Health Risks
A growing trend to include tattooing as part of teen parties, has been registered. This often involves amateurs and could lead to dangerous consequences, including infections.
Tattooing requires breaking down the protective barrier provided by the skin and coming in contact with blood or other body fluids. It therefore carries with it risks for infection and allergic reactions.
Tattooing carried out in amateur settings, such as teen parties or prisons, has an elevated risk for infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes, tetanus, staph, tuberculosis or fungal infections. This is usually through unsterilized equipments and contaminated needles or ink.
Tattoo pigments are known to cause allergy in some people. This may result in symptoms such as swelling, itching, or oozing of a clear fluid called serum. If doubts prevail, it would be better for the artist to carry out a patch test. Artists may use non-latex gloves for those who are allergic to latex.
A hypersensitive reaction culminating in an anaphylatic shock is a possibility in the extremely susceptible. This can be brought about during tattooing and during the removal treatments too.
In the United States, a person who has done tattooing is prohibited by the Red Cross from blood donation for a period of one year, unless the procedure was carried out in a licensed studio that followed state regulations.
