Interested in getting a tattoo or body piercing?
The Pennsylvania Medical Society recommends that you choose a professional body artist and discuss health and safety with the professional prior to making a commitment. Ensure that the establishment:
- Only uses new, sterile needles. Check to ensure that the artist removes the needles from a sealed package. Pigments, trays, ointments, razors, and containers also should be previously unused.
- Sterilizes all non-disposable equipment in a heat sterilization machine called an autoclave that has been has been routinely inspected as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- Sanitizes the work area—including drawer handles, tables, and sinks—with a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution before each procedure.
- Employs body artists who wash their hands and put on a fresh pair of latex gloves for each procedure. If the gloves touch anything other than the client, they should be changed.
- Doesn’t allow use of a piercing gun. These devices typically can’t be autoclaved and may cause injury during the procedure.
- Uses only appropriate hypoallergenic jewelry—surgical-grade steel, titanium, 14- or 18-karat gold, or niobium jewelry.
You also can work with your physician to identify an experienced, trained specialist.
“Involving your physician in your health decisions—even when they are slightly unconventional—can help you avoid potential pitfalls and protect your overall personal well-being,” says Erie dermatologist David R. Benjamin, MD.