Problems Associated
With Tattoos
Although getting a tattoo is generally safe, there are a few
risk factors and potential problems which one should be aware
of. The largest risk factor is that of acquiring a
communicable disease. While more strict health
regulations and most tattoo artists' compliance with these
regulations has significantly reduced these risks, it is still
important to be aware of them. In the distant past, lack
of appropriate sanitary conditions in some tattoo parlors led
to an uprise in communicable diseases, primarily syphilis,
which in turn led to some locations banning tattoo parlors and
making the practice illegal.
These days, tattoo artists are required to be licensed, and
the cleanliness of their studios must be maintained. In
the interest of keeping both the artist and the customer safe
from contracting disease, ever since AIDS began to be
well-known and feared, most artists have taken on the practice
of wearing sterile gloves while tattooing their
customers. As acquiring a tattoo does involve some degree
of bleeding, wearing these gloves is an important
safety-precaution for both the customer and artist alike.
Preventing the spread of AIDS and other diseases is also why
reputable artists use disposable tattooing needles, as well as
disposing of any leftover ink which has been taken from the
original tube; whatever was not used on the specific
customer must be thrown away.
One risk which is always present is that of infection.
Having a tattoo done only by a licensed artist is the most
important way to reduce this risk. Unfortunately, the
so-called "jailhouse tattoos" popular with inmates has become
common amongst other people also. People who cannot
afford the high cost of having a tattoo done at a studio
frequently attempt to tattoo themselves. Regardless of
whether they know what they're doing or not, they do not have
the same sterile conditions as a licensed studio. Even
more distressing is that this is also in practice amongst the
younger generation-- kids who are not old enough to have
a tattoo done legally at a studio attempt their own artwork,
not only without appropriate sterile conditions but also
without the necessary professional equipment. This
practice significantly increases one's risk of serious
infection, and can also lead to blood poisoning.
Not knowing the facts about proper care of a new tattoo can
also cause problems. Reputable artists caution their
customers to not allow a new tattoo to be saturated with water
from bathing or swimming, nor to expose it to direct sunlight
for a certain number of days. Many either provide their
customers with special skin-care solutions or advise them to
purchase and use it. Although there are products
specifically designed to promote the healing of tattoos, the
triple-antibiotic topical cream called Bacitracin is still one
of the most widely used and effective means of protecting and
healing skin which has been damaged by receiving a
tattoo. The proper care of a new tattoo is not difficult,
but neglecting to do so can increase one's risk of infection
and permanent damage to the skin.
Although health complications would generally be considered
the most important risk, many people who decide to get tattoos
do not think about the potential impact on one's everyday
life. Regardless of one's personal opinion on the subject
and how affected one may be by it, it is a fact that having
tattoos can be detrimental to a person's success in the
business world, and also have an effect on one's personal or
social life. In most areas, and in most lines of work,
having visible tattoos can be a barrier to getting hired for a
job. The common sense way of dealing with this is to
simply adopt a professional attitude and wear clothing which
covers the tattoos. In some locations, where tattoos are
thought to be something favored only by particular groups of
people, for others to have tattoos may cause them to be wrongly
judged or categorized. Keeping a positive attitude is the
key.
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