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In today’s times, getting a tattoo has become a very popular way among the youth to express their feelings, personality and style statement. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow and Bangalore are full of tattoo studios, where everyone from college students to working professionals are getting different types of artworks done on different parts of the body. However, according to dermatologists, this process of adding permanent ink to the skin is not completely risk-free. The needle of a tattoo machine cuts through the upper layer of the skin (epidermis) thousands of times per minute and delivers ink to the inner layer (dermis). This process essentially creates an open wound on the skin, and if hygiene or correct standards are not followed, it can cause many serious diseases and health problems.
The most serious risk when getting a tattoo is blood-borne diseases. If a tattoo artist uses the same needle on more than one client without sterilizing it, it can become a medium for direct transmission of life-threatening diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. These viruses enter the body through infected blood and can permanently destroy the liver and immune system. According to medical standards, it should always be mandatory to use new, disposable and sealed needles for tattooing, but this rule is often ignored in local and unregistered parlors.
Many types of metals and synthetic pigments are present in the ink used to make tattoos. Red, blue, yellow and green inks are most likely to cause allergies. Red ink often contains ingredients such as mercury sulfide (cinnabar) or cadmium, which can cause intense itching, rashes, redness, and swelling of the skin. This allergic reaction can occur suddenly, immediately after getting a tattoo, a few weeks later, or sometimes even years later. In some people, it takes the form of contact dermatitis, which requires the help of steroids and medicines for a long time to cure it.
For the first few days after getting a tattoo, the skin is extremely sensitive and like an open wound. During this time, bacteria present in the environment like Staphylococcus can enter the wound, causing pus formation, severe pain, high fever and blisters. Additionally, our body perceives tattoo ink as a foreign body, which can cause small lumps of inflammation, called ‘granulomas’, to form around the ink particles. People whose skin has a tendency to form keloids (highly raised hard scars after a wound has healed) may suffer serious disfigurement from getting a tattoo.
Tattoo is not limited to the skin surface only, but it also affects other medical procedures. Many tattoo inks contain ferromagnetic metals such as iron oxide. When a tattooed person has an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, the powerful magnetic field may cause a sharp burning, stinging, or swelling sensation in the tattooed area. Additionally, as per medical protocol, a person is not allowed to donate blood for at least 6 months to 1 year after getting a tattoo, to prevent any possible latent infection from reaching the patient.
If you have decided to get a tattoo, the risks can be reduced to a great extent by taking some basic precautions. Always choose a licensed, experienced and professional studio that follows strict hygiene standards. Have the artist unseal the new disposable needle and make sure he or she works with disposable gloves. After getting a tattoo, strictly follow the aftercare guide provided by the artist—apply antibacterial ointment to the wound, protect the area from sunlight and dirty water, and never scrape away scabs. If there is excessive swelling, pus or severe pain around the tattoo, contact a dermatologist without delay.