Health Issues and Tattoos

     If  you're not disclosing your medical conditions to your tattoo artist prior to your appointment, what your tattoo artist doesn't know could end up harming you and can't be blamed on the artist or the shop that they work for if nobody is made aware. If you have a medical condition or are on certain prescription medications, it is really important to let your artist know before your appointment so that the right steps and precautions can be taken to avoid injuries. While we understand that not everyone is comfortable with disclosing such information or think that it's not relevant, it is important that your artist is made aware. 

    There are certain medical conditions that your artist will want to be made aware of. Clients with heart conditions, diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, and  being on blood thinners are more at risk for injury, poor healing and a possibility of developing infection. With that being said, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are not able to get your tattoo. You will want to consult your medical provider and they can provide help and guidelines on what needs to be done prior to your tattoo appointment. Certain medication prescriptions have to be disclosed as well. Acne medications like Accutane and Minomycin cause skin to be hyper-sensitive and could lead to severe pain and scarring. If you are taking any medication to thin your blood, you'll want to inform your artist beforehand, and consult your doctor. Depending on the reason you're taking the medication, it may not be wise to get tattooed, or it may require stopping them a few days before your appointment or require shorter sessions. 

    If the artist decides that they cannot, in good conscience, proceed with the tattoo it's because they don't want you to get hurt. Remember, people don't turn down a paying client for no reason.  Although an artist has the right to refuse service to a potential client based on health reasons, you also have the right to take your business somewhere else if you feel the artist was unfair or in error.  One thing to keep in mind, that there will always be someone out there willing to take your money regardless of your health.  Don't go to someone that you know uses unsafe practices and doesn't follow the sanitation protocol.