Tattoo safety?

Question

I was talkling to my husband yesterday. And he is saying Im NOT getting a tattoo(he doesnt have any). I am anyway....but he is afraid I will get some kind of complication like hepatitis, or get some infection cause I have sensitive skin.
Plus he is saying that even the brand new needles in the package was used but cleaned by professionals. Do the tattoo artists throw the needles away for disposal or do they have them cleaned and repackaged??
My husband said he knew 2 people at his work that had to go to the hospital after getting tattoos. Not sure if he is trying to scare me.
I still want to get one though....and told him he doesnt have to look at it.

Answer 1

Nothing can survive being autoclaved.
I promise, just make sure that whatever your artist uses on you he opens from a tamper evident sealed autoclave package. You will be fine.

Answer 2

I have never heard of any serious injury from a tattoo. I have a few and my husband has many. I know ALOT of tattoo artists. You can get an infection if you dont take care of it while it heals but that could happen with any small scratch. I have also heard of a few people being alergic to dark blue ink but that just causes mild irritation. Tattoo shops have strict guidlines to keep you safe from disease. All needles and supplies are steralized and new. Dont worry!

Answer 3

I go to a tattoo parlor that meets state health code. The needles are really new needles, in a sealed package. They are not cleaned and re-used. The tattoo artist always wears gloves. I know several people who have gone there -- never a case of infection or hepatitis. If you go to a reputable place, you shouldn't have any problems.

Answer 4

Find a reputable parlor. Ask around when you see work done that you like - a person with a really good art - ask where they got it done. Go into shops, ask them about their practices - are they new needles, or disinfected (most shops use brand new needles). Tattoo's today aren't like back in the 50's or 60's. Lawsuits, insurance, etc. have made sure of that. A lot of infection that you see today is either from poor after care by the person who got the tattoo. Make sure to follow all advise for after care of your tattoo. Or from allergic reaction from the ink - which can happen. There are still bad artists, or people that try to get by on the cheap - but if you can get some good recommendations you should be fine. You can also inquire with the BBB, or your local chamber of commerce to see if any complaints lodged against your local parlors. Good luck!

Answer 5

If you use a reputable, fully licensed tattoo shop you should have no problems. Talk to the tattoo artist about your skin condition.

It sounds like your husband is bordering on Control Freak if you ask me.

Get the tattoo done and get rid of the control freak

Answer 6

Check with the tattoo artist that you're going to get it from if they use new or repacked, each one does different. Also if the tattoo artist that you are getting it from has been doing this for a while then you can ask him if any of his other customers has had any problems and he can go over it with you. don't worry though, I have three and no problems.

Answer 7

I guess it would depend on the tattoo place. I have had 2 and the only complication I've ever had was that it took forever for the red hair on the little mermaid to heal. lol. Maybe my skin doesnt like red ink. I dont know. But I wouldnt go to a place that looks scary... My tattoo place looks more like a dentists office so its like extremely clean. lol I have been in one place before though that looked like someone's garage (I didnt get a tattoo there). Your husband is probably telling you real horror stories or whatever but in reality people get tattoos everyday with no problems.

Answer 8

your husband is just trying to freak you out, i've gotten tattoos, if you go somewhere that is reputable and not a skeezy place, they dispose of the needles, the last place i went to had the biohazard containters to put needles in, it's totally clean. you won't get hepatitis or some sort of crazy infection unless, again, you go someplace skeezy. If you're really worried about it, maybe talk to a dermatologist or tattoo artist to see (they are uber helpful!) if they think the sensitive skin will be an issue, but i've never heard of it. Good for you for getting one for you, despite your husband!

Answer 9

he's trying to scare you. i have many friends covered in tattoos and i've never heard of any problems..

.. just go to a few different shops with good reputations until you find you that feels right, then go for it. there's really nothing to worry about.

Answer 10

Depends on the parlor you go to. Some sterilize previously used needles... but they use the same equipment that surgeons use to sterilize there instruments, as i see it if the FDA says thats safe enough to sterilize the same instrument that is used in hundreds of surgeries by medical professionals, then it should be good enough to tap into your skin a few times. If you are really nervous about it though find a place that uses new needles, or even ask a parlor that reuses to use a new needle, often times if you ask they will help you out, if not, you probably don't want them tattooing you anyway.
When you go into a parlor see if it looks clean, and don't be afraid to ask questions!
Also alot of tattoo problems are caused by the reciever not the giver. Even the best tattoo artist can have a clients tattoo go bad because the client didn't take care of it properly.
Good luck, I'm sure you won't have any trouble!

Answer 11

There are a few tattoo artists that do reuse needles, but these are usually the tattooists that you DON'T want to go to.

The needles are so small and so sharp that they end up dulling rather quickly throughout the tattoo. So it would be pretty dumb to reuse needles that are dulled down.

Put it simply: Ask the artist. And ask around, if you see a tattoo you really like, ask the person where they got it. Find the good studios in your area and go and "interview" the tattoo artist. If you like them and their style, then woohoo!

As for infection, as long as you don't immediately go put your tattoo in sewage, you won't get an infection. If the tattoo artist is fully licensed and qualified, they know what good hygiene is.

Sometimes people have allergic reactions to the tattoo ink (specifically red, but some others as well). The only real way you can find out if you are is to get a tattoo with red in it and see. It's pretty sucky, but still pretty rare.