Tattoos have a history of thousands of years, but even today getting one opens you up to various health risks. The main problem is infection from the tattooing equipment.
The tattooing process involves pushing pigment far down into the dermis of the skin with a needle. With modern sterilisation and stainless steel needles, it is easier to keep a fresh tattoo clean and problem-free than it ever has been. If a tattooing needle is not perfectly clean it can deposit germs deep in to your skin as well as the pigment it’s meant to push there.
The major risk from unclean tattooing equipment is picking up Hepatitis B. Hepatitis can cause inflammation of the liver, a painful condition that if left untreated can cause long-term damage and even death.
The initial symptoms of Hepatitis include raised temperature, headaches and lack of energy. After the initial symptoms you can get jaundice, and nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If left untreated you will probably then experience upper abdominal pain, a tender, enlarged liver and enlarged lymph glands in your neck.
By this point, the pain and other symptoms will hopefully have taken you to the doctors. They will need to do blood tests to find out which of the five strains of Hepatitis you have picked up, if it is a bad infection a stay in hospital may be required so they can monitor you in case of liver failure.
When fighting a hepatitis infection, it is important to have any medication you normally take checked by your doctor in case it causes strain on your liver that your body can normally cope with without issue, also do not take any illegal drugs as you can’t be sure what is in them and how they might affect your infection medication. It is very important not to drink alcohol as this can cause more problems for the liver, and a higher chance of long-term damage.
Up to 95% of adults with a Hepatitis B infection will recover fully, but the rest may develop life-long chronic Hepatitis, especially if they already have immunodeficiency problems before they get the infection.
Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccination, which many professional tattooists will have as a preventative measure as they do not wish to catch it from a customer who may be carrying it unknowingly.
When you receive a tattoo, be confident that the tattooist’s equipment is properly sterilised, that they have been checked out by the local health department, and that you’re confident that they are clean. While the tattoo is healing, make sure you keep the tender area clean and dry, and don’t risk infection through poor hygiene.
After receiving your tattoo, if you run a temperature, get headaches or a sudden lack of energy to do anything, get in touch with your doctor straight away.
Alternatively, get a temporary tattoo, the transfers are made in lots of tattoo designs They are great for parties, especially if you want to go as a heavily tattooed celebrity, and they don’t have any risk of infection.
