Safer Body Art

Getting a Tattoo or Piercing Without Putting Your Health at Risk

What to Look for

Before Getting a Tattoo

Needles can spread HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other infections .

Thousands of Canadians have become infected from sharing needles for injection. This includes needles used for street drugs and anabolic steroid injections.

Sharing needles for tattooing and piercing also cause infections.

Tattoos and piercing are risky when done at home on the street or in prison. Professional tattoo artists and piercers know how to prevent infections transmitted through body art.

This brochure has tips to help you find a safe professional artist who will not endanger your health.

In Canada there is minimal risk of getting HIV, Hepatitis B or C from a professional artist, but customers should look for artists who follow all the safety practices.

Before getting a tattoo make sure:

•  The needles are always new and sterile. They should stay in sealed packages until use, and be disposed of in a sharps container after use.

•  All other instruments should be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized before each use. Tattoo studios should have an autoclave that heats and sterilizes instruments.

•  The tattoo artist should never test the needle or ink on their own skin.

•  Before tattooing the artist should shave the skin with a new disposable razor that must be thrown away after use and is not to be used on anyone else.

•  The artist should have good hygiene and wash their hands. The artist should never smoke while working. Artists should wear single use medical gloves.

•  Before a tattoo is applied, moisten the skin. Excessive lubricant should not be returned to the main bottle. All excess lubricant should be wiped away and thrown away.

•  Ink from the main supply should be placed in a small disposable container or ‘cap'. Ink should be commercially produced and not homemade.

•  Any remainder ink should be discarded and not returned to the main supply.

•  The studio should be clean. All surfaces that come into contact with blood should be disinfected with bleach or hospital strength disinfectant.

What to Look for Before Getting a Piercing

A body piercing is safe when done by a qualified professional. Clients need to look for piercing artists who practice healthy precautions. Look for the following practices before getting a piercing.

•  All needles should be new, sterile and left in sealed packages until used. Each piercing should be done with a new needle even if the same person is getting multiple piercings.

•  The piercer should discard used needles immediately into a sharps container and not into the regular garbage.

•  Tools of the trade (insertion, tapers, forceps, needle receiving tubes and pliers) should be clean and sterilized before use. Cleaning is done with water and detergent followed by an autoclave to sterilize.

•  Skin should be cleaned with antiseptic before and after the piercing.

Soaps, water, alcohol and sprays are not strong enough.

•  The piercer should have good hygiene and wash their hands. They should never be smoking while working. The piercer should wear single use surgical gloves.

•  Only sterilized jewelry should be used in a fresh piercing. Acrylic, bone and horn cannot be sterilized and could start an infection in a new piercing.

•  If the piercing will go through the lips or tongue, the customer should rinse with an antibiotic mouthwash first.

•  Any surfaces in contact with bodily fluids should be disinfected.

•  Ask if a studio is inspected by local health boards and look for a business license .

Tattoos and Piercings at Home

Although this can be much cheaper, it can be dangerous and lead to infections and scarring. Some areas of the body have rich nerve and blood supplies and can develop to excessive bleeding, pain, and scarring.

After Getting Body Art

Ask the artist for written instructions on how to care for the tattoo or piercing, and follow their instructions.

Tips for Caring for a New Tattoo or Piercing

•  Don't pick at scabs.

•  If the site becomes infected, a doctor must treat it.

•  Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun for at least a month.

•  Avoid swimming pools and hot tubs for at least 1 week.