What You Should Know About Tattoos

I will try to be as impartial as I can, what is sortand needles." Individual pain tolerance, the size and
of hard I have the tattoo bug....but I do not wanttype of tattoo, and the skill of the artist all
to go around telling people what I think is best,contribute to the amount of pain. Location also
getting a tattoo is a serious thing, is somethingmakes a difference - skin that rests right over a
that you will be with you, engraved in your bodybone is more sensitive.
for quite a while...so I decided to give you guysCaring for a New Tattooo Remove the bandage
not a speech but to do more or less andone to two hours after completion.o Wash gently
encyclopaedia kind of thing....I hope you all do notwith cool or lukewarm water, using a mild
fall a sleep while reading it.antibacterial soapo Pat dry. (Don't rub!)o Apply
Tattoo Basicsvery thin coats of antibacterial ointment and work
Artists create tattoos by injecting ink into ainto the skin. Too much ointment can pull colour
person's skin. To do this, they use an electricallyout of the tattoo.o Avoid soaking the tattoo in
powered tattoo machine that resembles (andwater or letting the shower pound directly on it.o
sounds like) a dental drill. The machine moves aAvoid the sun, sea and swimming pull until healed.o
solid needle up and down to puncture the skinRefrain from picking at scabs. They will fall off as
between 50 and 3,000 times per minute. Thethe tattoo heals, usually in one to three weeks.o
needle penetrates the skin by about a millimetreUse ice packs if swelling or redness occurs.o Call a
and deposits a drop of insoluble ink into the skindoctor if you have even the slightest signs of
with each puncture.infection.
The tattoo machine has remained relativelySome health & Safety Precautionso Checking
unchanged since its invention by Samuel O'Reilly ingloves for pinhole tears during tattooing, since
the late 1800s. O'Reilly based his design on thepetroleum-based ointment erodes latexo Pouring
autographic printer, an engraving machine inventedink in advance, using clean tissue to open ink
by Thomas Edison. Edison created the printer tobottles during tattooing and preventing nozzles
engrave hard surfaces. O'Reilly modified Edison'sfrom touching contaminated surfaceso Patting
machine by changing the tube system andtubes dry after rinsing during color changes -
modifying its rotary-driven electromagneticnever blowing excess water from themo
oscillating unit to enable the machine to drive theSpraying liquid soap into a tissue, not directly onto
needle.bleeding area, since blood can become airborne
Modern tattoo machines have several basicwhen the spray hits ito Giving pens used for
components:o A sterilized needleo A tube system,drawing on the skin, which should be medical
which draws the ink through the machineo Angrade and sterile, to the client
eletric motoro A foot pedal, like those used onThe tattoo artist must:o Wash hands thoroughly
sewing machines, which controls the verticaland often.o Inspect hands for cuts or sores and
movement of the needle.cover them with bandages.o Remove hangnails
Creating the Tattoo: Sterilization & Prepand keep nails short to prevent punctures to
Workgloves.o Refrain from tattooing when experiencing
A tattoo machine creates a puncture woundlesions, dermatitis or allergic reactions.
every time it injects a drop of ink into the skin.Identifying a Safe Tattoo Parlour
Since any puncture wound has the potential forOther than the use of universal precautions and
infection and disease transmission, much of thelaws requiring minors to have parental permission,
application process focuses on safety. Tattoofew regulations cover tattooing. Licensing usually
artists use sterilization, disposable materials andinvolves completing a health department course
hand sanitation to protect themselves and theiron infectious disease transmission and passing an
clients.exam, but no governing body inspects tattoo
To eliminate the possibility of contamination, mostbusinesses. Laws allow anyone to buy a machine,
tattoo materials, including inks, ink cups, glovesget a license and start tattooing whether or not
and needles, are single use. Many single-use itemsthey have any artistic ability, a situation that
arrive in sterile packaging, which the artist opensprofessional tattoo artists object to.
in front of the customer just before beginningHere are some basic steps for choosing a safe
work.tattoo parlouro Look around to see if the studio is
Before working on customers, tattoo artists washclean and professional.o Ask questions: Is there an
and inspect their hands for cuts and abrasions.autoclave? Are the needles and other materials
Then, they should do the following:o Disinfect thesingle-use? Are EPA-approved disinfectants used?
work area with an EPA-approved viricide.o PlaceDo the tattoo artists wear gloves? Professional
plastic bags on spray bottles to preventartists won't mind the questions.o Watch the
cross-contamination.o Explain the sterilizationartist and pay attention to health and safety
process to the client.o Remove all equipmentprecautions.o Watch the artist open all needles
from sterile packaging in front of the client.obefore beginning work.o Ask about the staff's
Shave and disinfect (with a mixture of water andprofessional memberships. These are not required,
antiseptic soap) the area to be tattooed.but artists who participate may have the most
How Much Does it Hurt?current information about trends, innovations and
People describe the sensation of getting a tattoosafety issues.
as similar to bee stings, sunburn or being pinched.Ok, now you have a tattoo!!!!!
Some say they experience a slight tickling or "pins