Can You Get Hiv From A Tattoo Or Body Piercing
While the risk of HIV from tattooing and body piercing is considered low, there are certain factors that can raise the risk of infection significantly. Body art, which includes tattooing and body piercing, has become increasingly popular among older teens and young adults. As the art form continues to move from the fringes into the mainstream, many have begun to wonder whether it poses any risk of
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Body art, which includes tattooing and body piercing, has become increasingly popular among older teens and young adults. As the art form continues to move from the fringes into the mainstream, many have begun to wonder whether it poses any risk of infection from bloodborne diseases such as HIV or hepatitis C.
Given that tattooing and piercing both draw blood, it may seem to some to be a reasonable concern.
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.
Can I Get Hiv From Getting A Tattoo Or Body Piercing
There are no known cases in the United States of anyone getting HIV this way. However, it is possible to get HIV from a reused or not properly sterilized tattoo or piercing needle or other equipment, or from contaminated ink. Its possible to get HIV from tattooing or body piercing if the equipment used for these procedures has someone elses blood in it or if the ink is shared. The risk of getting HIV this way is very low, but the risk increases when the person doing the procedure is unlicensed, because of the potential for unsanitary practices such as sharing needles or ink. If you get a tattoo or a body piercing, be sure that the person doing the procedure is properly licensed and that they use only new or sterilized needles, ink and other supplies.
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Effects Of Breastfeeding On Tattoos
You will be thinking what takes place if you breastfeed on tattoos. These are tattoos you probably got prior to nursing. possibilities are the tattoos a good way to alternate in phrases of appearance due to pregnancy. The body undergoes many modifications, accordingly may stretch and discolor your tattoos. Breastfeeding is likely to swell up your breasts, particularly if you are engorged. This, in turn, causes temporary distortion of tattoos positioned at the breast.
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 person’s or animal’s 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.
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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.
How To Stay Safe From Bloodborne Pathogens
You and your artist must follow safety procedures before, during, and after the tattooing process. The most important aspect of this is working with a certified professional tattoo artist. Amateur tattooists using home tattoo kits are at a much greater risk of spreading bloodborne pathogens than professionals, primarily due to training and government regulations.
Because they come into contact with blood in their work, tattoo artists need to be certified to perform the service. At a federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets standards for bloodborne pathogen training for all states. There are 28 states that use their own OSHA-approved requirements.
Certification programs are available through various providers, often businesses in the health care field, for a fee. Courses consist of training followed by a certification exam.
You can perform the training in person, but online BBP training programs are offered for affordable and convenient certification. To maintain their certifications, tattooists need to retake the training every year.
Working with a certified artist is the most effective way to stay safe from bloodborne pathogens. There is still room for error with professionals, so use the following tips to make sure you minimize the risk of infection.
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Can You Get A Tattoo While Pregnant
While tattoos were once a rarity among women, in recent years it has become increasingly commoneven trendyfor ladies to sport ink. According to a 2017 survey, 33% of women reported having a tattoo. If youre among the one in three whove gotten a tat, or if youve always thought of doing so, theres one condition that may bring your inky dreams to a halt: pregnancy.
Wondering about the rules around getting a tattoo during your nine months of baby-making? Heres what you need to know.
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So What Are The Signs Your Tattoo Is Infected
Pus draining
Seeing pus draining from the tattoo site is the most specific sign that your tattoo is infected. Tonkovic-Capin says youll definitely want to visit the doctor if this occurs in order to determine if the infection is one that can be treated at home or not.
You may try to wash it with liquid antibacterial soap and apply over-the-counter double antibiotic ointment three-to-four times a day. If you develop a fever, then you should go to the closest emergency room, advises Tonkovic-Capin.
Redness and warmth
If you experience spreading pink discoloration or the feeling of pulsatile heat radiating from around your tattoo, you may have an infection, says Devgan. Make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for a topical or oral antibiotics.
You can have swelling and warmth even without infection, says Tonkovic-Capin. But if it persists for more than three days or gets worse, then it is an infection. And you guessed it: See a doctor.
Pseudomonas bacterial or fungal infections
These occur when you tattoo your toes, feet, or ankles.
Pseudomonas bacterial infections are more common if you wear old, smelly, sweaty sneakers without socks, and fungal infections are more common if you have athletes foot/toenail fungus, or walk around barefoot in the gym or public showers, where this fungus likes to lurk, explains Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, California, in private practice at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care.
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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.
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.
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If I Have Sex With A Commercial Sex Worker Will I Get Hiv
Unprotected sex places you at a high risk of contracting the virus whether it is with a commercial sex worker or anybody else. Statistics from the Caribbean and several other parts of the world have shown that there is a higher prevalence or occurrence of HIV in commercial sex workers . Therefore by having unprotected sex with a commercial sex worker the risk of contracting HIV is high.
Whats The Difference Between Hiv And Aids
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. And people with HIV do not always have AIDS.
HIV is the virus thats passed from person to person. Over time, HIV destroys an important kind of the cell in your immune system that helps protect you from infections. When you dont have enough of these CD4 cells, your body cant fight off infections the way it normally can.
AIDS is the disease caused by the damage that HIV does to your immune system. You have AIDS when you get dangerous infections or have a super low number of CD4 cells. AIDS is the most serious stage of HIV, and it leads to death over time.
Without treatment, it usually takes about 10 years for someone with HIV to develop AIDS. Treatment slows down the damage the virus causes and can help people stay healthy for several decades.
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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.
Why Transmission Is Unlikely
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the risk of HIV through tattooing or body piercing is considered low to negligible.
While the CDC accedes that there is a theoretical risk of transmission, there has yet to be a single documented case of HIV by any form of body art.
This is largely due to the fact that transmission could only occur if:
Within the context of body art, the likelihood of these conditions being satisfied as incredibly slim. The opportunity for infection is nowhere near as strong as, say, injecting drug use in which HIV-infected blood is delivered directly into a vein.
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Back Tattoos And Epidurals
Since the back is such a broad canvas for tattoo art, its a common spot to get inked. But a back tattoo may spell trouble for getting an epidural during delivery.
Some anesthesiologists will not place an epidural through a tattoo on your back, Demosthenes noted.
However, with a little research, you should be able to determine ahead of time whether your hospital or birthing center performs epidurals over back tattoos, and, if not, what other options are available to you.
As for the safety of getting an epidural with ink on your back, Demosthenes said its essentially a non-issue: Most of the evidence is that it is safe to have an epidural with a back tattoo, so theres little to worry about there.
How It Could Be Transmitted
HIV can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids, such as blood and saliva. The tattoo process involves several needles piercing the skin and inserting ink into the dermis which is the second layer of skin.
If this is done using a gun that hasnt been disinfected or needles that arent disposable, there could be a possibility of infection. However, there are no known cases of this happening in the US.
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What Hepatitis Can You Get From Tattoos
As tattoo needles puncture the skin and cause bleeding, Hepatitis is amongst the likeliest viral infections to be transmitted. You should be alarmed if the tools arent properly sterilized and the overall establishment has poor infection control standards. The most common way Hepatitis C spreads is through the shared use of contaminated needles and equipment used for drugs. Sharing personal items that may come into contact with blood such as a razor or even a toothbrush can also spread HCV.
Approximately 2.7 3.9 million Americans are currently living with a chronic form of this infection. For those who arent familiar with the effects of the Hepatitis C virus , it causes a chronic liver infection which can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, and even liver failure.
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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.
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