What's up doc?: Piercings and tattoos

What are some of the short-term health risks that come with body piercing and tattoos?

The articles I've read state that there is anywhere from a 17 to 45 percent risk of a medical complication from body art. Acute skin infection is without a doubt the most common and potentially serious acute complication. Bacterial infections from staph and even MRSA occur.

Pierced navels are particularly prone to infection immediately following the procedure.

Bleeding, tissue trauma, migration of the piercing, and keloid formation are also common complications. Keloid is an abnormal scar response and can be quite disfiguring.

A person may not know they are a "keloid former" until after they have a piercing or a tattoo.

What are some of the long-term health risks that come with body piercing and tattoos?

Scarring, hepatitis and HIV are potential long-term complications.

Is it possible to get HIV through body piercing or tattoos?

Only if you go to a studio which reuses their ink and needles. The artist should always wear latex gloves. These gloves should be changed every time he/she touches a non-sterile surface. A person's risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are extremely low if their artist follows these precautions.

Is it true that a female can become infertile from an infected navel piercing?

No. A pregnant woman will probably need to remove her navel ring during the late stages of pregnancy. Nipple rings may interfere with a woman's ability to breast feed if they are improperly placed.

What steps should someone considering getting a tattoo or piercing take to make sure the experience is healthy and safe?

Since the state health department does not regulate piercing and tattoo parlors, it is up to the consumer to do their research.

The studio should be clean. This includes floors and counters. The artists should use disposable needles and ink. All instruments and equipment should be sterilized.

Interview the artist. Ask about their professional training and experience. Does the artist belong to a professional body artist association or organization?

The Association of Professional Piercers and the Alliance of Professional Tattooists are good resources.

--Compiled by Krysten Appelbaum

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