Wisconsin License Ensures Tattoos Applied Safely

Area health officials are warning residents against getting tattoos from unlicensed inkers, saying state-mandated health and safety standards minimize infection risks.

To receive licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, tattoo artists must be educated in infection-control practices. Establishments that provide on-site tattooing are subject to inspections from health officials.

Though rogue inkers may offer lower prices, people who obtain tattoos from them risk exposure to HIV and hepatitis C, said Matt Kachel, health technician with the South Central Environmental Health Consortium. “These are diseases a person may contract and not know about it for a long time,” he said.

Sauk County health officials say they have received numerous reports recently of unlicensed tattooers and “tattoo parties,” in which inkers set up shop for a one-time gathering. “They’re not always easy to catch because they know what they’re doing is illegal, so they keep it discrete,” said Kachel.

According to Kachel, there is a way to ensure safety when visiting a tattoo artist: “Ask to see their license. If they can’t produce it in an instant, you probably want to go somewhere else.”

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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