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Vigo County Health Department
officials want to raise public awareness over the risks of unlicensed or “home”
tattooing. Marci DeBoy, an environmental health specialist with the county,
cautions that people receiving home tattoos can be at higher risk of diseases like
hepatitis, HIV and MRSA, since it is unlikely that unlicensed tattooers
properly sterilize their equipment.
Tattoo artists and shops must
receive a license from the health department. “It’s illegal to have a tattoo
parlor in your home and do it yourself without a license,” said department
spokesperson Sydney Elliott. The county hears complaints about illegal
tattooing primarily from those operating licensed establishments.
“They have people come in with a
tattoo that someone has given them from a home or garage or whatever,” and need
the licensed artist to “fix” the bad tattoo, said DeBoy.
Others getting home tattoos seek
treatment for skin infections. “They’ll come in and they don’t want to rat the
person out,” said DeBoy. “It’s hard to get information out of people.”
Health officials say those
considering a tattoo should:
*Ensure that both the artist and
tattoo shop are licensed.
*Observe how artists prepare to
administer a tattoo. Needles should be single-use and packaged, and reusable
equipment “will be in sterilized bags like you would see in any dental office
or hospital,” said DeBoy.
*Ask to see the artist’s work
portfolio.
“Ask questions,” DeBoy said. “If in
doubt, don’t get the tattoo.”
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.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
