Are Tattoos Safe and Sound? Things You Should Know Before Getting a Tattoo Done

Are you planning to get a tattoo done? 

Tattoos could be big and showy, small and meaningful or simply scary and uncomfortable. Tattoo trends are in the air and if you cannot get enough of it and heading to a tattoo parlour, you must be looking for details about its process or your mind might have popped up with few questions regarding how safe they are.

They say tattoos generally reflect what you believe in and no doubt but they stay with you forever. Every tattoo is special but so are you and your safety.

Best time of the year to get a tattoo

Experts recommend that the best time to get a tattoo done is when it gets enough time to heal and stays covered. Summer or warmer months are not a great idea to go for tattoos because of the fact that we prefer wear less clothing and the skin gets more abused in the summers and chances of getting a tan is higher. 

Health Status to get a tattoo

You should not get a tattoo done if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You should also not get it done if you have a weak immunity or if you tend to fall ill frequently. It’s not a good idea to get it done even when you are sick.

Do Safety Regulations exist for tattoo parlours?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the inks in tattoos, but the actual practice of tattooing is regulated by local jurisdictions, such as cities and countries. This means that there is no standardized certification for those doing the tattooing or an overall governing body supervising the health and safety of tattoo parlours.

Safety precautions to know:

Make sure to keep in mind the following points for a safe application of tattoo:

• Make sure the work area is free of any possible contamination from items like purses and cell phones. Tattoo parlours should be clean and free from dust or dirt. Ensure that the tattoo artist washes his or her hands and wears a fresh pair of protective gloves for each procedure.
• Go to a reputable tattooing studio or to a place that is recommended by a friend and gives a good feedback. Get it done from a properly trained tattoo artist. Keep in mind that regulation requirements and licensing standards vary from state to state. Check with your city/county for information on local licensing and regulations.
• The tattoo artist should use unused, sterilized and new needle and tubes, freshly removed from sealed packages in front of you before your procedure begins. All the pigments, trays or containers should be unused as well. The ink should be in small pots meant for single-use and anything that touches your skin should not be reused.
• The tattoo artist should use a heat sterilization machine (autoclave) to sterilize all non-disposable equipment which are used on other clients. Instruments and supplies that can’t be sterilized with an autoclave — including drawer handle, tables and sinks — should be disinfected with a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution after each use.

Over to you

The best advice is to consult a dermatologist or a doctor before getting it removed and also before getting it done, if you face allergies or your skin is sensitive.