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Tattoo: Is Tattooing Safe?
Tattooing is safe if proper sterilization and infection control standards are practiced. Basically, this means anything that comes in contact with blood / body fluids must either be disposed of (single - use) or sterilized. However, there are some serious health concerns. Needles and other equipment used for tattoos or body piercing that are not sterilized or disinfected, or are used inappropriately among clients; increase the risk for transmitting infectious diseases. Researchers say the infection can be passed through the reuse of needles or dye and poor sterilization practices and techniques, such as when a tattoo artist pricks the back of his hand with a needle to determine if it's sharp enough. Scarring, swelling, infections, discharges, skin thickening, allergic reactions, and other complications may occur if procedures are done incorrectly or the skin is not cared for properly.
Tattoo: How Did Tattoos Originate?
Believe it or not, some scientists say that certain marks on the skin of the Iceman, a mummified human body dating from about 3300 B.C., are tattoos. If that's true, these markings represent the earliest known evidence of the practice. More widely recognized are tattoos found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from about 2000 B.C. Classical authors mention the use of tattoos in connection with Greeks, ancient Germans, Gauls, Thracians and ancient Britons. But with the growth of Christianity, tattooing was forbidden in Europe. The practice continued in the Middle East and other parts of the world. (Interestingly, tattoos seemed to be missing among populations with the darkest skin color and in most of China until more recent centuries.)
Tattoo: On Hand & Foot
The skin on the hand and foot is much different from the skin on the rest of the body. As such a tattoo on these areas has issues and consequences that are different from tattoos on other parts of the body.
1. Tattoos on the hands and feet will spread more over time. All tattoos spread some due to migration of the ink over time. Hands and feet tattoos will spread more and faster than tattoos located on other parts of the body. Because of the spread issue, designs on the hands and feet must be very graphic in nature and cannot be too detailed. If they are very detailed and small within a short amount of time the tattoo will loose its definition and become blurred.
2. The body may not accept tattoos on the palms of the hand and soles of the foot. Often a ring tattooed on a finger will not take well on the palm side… leaving a patchy mess. The same is true for the soles of the feet.
3. There is greater chance of infection associated with a hand or foot tattoo. Hands and feet get dirty… we use them to do our daily tasks and to walk through the grimy city. Extra care and attention will need to be paid during the entire healing time (1-3 weeks).
4. During the healing period you cannot wear any shoe or sock that will rub the healing tattoo. If a sock or shoe rubs on an unhealed tattoo it can blur the tattoo or rub it out of the skin. No nylon stockings can be worn while the tattoo heals, as they do not allow the tattoo to breath.
5. A healed tattoo can be rubbed out on the foot if the placement is such that your shoe will routinely rub it.
6. Diabetics cannot receive a tattoo below the knee due to issues with healing.
7. Tattoos on the hands and feet are PAINFUL! It is not recommended that your first tattoo be in either of these locations.
8. There is no guarantee on tattoos on the hand or foot. All touch-ups will be at the expense of the client.
9. There is a handling charge for a hand or foot tattoo in addition to the actual application cost. The handling fee is $50.00. The tattoo application cost will be dependant on the time it takes to complete the application.
Tattooing : Tattoo Healing and Aftercare
Over my personal history of being tattooed, I’ve heard many variations on how to best heal a tattoo. Essentially, one must keep the new tattoo from being soaking wet during the first healing phase. Once the surface has scabbed, it’s best to keep the area lightly moisturized for uniform shedding and to minimize itching.
Variations of this method are reported across a wide number of tattooists. Initially, the just-finished tattoo is bandaged, but even this carries differing methodologies. Some tattooists bandage with gauze pads and masking tape, some smear on antibiotic ointment and then cover with plastic wrap. Some say to keep the tattoo covered for an hour or two, and some say for the first twenty-four hours. My recommendation is to go with what the tattoo artist said unless you’ve got a lot of tattoos and have worked out a routine for yourself that goes best with your individual healing process.
People with sensitivities to antibiotic ointments should avoid their use, and be sure to tell your tattooist before they start working on you! This helps avoid any accidental applications of something containing a reactive ingredient. Some people don’t use antibiotic creams at all unless the tattoo is actually infected. This choice is up to the individual, as general opinions are quite mixed on this topic.
