Illegal Tattoo Artists Put Children at Risk of Getting HIV and Hepatitis C

Illegal tattoo artists are offering cheap prices for their services to children and increasing their risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C.

Tattoo equipment is widely available and cheaper to buy. The Local Government Association (LGA) said that unlicensed tattoo artists target children with their low prices.

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‘Illegal tattooists work under unsterilized environment and pose a threat to people's health especially children by offering tattoo designs at pocket money prices. ’

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The LGA has urged online retailers to provide warnings to children about the dangers of using do-it-yourself tattoo kits. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to tattooed unless it is performed for medical reasons. Most of the tattoo artists work in unsterilized studios and use cheap equipment.

Unlicensed tattoo artists are called as scratchers who work from home in kitchens or garden sheds and advertise their services on social media. Tattoo artists should register with their local council to get the license.

LGA Board member Cllr Morris Bright said, “Tattooists operating under the radar posed ‘a real danger’ to people's health as they often have low hygiene standards which could put your life at risk."

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"They can use unsterilized equipment that seriously increases the risk of spreading diseases such as hepatitis or HIV and causing permanent, ugly scarring. Unregulated tattooists are also associated with bad tattoos, which require expensive work to put right, and because they've been done illegally, you won't have normal customers' rights.”

"We would also encourage anyone who has visited an unregistered tattooist to seek medical advice from their GP and report the parlor to their local authority." LGA Board member Cllr Morris Bright said tattooists operating under the radar posed 'a real danger' to people's health as they often have low hygiene standards which could put your life at risk."

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"They can use unsterilized equipment that seriously increases the risk of spreading diseases such as hepatitis or HIV and causing permanent, ugly scarring," he said. "Unregulated tattooists are also associated with bad tattoos, which require expensive work to put right, and because they've been done illegally, you won't have normal customers' rights.

People who have visited unregistered tattooist should seek medical advice from their physician and report to their local authority. Council environmental health teams are in charge of conducting raids and prosecuting illegal tattoo artists.

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People who ignore the law can also be prosecuted under health and safety legislation with a £20,000 fine or a jail sentence.

Source-Medindia