How To Avoid Getting An Infected Tattoo:
Ideally, youll have a problem-free tattoo. Follow Tonkovic-Capins advice for mitigating risk before scheduling your appointment at the tattoo parlor:
Make sure your tattoo artist is licensed. Ask your tattoo artist how they clean and sterilize the equipment, says Tonkovic-Capin. Make sure that they wear gloves during the procedure. After the tattooing is over, your tattoo artist should provide you detailed written instructions on aftercare.
Refer to the FDA for more information about tattoos and preparing for your next tattoo appointment.
Also Check: Best Tattoo Shops In Mesa Az
Is The Risk Of Hiv Different For Different People
Although HIV risk factors and routes of transmission apply to everyone equally, some people are at higher risk because of where they live and who their sex partners are.
The percentage of people living with HIV is higher in major metropolitan areas, so people who live there are more likely to encounter an HIV-positive person among their possible sex partners. In the same way, because the prevalence of HIV is higher among gay and bisexual men and among black and Latino men and women, members of these groups are more likely to encounter partners who are living with HIV.
Dont Miss: Does Nba Youngboy Have Hiv
Can You Get Hiv From A Tattoo
- Written By Dan Hunter on July 5, 2021Last Updated: July 6, 2021
There are lots of risks from getting a tattoo as you are inserting needles into your skin, which draws blood. However, the risk of getting HIV from tattoos is very low.
As with everything, you should thoroughly research and prepare before getting a tattoo. Check out the tattoo studio and the artist. Are they hygienic and professional?
Once you are aware of the risks involved this will give you the tools to make sure that you are safe from any infection.
We will share with you all that you need to know about the risks of getting HIV when having a tattoo and how you can minimize the chances to nearly zero.
Recommended Reading: Best Tattoo Shops In Milwaukee
Can I Get A Tattoo With Hiv
Can I get a tattoo with HIV?Im undetectable and, my cd4 count 398 and has been steadily rising for the past year. I love the tattoos I have I would love to get more.
Yes you could get a tat. But remember !!! Make Sure the Parlor is Clean !. Because its you , that you Have to protect. You dont want another Strain of HIV. Good luck . . .
I have gotten 3 or 4 tats since I was diagnosed i did not disclose my status to the artist and i think in my state its not even legal to get tattooed if youre poz but i didnt even read the service consent i knew i was undetectable but i still feel like i should have disclosed my status and given the artist the option to choose whether or not he wanted to do the work
I have two tattoos and have had no issues, just take care of yourself and go to a respectful tattoos place.
I have no tattoos. I like some men who have tasteful inked skin and in some cases find it very sexy. Ive never wanted a tattoo because well Ive an aversion to needles! LOL Ive read that getting tattooed can be dangerous for a person with HIV because of the possibility of acquiring an infection or other blood born disease . The possibility of a tattoo artist being careless and not cleaning his equipment or using used or dirty needles is also scary. For someone HIV+ , check out the artist and their parlor thoroughly before proceeding. Your life is worth more than a few inches of ink.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Hiv And Aids
When first infected with HIV, a person may have:
- increased number of infections
- infections that are more severe than is typical
Without treatment, HIV can lead to a very weakened immune system and progress to AIDS. Illnesses that happen in AIDS are called “AIDS-defining conditions.”
AIDS-defining conditions include:
- very fast and severe weight loss
- a lung infection called pneumocystis pneumonia
Don’t Miss: Best Quality Black Tattoo Ink
Should I Be Concerned About Getting Infected With Hiv While Playing Sports
There are not documented cases of HIV being transmitted during participation in sports. The very low risk of transmission during sports participation would involve sports with direct body contact in which bleeding might be expected to occur.
If someone is bleeding, their participation in the sport should be interrupted until the wound stops bleeding and is both antiseptically cleaned and securely bandaged. There is no risk of HIV transmission through sports activities where bleeding does not occur.
Ways That Hiv Is Not Transmitted
HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day activities or by contact with objects, food or clothes.
The following list includes just a few examples of questions we get from people worried about catching HIV.
Most of these questions come from a combination of fear and ignorance. They come from a lack of confidence in understanding HIV transmission.
You can NOT catch HIV from:
- Eating any food, cooked or uncooked, with blood on it.
- From a sterile needle at a clinic or other health centre.
- From a human bite.
- Using a knife/fork/spoon/cup/plate that an HIV positive person may have used.
- Getting sexual fluid on skin.
- Getting sexual fluid on a cut that has already healed over. A cut has to be open to be a risk of HIV.
The above are all real examples sent as questions to i-Base. They show that ignorance about HIV is still common.
Also Check: Laser Tattoo Removal Venice Fl
Dont Be Fooled By Stigma
Do not let the stigma against these diseases scare you into not getting the tattoo you want. There is zero chance of the artist becoming infected with the disease. Simple knowledge of HIV and Herpes will tell you that these diseases begin to die as soon as they come into contact with air outside the body.
