Tattoos: low medical risk, high risk of regret
Answer: Globally, tattooing has been around for more than 5,000 years. In the United States, tattoos have moved from the rebellious fringe to the mainstream over the past few decades. In 2006, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported that 36 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 had tattoos. Considering the enormous popularity of tattoos, related medical complications are relatively uncommon.
Professional tattoo parlors use a machine to quickly pierce the skin and simultaneously inject permanent dye. Because the needle pierces the skin — the body’s largest protective barrier — tattooing can introduce bacteria, presenting a risk for infection. Symptoms of skin infection may include redness, swelling and pus-like drainage.
Skin infections most often result from poor aftercare. Your daughter should receive written instructions for tattoo care. Remind her to follow those instructions to the letter. If she does get an infection, she should see a physician right away.
Secondly, if tattooing equipment is not sterile, it can also transmit blood-borne illnesses such as hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, syphilis and tuberculosis. The good news is that there are no documented cases of anyone contracting HIV or AIDS from a professional tattoo, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Reports of other blood-borne illnesses linked to tattoos point mostly to non-professional tattoos and tattoos predating the 20th century.
Make sure your daughter goes to a licensed tattoo parlor, and advise her to discuss safety procedures with the artist before getting a tattoo. She should confirm that the following universal precautions are taken: equipment should be sterilized, fresh needles should be used for every client, and the artists should not only wear new gloves for each client but also wash their hands before donning the gloves. You or your daughter may even want to watch the artists give a tattoo. Any licensed, professional parlor should be happy to share their standards with you.
As for the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), since some tattoo dyes contain iron oxide or other magnetic metals (newer dyes typically do not), there have been reports of temporary warmth or redness in tattooed areas of the skin following an MRI. This is rarely a problem, and the benefits of undergoing a medically advised MRI greatly outweigh any risks. Patients should point out any tattoos to the radiologist or technician before undergoing an MRI. Should discomfort occur, a simple ice bag can relieve the burning sensation.
So medically speaking, I cannot give any reason why your daughter should not get a tattoo from a licensed, reputable parlor. The best reason to not get a tattoo is regret. A 2006 study found that more than 50 percent of people with tattoos later regretted having the procedure done. Perhaps you can write back when your daughter wants the tattoo removed, and I will do another column on that subject.
Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.
