Fast-Track Your TATTOO HEALTH

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Tattoo artists are trained to avoid these errors, but mistakes can happen on the name tattoo shoulder. This is why a holistic approach is so important in preventing health risks. Keep reading for some best practices to help you fast-track your tattoo health and thank us later.

The following are ways that tattoos can go wrong, what they mean for long-term health, and how you can mitigate potential risks:

1. Danger: Mixing pigments from different batches of ink  

What this means: When a tattoo artist mixes pigments between two different batches of ink without sterilizing the needles first, the new pigment could cause irritation and increase your odds of getting infections down the line.  How to know:

Ask your artist if he/she has done any mixing recently. If so, ask how much time passed between the mixing and the tattooing. Also ask how long the artist sterilized the needles and if they’re still clean to do another tattoo. Don’t be afraid to ask if you see a lot of redness or swelling after your tattoo.

2. Danger: Incorrect color selection  

What this means: Choosing an incorrect color can cause an unpleasant allergic reaction, and not everyone is tolerant of certain colors like yellow or green, which could cause blistering or even an allergic reaction later on. How to know:

If your artist is mixing colors, ask her/him why they chose to use more than one color. If you suspect your artist may have chosen a less-than-ideal color, ask for a color exchange or partial refund.

3. Danger: Incorrect needle position  

What this means: Injected ink may seep into nearby muscles, tendons, and nerves or even be pushed downward into the lymph nodes or bloodstream near your skin’s surface where it can cause infection or inflammation.  

How to know:

If your tattoo is red and swollen after 24 hours, seek medical help immediately as you likely have an infection from the improper positioning of the needles. Or, if your tattoo isn’t red or diffuse, ask your artist about any needle sticks. If it’s questionable whether the artist used a clean needle or not, ask to see their sharps disposal containers in the studio and clean needles in one of those containers.

4. Danger: Injecting ink into a full tattoo 

What this means: Syringe prescriptions need to be done on artwork with a lot of details because each dot of color is made up of many tiny points and often form intricate designs that may not be possible to replicate with freehand injection. So, if a tattoo artist utilizes a full syringe in a relatively simple design like one color on skin, an area that’s fully tattooed could become infected. How to know:

The issue of risk is not about the size of your tattoo; it’s about the density of ink. Always ask your artist how much time and detail went into their work. If they don’t seem to appreciate the importance of this question, then go somewhere else for your next tattoo.

5. Danger: Using the same needle for multiple tattoos

What this means: A needle can harbor infectious material from the last person who got a tattoo and transmit that risk to you by using it again on you with new ink. How to know:

If you suspect this has happened, contact a state board or even the local health department for infection control advice. A consultation with a doctor is probably also a good idea.

6. Danger: Not washing your hands before or after a tattoo 

What this means: If an artist is dirty, it means that your skin can absorb some amount of the bacteria on their hands or hair; and if you’re dirty in the first place, it could have disastrous consequences for your tattoo’s health because the pigment is trapped in your skin and will be exposed to those germs for weeks or months afterward. How to know:

Ask your artist if they washed their hands and/or hair before starting to work on you. And then ask them to wash their hands and/or hair again before they start working on you.

7. Danger: Reusing needles 

What this means: Using the same needle to apply multiple colors of ink increases the chance that ink will come into contact with germs, which would increase the chance of infection or allergic reaction. 

How to know: If you’re getting a multi-color tattoo, ensure your artist has sanitized the previous color before starting a new design. Or, if your artist does not clean their tools between colors, request that they do so at least once for each new color before applying your next color.

Summary:

Your tattoo will be a one-of-a-kind work of art, but that doesn’t make it immune to the risks of infection and allergic reaction. Fast-track your health by asking thoughtful questions and thinking ahead. If your artist is not willing or able to take these steps, take your business elsewhere.

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