Safe Tattoos and Body Piercing
Risks
Unsterile piercing or tattoo equipment (including ink) can put you at risk of contracting serious liver diseases.
- Hepatitis B and C viruses are spread through blood, and can survive for days, weeks or even months outside the body. If you have a tattoo or body piercing with equipment that has not been properly sterilized, you may be at risk.
- If you are doing a piercing or tattoo at home, even boiling or flaming a needle will not kill the virus.
- Re-used tattoo ink can also put you at risk of hepatitis B or C.
Prevention
Body art shouldn’t be a life or death decision – take the time to ensure that your tattoo or piercing is the only ‘mark’ your artist leaves on your body.
- Make sure that the studio you choose for your tattoo or body piercing uses an autoclave to sterilize its equipment after every client, and that the machine is regularly serviced. An autoclave is the only machine that can kill the hepatitis B and C viruses by using super-heated steam.
- Ask your tattoo/piercing artist about his/her knowledge of hepatitis and HIV transmission risks.
- Ensure your artist wears latex gloves, works on a covered surface and uses single-use needles and fresh ink every time.