The only way for there to be even a chance of infection is if the tattoo shop does not use new ink pods with each tattoo, does not properly disinfect equipment, or if they reuse needles.
All of these practices are incredibly unsafe, and no licensed tattoo parlor will do any of these things. As long as you get your tattoo from a licensed tattoo parlor, there is zero chance that the artist or anyone else in the shop will become infected.
It is actually illegal in many countries, including Ireland, and the United States to refuse service of any kind on the basis of a blood borne disease like HIV or Herpes.
Dont get stressed if you are denied a tattoo on this basis. There is bound to be another shop that will be happy to tattoo you. It might even be just around the corner.
If you a shop does deny you services for having HIV or Herpes, you can report them for a violation of the American with Disabilities Act . To file a complete, you can file out a form online at this site: ada.gov.
What Are Bloodborne Pathogens
A bloodborne pathogen is a harmful microorganism such as a bacteria or virus. Its transmitted between people through infected blood or other bodily fluids.
Diseases from bloodborne pathogens can be debilitating, difficult to treat, and even fatal. Although there is a wide array of bloodborne pathogens, three viruses are commonly linked to tattoos HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Water Tattoos Off
If I Use Drugs How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Hiv
If you inject drugs, avoid sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment like spoons or swabs, as this exposes you to HIV and other viruses found in the blood like hepatitis C.
In some countries, used needles can be exchanged for clean ones at pharmacies and needle exchanges. If you take heroin and share needles, you could consider joining a methadone or buprenorphine programme to reduce your risk of HIV. These opioid substitutes are swallowed as a liquid, reducing your risk of HIV as well as helping you to manage your drug addiction. A doctor or healthcare professional can advise you about the availability of needle exchanges and methadone/buprenorphine programmes in your area.
Another option may be to take pre-exposure prophylaxis . This is when you take HIV treatment before possible exposure to HIV to prevent infection. Its now recommended for people who inject drugs, although its only available in certain countries.
There are other things you can do to reduce your risk of HIV from injecting drugs:
- use sterile water to prepare drugs
- use a new or disinfected container and a new filter each time you prepare drugs
- before you inject, clean the area of your body youre going to inject into with a new alcohol swab
- safely dispose of needles and syringes after one use so you dont use them again, and other people arent at risk of accidental exposure.
If you are having a tattoo or piercing, make sure that a clean, sterilised needle is used.
Can I Get Hiv From Sharing Needles
Yes. Sharing needles or syringes and other injection drug equipment is very risky. Sharing needles is the second most common way that HIV is spread to women in the United States . Any woman who shares needles with someone is at risk for HIV infection, because the needles may have someone else’s blood in them.
Learn more about HIV risk and sharing needles.
You May Like: Tattoo Artist Bloodborne Pathogens Training
How Do You Care For Your Skin After Getting A Tattoo
The healing process for a tattoo can last between two to four weeks. After-care instructions vary among tattoo artists, but they all generally agree with following these strategies. After your appointment, your tattoo will be covered with a bandage or plastic wrapping, which can be removed after about six hours. Wash your tattoo three times per day with unscented antibacterial soap, pat dry with a paper towel, and cover with a thin layer of ointment.
After getting a tattoo, take care to keep the area clean and moist. An occlusive dressing is often applied to protect the skin while the pigment injection sites heal, says Lara Devgan, MD, a top board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. Avoid strenuous activities, profuse sweating, and contact with contaminated environmental exposures such as sand, oceans, and debris.
Some peeling in the early stages of the healing process is normal, but never try to pick off the crusting that will typically show up on the surface, says Viseslav Tonkovic-Capin, MD, a double board-certified Dermatologist based in the Kansas City metro area and editor of DermBoard.org. Until your tattoo is fully healed, you should also avoid taking baths , swimming, tanning, scratching the tattoo, and touching the tattoo without washing your hands.
Check What Ppe They Use
Make sure your tattooist washes their hands and other potentially exposed body parts to reduce the risk of spreading bloodborne pathogens. They should do this before and after putting on nitrile or latex gloves.
Along with gloves, tattoo artists should also wear face masks and eye protection such as face shields or goggles. Exposed body parts should be limited as much as possible, and the tattooist should be wearing clean clothing. Tattooists need to be disciplined in both using the correct PPE and putting it on properly.
The tattooist should also throw away anything that they cant sterilize, such as paper towels and gloves. Needles should go in a proper sharps container. It needs to be covered, protected against leaks, and labeled with appropriate biohazard signs.
If the artist gets any blood on them, they need to wash the affected body part immediately. Any torn or damaged PPE needs to replacement as well.
You May Like: Scalp Tattoo For Thinning Hair
Tattoos And Hepatitis C: What Are The Risks
Arm yourself with these facts before you go under the needle.
