Dangers Associated with Tattoos

Tattoos can make you prone to critical health conditions like allergy, infection and blood borne diseases. Learn here how to avoid such risks associated with the tattoos.

Tattoos have become the part of American lifestyle as nearly 40% people in the USA have tattoos. Pew Research Centre has found that four of every 10 people born after 1980 have at least one tattoo.

They are looked as a medium of self-expression and style statement at the same time. Tattoos can be seen at the people from every walk of life.

A tattoo is made by inserting the ink into the skin using the needle. This changes the skin’s pigment and can be used to draw any image, just like on the paper. Due to this process, tattooing can pose several health risks. Over 50 colorings used to make tattoos have been approved for use in cosmetics, but the side effect of injects them to the skin is unclear. The FDA only determines the safety of the pigments for external use, not for injection inserted to the skin.

Here we have listed some common health risks which can be triggered by tattooing.

Allergy:

Pigments in the tattoo ink can lead to allergy. You can experience itchy rash with swelling or oozing of fluid. Red ink may cause allergy as it has allergic mercury in excess. Sometimes you experience allergy years after you get the tattoo.

Skin Infections:

Skin infections caused by tattoos occur as redness, swelling, pain and pus like drainage. The needle may introduce foreign particles to the skin along with the pigments, especially in the case of contaminated tattooing equipment and needles. Some of the critical diseases are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Therefore, a person should wait for one year before donating the blood.

Skin Problems:

Sometimes bumps or granulomas occur around tattoo ink. Another skin problem is keloids which are bumpy area triggered by overgrowth of scar tissue. Don’t get a tattoo if your skin has a tendency to have a keloid from a cut or other skin lesion.

Blood Borne Diseases:

Contaminated or unsterilized tattoo equipment like needle can cause blood borne diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and tetanus (if the single needle is used on many people). It even may lead to HIV.

MRI Complications:

Tattoo ink is magnetic in nature and can interact with MRI process. So the image can be distorted. Even worse, first degree burns can happen during MRI as the tattoo ink starts heating up.

Luckily, You Can AVOID Such Dangers:

With precautions and informed decisions, you can avoid the above listed dangers caused by tattoos. Here’s how…

Before Getting a Tattoo:

• Get it done from experienced Tattoo Artist.
• Make sure it is done in hygienic environment.
• The equipment should be clean and new.
• Follow the aftercare plan provided by your tattoo artist
• Protect your new tattoo from sun.
• Use the tattoo balm provided by your tattoo artist. Avoid using heavy ointments as they cut off the air supply to the tattoos.
• Don’t splash into the pool with your fresh tattoos. Swimming pools contain chlorine and other chemicals which make your fresh tattoo extremely dry and flaky. Ocean and water bodies, on the other hand, are hovered with bacteria which can affect your tattoo healing rate.
• Look for the symptoms of infection. If the redness, oozing and swelling persist longer, visit your doctor.

So you must’ve understood the risks caused by tattoos and how to avoid them. Again, choose your tattoo artist wisely and see if he uses new equipment for a new client. And stick to the aftercare plan provided by your tattoo artist.