| Tattooing process involves needles that penetrate | | | | tattooist should wear disposable rubber gloves |
| the outermost layers of skin, safety and common | | | | during tattooing procedure. All items such as |
| sense are the most important consideration.A | | | | ointment spreaders and wiping rags should be |
| legitimate, well-trained tattooist follows strict | | | | disposable as well. The tattoo studio and |
| health guidelines and is willing to answer any of | | | | tattooist's equipment and working area should be |
| your questions about tattooing procedures and | | | | absolutely clean and sanitary.Also make sure each |
| concerns.The primary fear most people express | | | | customer get a fresh set of needles, and the |
| about getting tattooed is that they may contract | | | | tattooist dips the needle into a small cap filled with |
| the HIV virus, which can cause AIDS. In fact, HIV | | | | pigment from a large squeeze bottle. If the needle |
| is only one of many viruses that can be | | | | is dipped into a large jar or bottle of pigment, you |
| transmitted. Syphilis, tuberculosis, strep, staph, and | | | | are sharing body fluids with other people who |
| hepatitis are just a few of the other diseases to | | | | have been tattooed with that batch of |
| take into consideration. YES, you could get these | | | | pigment.When it comes to tattoo safety, use |
| diseases from a tattoo needle.Like many activity, | | | | your common sense as well:Is the tattoo studio |
| tattooing is potentially dangerous, but minimizing or | | | | clean?Are tattoo supplies kept in a sterile |
| eliminating the potential danger is not unreasonably | | | | receptacles with lids?Does the tattooist wash |
| difficult. In fact, the strict code of practices takes | | | | hands a lot?Does the tattooist use latex gloves |
| every safety measure so the risk of transmitting | | | | when working on other clients? and do tattooist |
| HIV or other diseases is virtually nonexistent.A | | | | change gloves when they touch something else |
| qualified tattooist will have and use a real steam | | | | during the procedure?Take responsibility for your |
| pressure autoclave - an autoclave is the only | | | | own health and welfare! - the starting place for |
| reliable means of sterilization recognized by the | | | | exploring and learning all about tattoos, tattoo |
| Center for Disease Control. Alcohol, bleach, and | | | | ideas, tattoo design concept, tattoo supplies and |
| ultrasonic cleaning do not sterilize instruments, | | | | equipments. |
| they only clean them before autoclaving.Your | | | | |