Safe Piercing and Tattooing

This page was reviewed or revised on Thursday, August 13, 2009.

Safe Piercing–What You Should Know!

• The best place to pierce is a meaty skin area. Avoid the neck, joints, arteries and tendons.

• Facial piercing is tricky. Tongue piercings require extreme care. Talk to your artist about your options.

• Jewellery for new piercings should be made of surgical steel 316-L, niobium, titanium or 14-18 carat gold. These metals can be sterilized.

• Sterile surgical, single-use disposable piercing needles must be used for body piercing.

• The artist must first clean the area to be pierced with soap and water and then with a skin antiseptic such as alcohol.

• Do not leave without written aftercare instructions.

• If the pierced area becomes red, swollen, tender or if pus develops, you may have an infection. See your doctor immediately.

Safer Tattooing

The professional tattoo artist will:

• Use sterile needles in peel away packages every time.
• Use special non-toxic skin dyes or pigments. Other inks such as pen ink or photocopying inks are toxic and must not be used.
• Use new disposable ink caps which are small containers to hold the tattooing ink. Only fresh ink should be used for your tattoo. Sharing ink is like sharing dirty needles. Ask if they throw them away after each use.
• Clean the areas to be tattooed with soap and water and then with a skin antiseptic.
• Use a new disposable razor if shaving is needed.
• Make sure you leave with written aftercare instructions.

Infection can ruin your artwork!

• Make sure a sterile non-stick bandage covers your tattoo when you leave.

• Tattoos can take up to six weeks to heal.

• Follow the aftercare instructions.

• If you must touch your tattoo, wash your hands first.

• If the tattooed area becomes red, swollen, tender or if pus develops, you may have an infection. See your doctor immediately.

Helpful tips

• Tell the artist if you have any allergies to metal, petroleum-based products, and/or iodine.

• Refrain from using alcohol or drugs before being pierced or tattooed. Alcohol and drugs thin your blood, so you will bleed more.

• Get written information on healing time and cleaning steps for the tattooing and body piercing you will have done.

Shopping Tips

For safe tattooing or body piercing, take the time to find a professional artist.

Why?

• You want a good experience & quality work that is an expression of you.

• A professional artist wants your whole experience to be positive.

• You don’t want to be put at risk for infections. Anytime you pierce the skin (as in tattooing & piercing), viruses and germs can easily enter the body. HIV, hepatitis and other infections are risks of tattooing and piercing that can be avoided.

• Anytime you pierce or tattoo the skin there is also a chance of an allergic reaction.

• Professional artists will be just as concerned as you are about preventing infections and producing good art work.

Professional Artist Will:

• Be willing to show you photographs and talk about examples of their work.
• Be willing to answer all of your questions. You have the right to ask them.
• Be willing to explain the cost of their work. Cheaper doesn’t always mean better. You get what you pay for.
• Explain how they clean & sterilize their equipment. Blood & body fluids are not always visible to the naked eye. Surfaces and equipment should be carefully cleaned & then sterilized in an autoclave (a steam sterilizer).
• Have a “spore test challenge” on file for every month. This means the autoclave is working properly.
• Have a clean & sanitary, well-lit work environment. All surfaces should be made of hard material that is easy to clean.
• Use new piercing or tattooing needles for each customer.
• Use new gloves during the whole procedure.
• Not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They will make sure you aren’t either.

Acknowledgment - Based on materials produced by the Regional Municipality of Peel.

If the artist can't or won't answer all of your questions, don't be intimidated. Leave and find a different artist.  It's your body, your money and your choice.

Disclaimer - The County of Lambton Community Health Services Department conducts inspections of tattoo and piercing studios, although tattooing and piercing is not a regulated profession in Ontario.  This means that standards and licensing does not exist to ensure these individuals are knowledgeable and competent in their profession.  Individuals acquiring these services do so at their own risk.  The artist must take it upon his/her self to learn proper and safe procedures.