Unsterile tattooing can transmit the bloodborne hepatitis C virus , and though it is unclear exactly what percent of people with the virus got it through tattooing, a study last year found that people with hep C were almost four times more likely to report having a tattoo, even when other major risk factors were taken into account. What do you need to know to avoid giving or getting hep C during tattooing? We researched six common questions on the topic and found what might be some surprising results.
How can hep C be spread through tattooing?
Hepatitis C can be spread if poor infection control methods are used. Make sure you are visiting a licensed, professional tattoo parlor. When you receive a tattoo, your skin is being pierced by a needle and injected with small amounts of ink. Make sure that the needle is coming out of a new, sterile package, that the tattoo artist is wearing latex gloves, and that all other tattooing equipment has been sterilized.
What percentage of all people with hep C get it through tattooing?
There is not enough research to determine the percentage of people with hepatitis who got it through tattoos. However, a recent study discovered that people with hep C were close to four times more likely to report having a tattoo, even when other risk factors were accounted for.
7. Surfaces and other areas the artist uses to work on should be cleaned regularly with a disinfecting cleaner.
Can I Get Hiv From A Mosquito
No, it is not possible to get HIV from mosquitoes or other biting and bloodsucking insects. The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten personâs or animalâs blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant so the insect can feed efficiently.
Diseases, such as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through the saliva of specific species of mosquitoes. However, HIV lives for only a short time inside an insect. Unlike organisms that are transmitted via insect bites, HIV does not reproduce in insects. Thus, even if the virus enters a mosquito or another insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit HIV to the next human it bites.
There are several reasons why a mosquito or other insect cannot transmit HIV from one person to another even if there is HIV-infected blood left on its mouth parts: 1) Infected people do not have constantly high levels of HIV in their blood streams. 2) Insect mouth parts retain no blood on their surfaces. 3) Finally, scientists who study insects have determined that biting insects normally do not travel from one person to the next immediately after ingesting blood. Rather, they fly to a resting place to digest the blood meal. Epidemiological studies have shown no relationship at all between HIV and the existence of mosquitos or mosquito bites.
You May Like: Best Lotion For Tattoo Care
How Do You Contract Bloodborne Pathogens From Tattoos
Needlestick injuries are the primary concern when it comes to transmitting bloodborne pathogens. Drug users have a higher risk of disease, and health care workers must take extra precautions when working with needles.
The same is true for tattoo artists. They use a hand-held tattoo machine, which has a needle to puncture the top layer of the skin and inject ink into the next layer, the dermis. The needle moves in and out of your skin rapidly, similar to a sewing machine action, hitting your skin anywhere from 50 to 3,000 times each minute.
The needle forces tiny droplets of ink into the dermis with each impact. The dermis is full of nerves, glands, and blood vessels. Not only does it hurt, but it also makes you bleed.
Contaminated equipment can spread bloodborne pathogens. Your tattoo is an open wound, and there is little interference if a bloodborne pathogen is present in the ink, needle, or another piece of equipment. Any bodily fluid that makes contact with a tattoo can also potentially spread a bloodborne pathogen.
What Else Should I Know
Treatment has improved greatly for people with HIV. By taking medicines and getting regular medical care, HIV-positive people can live long and healthy lives.
People with HIV need a medical care team for the best treatment and support.
If you or someone you know has HIV or AIDS it is important to:
- goes to all doctor visits
- takes all medicines exactly as directed
- goes for all follow-up blood tests
- understands what HIV/AIDS is and how it spreads
- is physically active, gets enough sleep, and eats well
Find more information at:
Don’t Miss: Effects Of Laser Tattoo Removal
Do I Need To Take A Test After Having A Tattoo
If you have done your homework and have checked out the tattoo studio before having your tattoo, there should be no need to have a HIV test following your tattoo. However, if you rushed out to get a tattoo without thinking about it and doing your research, it would depend on what the conditions were.
If the tattoo studio that you used is not the most hygienic and professional, it could be a different story.
If equipment is not disposed of between uses or completely sterilized after use, it may be best to have a test following your tattoo. This will give you the peace of mind that you need.
Myth : Hiv And Aids Are The Same Thing
We get it: HIV and AIDS have been lumped together for so long that many people assume theyre the same thing.
But lets get the facts straight. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, while AIDS is a condition that can develop after HIV has caused serious damage.
You can live with HIV and stay healthy for decades without ever developing AIDS, as long as you get treatment. Otherwise, HIV can progress to AIDS in three stages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention :
Once upon a time, HIV was sort of seen as a death sentence because of that progression to AIDS. But thanks to treatment options that have been developed over the years, most people with HIV never reach a late-stage infection and often have long, healthy lives.
You May Like: Getting A Tattoo On Blood Thinners