Health & Safety

• Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
• Clean Workspace and Sterile Equipment
• Skin Trauma and Overworking the Skin
• Aftercare and Infection Risks
• Medical Risks
• Ink Safety
• Cancer Risk

Tattooing creates an open wound and introduces pigment beneath the skin. Because of this, health and safety practices are essential. The goal is not only to create good tattoos but to reduce the risk of infection, injury, and long-term complications.

Bloodborne Pathogens Certification

Many jurisdictions require tattoo artists to complete a Bloodborne Pathogens Training Course. This training teaches how diseases can spread through contact with infected blood and how to prevent contamination.

The course typically covers:

• HIV and Hepatitis transmission
• Cross contamination
• Proper disposal of sharps
• Glove use and barrier protection
• Surface disinfection

These courses are usually short and can often be completed online.

Examples:

• American Red Cross Bloodborne Pathogens Training
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Course
• ProTrainings Bloodborne Pathogens

Even if your area does not require certification, taking one of these courses is strongly recommended.

Clean Workspace and Sterile Equipment

Tattooing should always be performed in a clean environment using sterile equipment.

Basic hygiene practices include:

• Use disposable nitrile gloves
• Use single-use sterile needles
• Disinfect work surfaces before and after tattooing
• Cover machines and cables with barrier film
• Dispose of needles in a sharps container

Contamination most often occurs when artists touch equipment, phones, bottles, or other surfaces after contacting blood or ink. Barrier protection helps prevent this.

Skin Trauma and Overworking the Skin

The needle should generally penetrate around 1.5–2 mm into the skin. Going deeper than necessary can cause scarring, blowouts, and permanent tissue damage.

Another common mistake is repeatedly tattooing the same section of skin.

As a general guideline:

• Try to complete an area in one pass
• Avoid more than two or three passes over the same spot
• If the skin becomes excessively red, swollen, or begins bleeding heavily, stop working that area

Overworked skin heals poorly and increases infection risk.

Aftercare and Infection Risks

Proper aftercare is critical because a fresh tattoo is essentially a controlled wound.

Basic aftercare guidelines include:

• Keep the tattoo clean
• Avoid submerging the tattoo in water
• Do not pick at scabs
• Use recommended ointments sparingly

Swimming in lakes, rivers, or oceans should be avoided while the tattoo is healing. Fresh tattoos can allow bacteria or microorganisms in water to enter the body.

There have been documented cases of severe infections caused by bacteria entering fresh tattoos through contaminated water.

Medical Risks

Although uncommon, tattooing can trigger certain medical reactions.

Some people may experience:

• Fainting due to pain or stress
• Allergic reactions to pigments
• Elevated heart rate or blood pressure

In rare situations, intense stress or pain could potentially trigger a cardiac event in individuals with existing heart conditions.

If someone feels dizzy, nauseous, or faint during a tattoo, the procedure should stop immediately.

Ink Safety

Tattoo inks contain pigments and carrier solutions that remain in the skin for life. Because of this, using safe and well-tested inks is important.

Guidelines include:

• Avoid unknown or counterfeit inks
• Use brands with established safety records
• Check expiration dates
• Never dilute ink with non-sterile liquids

Some studies have explored possible links between certain pigments and long-term health risks. While research is still ongoing, choosing reputable inks and avoiding cheap unknown products reduces potential risk.

Common professional ink brands include Dynamic, Eternal Ink, Intenze, and Solid Ink.

Ultimately, safe tattooing comes down to preparation, cleanliness, and respecting the limits of the skin. Taking health precautions seriously protects both the artist and the person receiving the tattoo.

Cancer Risk

There have been studies that correlate tattoos to certain kinds of cancer.

The increase in cancer risk seems to be very small, but it should be known that by inserting ink into your skin you may be increasing your risk of cancer.

There are many things you can do to decrease your risk of cancer. So if you are concerned you should do some research and consider your choices and lifestyle.