Blood Borne Pathogens and Bacteria: What are they and what do they mean for your new tattoo?

Blood Borne Pathogens and Bacteria: What are they and what do they mean for your new tattoo?

One of the many aspects of getting a new tattoo that is over looked by many is the need for a clean and sterile environment. In today's world we have seen a rapid increase of pop-up tattoo parlors and an increase in home tattoos. Sadly, this has been over looked for far too long. The biggest issue here is blood borne pathogens and a clean sterile environment where the tattoo is being performed.

So, what exactly is a blood borne pathogen? A blood borne pathogen is infectious microorganisms in human blood that cause disease. Some examples of these diseases are but not limited to hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Having a proper field preforming tattoos is crucial to preventing the spread of these diseases.

Aside from blood borne pathogens there is also a risk from bacteria causing infections such as staph or MRSA (a staph super bug)

How are these contracted you might wonder? They are due to cross contamination that occurs around an open cut, wound or abrasions. What’s cross contamination? It’s process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect. Meaning this can occur from not washing your hands properly, and having uncovered and un-sterilized equipment being used to preform a medical procedure, a piercing or even a tattoo.

That’s why pop up shops and kitchen tattoos with no knowledge of blood borne pathogens or bacteria aren’t just unethical it’s deadly. In order to protect yourself it is crucial that you do your research! Find an established studio, take a look around and see for yourself!

Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo we cover EVERYTHING that the artist could touch during an appointment. Everything is wiped down and disinfected prior to setting up with sterile single use items. Such as drape sheets, pillow cases, bottle bags, clip cord sleeves etc. 

Artists are required by the health department to be blood borne certified. Which means they are trained to know how to prevent cross contamination to protect the client. These precautions shouldn’t stop here in the studio. After your appointment we send you with a sterile bandage that is designed to keep your tattoo safe and clean during the crucial phases of the healing process. Any new tattoo should be handled with care. Wash your hands before switching out or removing your bandage. If your unsure of what to do you should contact the studio/artist and follow their directions.

We can not stress enough the importance of not doing home tattoos and to do your research!

Touch Ups: Misuse of the Term and Why They Are Not Free

Why touch-ups aren’t touch-ups and why they aren’t free.

It’s all too common for artist’s to be asked if their artwork is guaranteed for life. If their client will receive endless touch ups as long as they keep coming back. While any experienced tattoo artist cares about the way their art will look for years to come, they take that into account while designing and even during the tattooing process. It is one of the many reasons that artist’s will make recommendations for your tattoo long before beginning the process. Such as suggesting a more defined outline, or going with black and grey because it holds up longer than color. These are just simple examples of how an artist will show that they care. Another example is planning on doing a follow up appointment after the tattoo is healed. This allows the artist to go over every aspect of their work and ensure that the tattoo is the best that it can be.

The human skin is the largest organ of the human body, many forget that your skin is just as alive as you are. It heals, it sweats, it moves, it stretches, and bends. One of the biggest factors to healing is client lifestyle. What they eat, drink, and their overall health. All of these things can be a factor during the healing process and how a tattoo might turn out. An artist only has so much control over that tattoo. Once they are finished, they wrap it up and send you home with care instructions. They don’t know if you are going to follow said directions or listen to your friend who “has a lot of tattoos so he must be an expert”!

Depending on the design, artists can spend countless hours and even days designing and preparing your tattoo. They put in this dedication because they are designing a one of a kind, handmade piece of art that you get to take with you wherever you go. Anyone who collects handmade items knows that they aren’t perfect. If they were, they would be manufactured by a machine and massively reproduced. Having a unique custom piece made just for you is the reason why you searched for your artist.

With all of that in mind, a quick “touch-up” doesn’t exist. It costs on average $60.00 just to set up properly for a tattoo, plus the tattoo artist’s time. While we know that no one likes to work for free, tattoo artists are no exception.

Utah State Regulations on Tattoos

Utah State Regulations on Tattoos

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures tattooing a minor without parental consent is against the law. This is the only actual law put into place about who can receive a tattoo. There isn’t any for who can give one.

This offers only a small protection to a vast majority of issues that come with a lack of regulations. Currently anyone can operate a tattoo machine without any specific licensing. The health department only regulates tattoo facilities and requires tattoo artists (operators) to have certifications in blood borne pathogens and CPR/First Aid. While these are good to have, they aren’t exactly difficult to get online. These requirements also can vary from county to county. So, becoming a tattoo artist is relatively easy in the state of Utah. These regulations are also not heavily enforced in Utah, many shops pop up and begin tattooing without even getting a proper permit.

What this means for you as a consumer is that your risks of getting a bad tattoo and an infection along with it are pretty high.

It is crucial to do your research on not only the artist that you are selecting but also the studio. You want a highly established studio or shop, that is clean, friendly, and will allow you to check the place out prior to making any appointment. You’ll want to research your artist. How long have they been tattooing? Where did they come from? Did they have an apprenticeship? Do they have the necessary certifications by the health department?

Important things to look for:

-Cleanliness

-Covering on equipment, while a tattoo is being preformed any surface that an artist could touch during the process is completely covered. This includes trays, machines, bottles, and cords. Also, the surface where the client is being tattooed. This is necessary to avoid cross contamination that can lead to a serious infection.

-Permits displayed where they can be seen by the public.

Giving a tattoo in any location that is not permitted as a Body Art Establishment is a Class B misdemeanor in the state of Utah. So, your friend’s boyfriend who is trying his hand at body art isn’t just a bad idea it’s illegal.

Due to the lack of regulations it is up to the consumer to do their research and make a smart decision. Lucky Bamboo Tattoo’s owner Jared Preslar has acknowledged the danger and is currently seeking to create more regulations in Utah out of concern for the public’s health and safety. Creating awareness is only the first step to change.

-Lucky Bamboo Tattoo