Is a tattoo right for you?
British law states that you must be over the age of 18 before you can be tattooed. It is important to think carefully about why you want a tattoo and what the consequences and health risks are. Speak to others who have tattoos and take advice from medical organizations, such as the British Association of Dermatologists.
You should also think carefully about the design, size and location of a tattoo, as it will be permanent. Some tattoos can be removed using laser surgery but this process is expensive and can leave scars.
Choose your tattooist with care. Ensure that he or she is a reputable practitioner registered with the Department of Health. Good tattooists are often members of professional bodies and associations, such as the Association of Professional Tattoo Artists (APTA) or the Tattoo Club of Great Britain (TCGB). Fully discuss the design and execution of the tattoo with the tattooist and ask to see other examples of their work. If you have any doubts about their hygiene or proficiency, do not proceed.
Some useful facts...
In the UK you can only get a tattoo if you are over 18. Tattoo parlours will ask you to sign a form to confirm that you are over 18 and may ask for proof of age.
Tattoo parlours in the UK must be licensed by their local authority. Local authorities will only grant the licence if the parlour complies with their conditions. These include standards of cleanliness and hygiene. The parlour should publicly display its licence – always ask to see it.
Tattoo artists must use fresh, clean and sterile needles for each tattoo. Tattooing punctures the skin and any puncture wound may become infected or transfer disease if safety procedures are not strictly adhered to. Poor hygiene practices when tattooing may lead to the transmission of hepatitis, tuberculosis or other diseases.
Never let anyone other than a reputable tattoo artist tattoo you.
It is very important that you take care of a new tattoo. This will both help prevent infection and protect the tattoo itself. The tattoo parlour should give you instructions on what to do. Make sure you follow them carefully.
Tattoos are permanent but deteriorate over time. The colours fade and your skin will eventually sag, affecting the way the tattoo looks. Before you have a tattoo, you should be absolutely sure that you want one.
Although tattoo removal techniques have improved, most dermatological surgeons say that complete removal is not possible and some techniques result in scarring. Tattoo removal is also expensive and can be painful. Once again, you should be certain you want a permanent tattoo before you get one done.
Health warning
Research has linked tattooing to the potentially fatal disease, hepatitis C.
A study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, carried out between 1991 and 1992 on patients being treated at an orthopaedic clinic, suggests that getting a tattoo could be an infection route for hepatitis C.
Of the 626 people who took part in the study, 113 had tattoos and of those 22 per cent were infected with hepatitis C. Of the 52 patients who had obtained their tattoos from a commercial tattoo parlour, 33 per cent had hepatitis C. This compares with only 3.5 per cent of the patients without tattoos.
Hepatitis C is a potentially fatal disease that affects the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.