Tattoos and Their Adverse Reactions

Tattoos and Their Adverse Reactions Tattoos have been around for centuries, Egyptians would tattoo themselves as a symbol of fertility and strength. In recent years, popularity has increased especially amongst teenagers. They range in size, designs, colors and location. However, as the popularity grows as do the concerns over the safety and risk. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate tattoos. This leaves the burden of safety and regulations to individual cities and states. Some of the risks that come with getting a tattoo; infection at the site of the tattoo, allergic reaction to the tattoo dye, the spread of disease such as HIV and Hepatitis C, granulomas, and keloid formation. A tattoo is a series of puncture wounds made with a needle that carries dye into different levels of the skin. Infections can occur when a tattoo parlor does not use proper sanitation procedures. In 1992 the tattoo industry created the Alliance of Professional Tattooist (APT), a non-profit organization to address the issues of tattoo health and safety. The APT attempts to monitor and standardize infection control procedures. Several seminars on tattoo safety are available throughout the year. However, membership is not required for a practicing tattoo and shops are not required to follow the same sterilization practices as hospitals and doctors' offices. Places that do not follow these rules have a greater risk of infection and can pose serious side effects. According to a report published in March 2001, people with tattoos are nine times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C than those who are not. This report became mainstream news a year after its publication when Pamela Anderson came out saying that she had become infected by sharing a tattoo needle with her ex-husband Tommy Lee. Hepatitis C is a blood borne disease that can be spread when tattoo needles are used on multiple people, not thrown away, and equipment is not sterilized