Safety tips for tattoos and piercings
Tattooing and body piercing is a trend that has almost exploded in Canada. These are two procedures that are extremely common among 18 to 22 year olds. A survey conducted in the United States indicated that 51 percent of students had piercings and 23 percent had tattoos on some part of their body.
Even as the popularity of tattooing and body piercing increases, it is known that there are health risks that are associated with both these procedures. When your skin is being penetrated by a needle there is a high possibility of some bacteria or virus entering your body. Medical conditions such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and herpes are some of the medical conditions that can be contracted while getting a tattoo or a piercing done. Bacterial infections like Streptococcus and Staphylococcus can also be contracted.
Do your research, and make sure that your tattoo parlour follows all the safety guidelines and has an experienced professional at your service. Below are some safety tips that you should follow before you go ahead and get a tattoo on your body.
Experienced tattoo professional - There are no degrees or diplomas for tattoo experts. So ask around, talk to people who have had tattoos done already and ask them where they got it. Due to the lack of certifications and safety requirements, word of mouth is the best way that tattoo artists market themselves. Go down to the shop, and watch some of the tattoos artists in action. Are they professional? Friendly? Helpful? Do they keep the needles clean? Do they follow a sterilization process? Do they offer advice on how to heal your skin after getting the tattoo? Opting for a reliable expert for the tattoo can help you avoid any medical complications and also ensure that the post tattoo healing process is faster.
Red reaction - The red tattoo ink contains mercuric sulphide and ferric hydrate; two chemicals that can result in allergic reactions among many. Make sure that you get a patch test done before you opt for a fiery red picture on your chest!
Sterile products - Not only should you ensure that the needles that are being used are sterile and removed from a sealed pack in front of you, there is also a need for sterilization of any product that comes in physical contact with you during the process. The freshly pierced or tattooed skin can make it easy for bacteria to enter.
Sterile hands -Try and ensure that tattoo experts are hygienic and use clean gloves before the procedure.
Avoid tattoo parties - Funky as they may seem, tattoo parties are as bad as sharing a needle for drugs. Due to the high numbers of people in the party getting a tattoo, the tattoo artist won't be following standard procedures in order to bang out a lot of tattoos in one night. In most cases, the tattoo artist is unlicensed and does only his work at these parties. You have a higher chance of contracting infections. Get a tattoo at a good professional parlour and take your time selecting the design, rather than getting it done at a tattoo party.
Ensure proper healing - Even when the tattoo or piercing is done in a professional parlour the healing takes a few days. Applying topical anti-bacterial cream and bandaging it is recommended for the first day. While you will need to continue to use the anti-bacterial cream for some time, especially after you wash and clean it with anti-bacterial soap. Wash, clean, dry and apply anti-bacterial cream every 6 hours to be sure that no infection can make its way inside.
You don't have to risk your health to get a trendy tattoo or a pretty piercing done. These safety tips can help you avoid any mishaps!