of disposable gloves before setting up tubes, needles and ink supplies.

• The artist should disinfect the work area with an Environmental Protection Agency-approved germicidal that will kill any surface bacteria or virus.

• Tattoos or body piercings should never be given to anyone under the age of 18 without written parental consent.

• You should receive written after-care instructions explaining how to take care of your tattoo or piercing.

Deborah Cullen is the school nurse at Sierra Middle School. She can be reached at dcullen@...

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