Hepatitis C Risks and Tattoo Ink Details: Comprehensive Guide
Tatted Up: A Guide to Getting Inked Safely
Got your heart set on getting a tat? Safety should be your top priority when it comes to ink. Along with the awesome new design you're about to rock, understanding the connection between tattoos and hepatitis C (hep C) is crucial.
Hep C is a nasty liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV. This virus can lead to serious health problems like liver damage or cancer. While some individuals might only experience hep C as a short-term infection, over half of people with HCV develop a chronic, long-lasting infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When you get a tattoo, teeny-tiny needles puncture the skin. Since hep C can spread through contact with blood, one of the most common ways people catch the virus is by sharing dirty needles. That's why following safe tattooing practices can help protect you from contracting or spreading hep C.
Here's what you need to know if you're thinking about getting inked.
Is it possible to get HCV from a tattoo?
A clean tattoo parlor with sterilized equipment and brand new needles for every client is essential. Your tattoo artist should also be dressed in full personal protective equipment (PPE). But there's still a chance of picking up hep C from a tattoo.
Improper or unprofessional tattoo practices, like reusing needles or failing to sterilize equipment, can boost the chances of hep C transmission by around 2 to 3 times[6].
Your tattoo artist should always wear gloves and use individual containers of tattoo ink for each client. If they're dipping a needle into a communal ink jar, it's time to hit the bricks.
What are the potential risks associated with tattoos?
Besides bloodborne infections like hep C, tattoos do come with risks. Developing an infection is one of the top risks, which can manifest as rashes, redness, discoloration, bumps, fevers, chills, shakes, or sweats. You might need antibiotics to treat an infection, and the worst-case scenario could lead to hospitalization or surgery.
Other risks include the development of scar tissue around the tattoo, allergic reactions to tattoo ink, and swelling.
How can I make sure my tattooist is clean?
The research shows that hep C doesn't seem to spread at licensed, commercial tattoo studios[7]. But do your homework on your tattoo artist or shop.
Check reviews to see if there have ever been any complaints about the artist or shop, and contact your local or state health department to verify if the artist or tattoo parlor has the necessary licenses.
When getting a tattoo, double-check that your tattoo artist uses surgical-grade PPE, including gloves and a mask, and sticks to sterilized equipment and new needles. You'll also want to make sure the tattoo ink is poured into individual small containers instead of a shared jar.
Can I get a tattoo if I already have hepatitis C?
If you've got hep C, you can still get a tattoo, provided you're honest about it with your tattoo artist. Some artists may turn you down to avoid passing the infection on, while others might ask you to wait until you've completed hep C treatment. You can also find a tattoo artist trained in inking people with hep C.
Who is more vulnerable to hepatitis C?
People with an HIV infection, those who have had blood transfusions or organ transplants, and folks in healthcare, emergency medical, or public safety fields have a higher chance of contracting HCV[8].
Hep C can be passed on through:
- sharing injection equipment and personal items
- childbirth (6 percent of infants born to mothers with the infection will get hep C)
- healthcare exposures
- unprotected sexual intercourse
- unregulated tattoos or body piercings
- blood transfusions and organ transplants
How can I avoid getting hepatitis C?
You can prevent hep C by steering clear of sharing personal items, like razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, or other items that may have come into contact with blood, even traces of it.
Using a condom or other barrier method during sex can help prevent the spread of hep C. And finally, the biggest takeaway here: Get your ink from reputable, clean tattoo studios, and tattoo artists who follow proper hygiene practices.
In a nutshell, while tattoos do come with health risks, you can take steps to help keep hep C at bay. If you've got hep C, you can still get a tattoo, provided you're open and upfront with your artist. And by taking precautions and asking questions, you can minimize the risks associated with tattoos.
- The connection between tattoos and hepatitis C (hep C) is crucial, as hep C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus, and one of the most common ways people catch the virus is by sharing dirty needles during a tattoo procedure.
- If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, it's important to ensure the tattoo parlor follows safe practices to minimize the risks, such as using sterilized equipment, individual containers of tattoo ink for each client, and wearing gloves.
- In a clean tattoo parlor, the risk of getting HCV is much lower, but unprofessional tattoo practices, like reusing needles or failing to sterilize equipment, can boost the chances of hepatitis C transmission.
- If you already have hepatitis C, you can still get a tattoo, provided you're honest about it with your tattoo artist and they follow proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the virus.