A fresh tattoo is an open wound and soaking it in water should be prevented as this is one of the main ways the tattoo can become infected. Public water such as pools, hot tubs and contaminated ocean water should all be avoided until the tattooed skin is fully healed. New tattoos can also be easily irritated by exposure to sunlight, sweat and by being rubbed by clothing. Take care to protect the tattoo surface until the scab has come off.
While the tattoo scabs, it can be quite itchy. Don’t scratch! Picking at the scab or scratching can cause it to pull off, and take some of the underlying ink with it. This is often called “healing out” and essentially looks like blank spots in the midst of the artwork. If a large enough spot heals out, it may require a touchup visit to the tattooist.
Applying moisturizer to the tattoo can ease the itching. You can use any hypoallergenic moisturizer, something like shea butter, or a product specially formulated for tattoos. Those who are looking for an organic product have the option of The Hemp Company’s Tattoo Aftercare.
Once the scab has fallen off, the tattoo is considered healed. Swimming and soaking is no longer a danger. Watch out for mosquito bites on your tattoo. Scratching can cause the ink to “heal out” and left missing spots in the artwork. Sunburn is the greatest danger a tattoo faces, as this will prematurely fade the color and blur the softer lines. Sunscreen or covering clothing is highly recommended for your tattoo when out in the sun.
Tattoo: Safety Advice :
With the advent of many communicable diseases, some fatal, it has become necessary to institute certain isolation and sterilization procedures in the tattoo process to assure the public of a safe, risk-free tattoo. Professional tattooists working with local, state, and national health authorities have prepared the following advice.
1. Always insist that you see your tattooist remove a new needle and tube set-up from a sealed envelope immediately prior to your tattoo.
2. Be certain you see your tattooist pour a new ink supply into a new disposable container.
3. Make sure your artist puts on a new pair of disposable gloves before setting up tubes, needles, and ink supplies.
4. Satisfy yourself that the shop furnishings and tattooist are clean and orderly in appearance; much like a medical facility.
5. Feel free to question the tattooist as to any of his sterile procedures and isolation techniques.
6. Take time to observe them at work and do not hesitate to inquire about their experience and qualifications in the tattoo field.
7. If the tattooist is a qualified professional, they will have no problem complying with standards above and beyond these simple guidelines.
8. If the tattooist or studio does not appear up to these standards or if they become evasive when questioned, seek out a professional tattooist.
Tattoo: Care Advice
1. Remove the bandage after 2 hours. Do not re-bandage.
2. Wash with mild soap and water, pat dry.
3. If a scab forms, do not pick or scratch!!!
4. Keep your new tattoo from sun burning.
5. Do not swim or soak until healed.
6. Avoid contact with oils, cleansers, and other chemicals.
Tattoo / Tattooing: Precautions to be taken:
First of all get yourself immunized against tetanus and hepatitis B.
Check if the tattoo parlor uses disposable needles?
Check if the tattoo parlor is clean.
Check if the tattoo parlor uses disposable inks.
Never tattoo yourself or allow your friends to do it. Deal only with experienced parlors.
Ask what procedures are used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Tattoo artists should wear surgical gloves to help maintain a germ-free environment near your skin.
Ask how needles and inks are used. Needles and inks used on one person must never be used on another. Reputed and experienced tattoo parlors will always use new needles. But still it is safe to verify.
Make sure that the artist unwraps the needle in front of you.
Every ink used in your tattoo should be poured into a small cup specifically for your tattoo. Any leftover ink should be thrown away after your tattoo is finished.
Tattooing : How do you remove a tattoo?
There are various ways to remove tattoos, the main 3 being:
Laser treatment is one of the most common methods. Different wavelengths of light are used for different pigments. The laser beam passes through the skin and is absorbed by the ink. This causes the ink to break down so that it can be removed by the body's lymphatic system.
If the tattoo is too deep for laser treatment, or is quite small in size, the skin with the pigment can be cut away and the edges sewn together to close the wound.
If the tattoo is too large for the wound to be closed with sutures, it is sometimes possible for a piece of skin from another part of the body to be grafted onto the site. Unfortunately, this causes two scars - at the site of the tattoo and at the site of the 'donated' skin, although it is usually taken from an area of the body that is not normally exposed. The scars should settle and fade over time, and further surgery is sometimes possible to further minimize the scar.
Dermabrasion literally rubs the tattooed skin away with an abrasive tool, over a series of treatments. If the tattoo is deep, a skin graft may also be necessary to 'level out' the surface of the skin.
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