Tattoo Health Risks
Tattoo health risks are probably the last thing that you want to think about if you’re either already inked or are considering getting a new tattoo. While most of us would prefer to ignore the subject, the reality is that tattoo health risks do exist and do need to be understood and recognized.
The information presented in this document is intended to provide you with a general overview of tattoo risks, and we urge you to speak with your physician or medical practitioner if you have other questions or concerns. We don’t aim to scare you away from getting a tattoo; in fact, we proudly support the act of getting inked. Instead, we aim to arm you with tattoo information so that you can make an informed decision as to if getting inked is the right choice for you.
Tattoo Health Risks: The Basics
Because skin is broken when one gets tattooed, some basic health risks are inherent. Once the skin is broken, the area being tattooed is essentially an open wound until it has healed. As such, following proper tattoo aftercare instructions is crucial. Because the tattoo is an open wound, some basic risks are:
Infection
Herpes Simplex Virus
Tetanus and Staph
Fungal Infections
To protect yourself from these basic health risks associated with tattoos, it is imperative that you make sure that the equipment that your artist is using has been properly sterilized and that your artist has experience in dealing with these basic issues.
Tattoo Health Risks: Other Risks
Aside from the basic forms of infection, there are other health risks to consider when getting a tattoo. These include:
Allergic Reaction: Though it is rare for a person who has been tattooed to get an allergic reaction, it is possible. Allergic reactions can be particularly tough to deal with because tattoo removal is so difficult. It’s interesting to note that most allergic reactions that people get from tattoos occur in red and green inks. If you fear that you may be at risk for an allergic reaction, it would be a good idea to ask your artist to use non-latex gloves.
Pain and Irritation: Make no mistake about it, tattooing is a painful process, but by following proper tattoo aftercare instructions and using a tattoo aftercare product, the pain should subside. However, for a small group of people, the pain and irritation can persist, usually the result of an infection or an allergic reaction.
Hepatitis and HIV: True Risks?
It is theoretically possible to contract the HIV Virus and Hepatitis by using non-sterile equipment. Substantial media attention has focused on the potentially risk of contracting these illnesses from tattoo parlors. While it is possible on a hypothetical level to contract HIV and Hepatitis, the statistics say that it is unlikely. To date, there has been no known instance of an individual contracting HIV as a direct result of getting tattooed, and medical statistics show that one is much more likely to contract hepatitis from a dentist than from a tattoo parlor. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of these potential risks of tattoos.
Other Tattoo Risks
Aside from potential health risks, there are other tattoo risks to consider that have nothing to do with biology. Tattoos mean different things in different cultures, so be aware of the impact that your tattoo may have on your social standing or the way people view you. While there are many misconceptions about tattoos, much of the general public tends to be blind about the truth of tattooing and what tattoos are and are not.
By knowing some of the health risks and cultural risks associated with being tattooed, you can make sure that you have the information to decide if getting inked is right for you.
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