Are tattoos dangerous? What are the risks and how to prevent them?

Tattoos can be of many types: old school, tribal, maori, celtic, etc., small or large, with writing or drawing, with symbols or phrases. They can be made on any part of the body, from the feet to the hands, from neck to chest, from arms to legs. Today, there is also a semi-permanent makeup on eyes, eyebrows, lips and hooves, which is nothing other than another type of tattoo that uses very similar techniques and works in even more delicate areas. There are no dangerous tattoos, but problems common to all types of tattoos. In fact, although different in the form and part of the body in which they are imprinted, they are united by the same "dermatological and dermatological risks" that you have to avoid to not regret having them! Then:

What are the risks that you run after doing a tattoo?

    CUTANE INFECTIONS - The main risk, amongst the most feared, is to have a skin infection, from tattooing. The needle used by the tattooer causes a skin lesion that could lead to bacterial infection, pain, redness, and swelling.

    ALLERGY REACTIONS - very often caused by the type of ink used. The allergic reaction causes annoying itching easily associated with a rash (skin rush of various types).

    GRANULOMY - the type of skin inflammation more tired to tattooing after a tattoo. The small skin lesions that are detected are ring or semicircle.

    CHELOIDS - that is, small - in this case - scarring lesions that grow beyond the boundary of a skin lesion, that of the tattoo needle. They can be formed both during the tattoo and immediately after finishing it.

    INFECTIVE PATHOLOGIES - too much to fear, for obvious reasons, all those transmissible by blood: hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, tetanus, AIDS. Much attention in this case - and indeed in all other - you have to give it to the tools used where you go to make a tattoo.

  The main risk prevention activities concern the choice, cleaning, sterilization and storage of "craft tools" carried out by the tactile tattoo studio. In recent years, even in Italy, the demand for tattoos has increased exponentially, now considered a "normal" artistic expression as it was not only 15 years ago. As a result, tattoo professionals have also increased, and in all areas, improvised tattooers and those who, despite their art form, do not meet all the indispensable hygiene standards, often throwing the whole category under a bad light . That is why we want to present you a list of arrangements that each of us should take before we get tattooed.

How to avoid tattoo risks? Here are some tips

Do not go to the tattooer under the house for laziness to look for a more professional one. We are talking about our well-being and our skin, we only have this! If you are advised of a good one, make sure that it is also prepared and properly rested, attested, color certifications, etc. Before choosing our trusted tattoo, let's know if you follow the safety rules established by the aesthetic discipline law And piercing tattoo. If we happen to see him tattooing teenagers under 14, let's remember that it's forbidden, except for the piercing or ear hole - it's not a symptom of seriousness, let's get it off and try it with another. If you respect the first two points make sure your studio is clean and that you and / or your staff always have their hands handy before and after each job and use disposable gloves for each customer. We check that needles, inks and pigments are sealed before use, always. If using non-disposable instruments, they must always be sterilized in special autoclave before each use for the same customer. Make sure the cables and the machine are inserted inside the special protective sleeves so that they are protected from dirt, ink and blood. If the tattoo respects all of these directions, great, we found the right one!

We do our part to avoid the contraindications of the tattoo

The way to avoid risks due to a tattoo is not over yet. Now we begin our task, after all, our skin is ours and we are the main stakeholders in order for everything to be all right!

    Avoid exposing us to the sun, even after the two canonical weeks.

    We wear comfortable, wide dresses that do not tighten too much in the tattooed body part. For a while we can also do without our usual look!

    During this time, after removing the dressing after 24 hours from the end of the tattoo, we only wash it with water and a neutral disinfectant soap. Delicate, without rubbing.

    Hydrate and shave it with specific creams even several times a day as needed. In the summer, for example, the cream may absorb before winter. It's important to always be careful to smear it gently.

    If after a week you notice little chills or symptoms, we wait without taking any initiative. We continue to moisturize the tattoo in a gentle way and protect it from the sun. If problems persist, do not be alarmed but contact our doctor.

  In the next articles we will discuss the precautions that the tattoo needs to take to avoid the risks and how to behave in case of tattoo reactions.