Tattoos - What should be demanded before you get branded?
Tattooing has been around for hundreds of years, with many differing techniques, some a lot scarier than others. Many tattoos have cultural or religious meaning, others are simply an unplanned holiday memory you wish you could forget. Whatever the case, getting a tattoo is something that should never be taken lightly. It is a painful process and done incorrectly or under poor conditions could cause a lot of problems.
Nowadays tattoos are so prevalent, it is hard to walk through a shopping centre without seeing several inked individuals. People are choosing tattoos as a way of expressing themselves in unique and creative ways. In our modern social media society, younger people are constantly faced with images of celebrities. Modern icons like David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Cara Delevingne have many tattoos. Therefore, the natural progression for kids is to want what they have.
However, before they do so, they need to consider the risks and how they can be avoided.
What are the risks involved in getting a tattoo?
Ok, so you've chosen your ideal design and found a suitable establishment. If you have found a skilled and experience tattooist in a clean and sterile environment then the risk of having problems are low. However, if the tattooist isn't of good quality and the studio is poorly maintained, you could face some of the following issues:
- Allergic reaction to the tattoo dye
- Skin infection
- Granulomas - nodules or inflamed skin around the tattoo area
- Keloids - an overgrowth of scar tissue
- Blood-borne diseases (such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV and Tetanus)
- Swelling or burning of skin
How to ensure safe tattooing
Before you go under the needle make sure you take the following precautions:
- Do a thorough check on the tattooist you are using, and we don't mean just look at their website. Check that the studio and tattooist are registered and have an up to date health and safety certificate. Every credible tattoo artist must be registered with their local authority.
- Speak to any friends or acquaintances that are knowledgeable of the tattoo industry, ask for their recommendations of a good studio and artist.
- Before you go for your tattoo, drop by the studio to meet the artist. Make sure they are washing their hands before each tattoo, wearing a fresh pair of sterile, disposable gloves and using disposable towels on each client.
- Check that the works surfaces, furniture and all non disposable equipment is sterilised between each customer. Smaller non-disposable items should be heat sanitised in an autoclave or oven and larger items such as tables, handles etc should be disinfected.
- Make sure the area that is being tattooed is swabbed with disinfectant or rubbing alcohol prior to the tattooing itself.
- All completed tattoos should be covered with a sterile gauze or bandage/wrap.
If you've heard several bad reviews or the sanitation within the studio are questionable, then you must choose another establishment.
Protect tattoos with the correct aftercare
Congratulations! You've made it through the pain and your tattoo is complete. Now it's your turn to be careful, and look after your new tattoo.
- Leave your bandage/wrap on for 24 hours after the tattoo has been completed.
- Wash your tattoo carefully using warm water and plain soap, avoid direct streams of water on the inked area.
- Use a clean and dry towel to dry the area, patting the skin - do not rub.
- Once the area is dry, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the area. Continue this wash/dry/ointment process twice a day.
- Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight and no sunscreen until fully healed.
- Make sure to avoid swimming pools, river, lakes or any bodies of water until fully healed, continue with short showers.
- Do not pick at any scabs that may form, this can damage the healing process.
- If you think there is a possibility of infection, contact your doctor immediately.
Medical supplies, sterilisation and first aid
The sterilisation of tools, the studio, and the safety of the customers is just as important to a tattooist as their actual designs. If you speak to any reputable tattoo studio you will see just how serious they take it. It will open your eyes to exactly what goes into keeping their studio sterile. The safety of their customers is paramount to a quality tattooist.
Steroplast Healthcare work closely with many tattoo studios, including Manchester's largest, providing them with the medical supplies and first aid equipment they need on a daily basis. From disinfecting wipes and dressings, cohesive bandages and tapes to first aid kits and sharps disposal kits. If you're a company who wants to improve their service or are looking for a new supplier, call us on 0161 902 3030 or simply create a quote list using our website and we'll get in touch with you.