Body-piercing and tattooing - protecting your health

Body-piercing and tattooing - protecting your health
Date of publication: October 2002

Thinking of having a body piercing? Maybe a tattoo?

It’s your body. It’s the only one you get.

It’s your body, so it’s your choice. So make it an informed choice.

Be aware - any breaking of the skin’s surface means a risk of infection - even invisible amounts of blood can pass on infection.

Some blood-borne infections you can get with tattooing and body piercing:

hepatitis C – can cause long-term illness, liver damage and cancer of the liver – no immunisation, you can be infected without knowing, easily passed from person
to person by invisible amounts of blood

hepatitis B – can result in long-term illness, liver damage and liver cancer – immunisation is available

HIV – the virus that causes AIDS – no immunisation, no cure

STIs - genital piercing may increase your risk of sexually transmitted infections

common bacteria (like staphylococcus – ‘staph’) can also cause nasty skin infections that can damage the piercing or tattoo site.

Tattooing and piercing may also result in scars and disfigurement.

OK, so you’re letting someone pierce your skin. Ask to see the equipment.

How do they sterilise it? Is their whole place clean and well cared for?

Their service should ensure your safety as well as their own – ask if they follow the Ministry of Health Guidelines for the Safe Piercing of Skin.

Tattoo

Tattooing has been part of Maori and Pacific culture for hundreds of years. Bone was traditionally used for piercing the skin, and sometimes still is. So are needles. Whatever is used, you’re letting someone pierce your skin.

Tattoo artists are everywhere now – and so are the risks. If you choose to have a tattoo, choose an experienced tattoo artist with a good, known, clean reputation.

Remember – tattoos are there for life. It would cost you a lot of money and need a specialist to try to remove them.

Consent
You might be asked to give your written consent to the procedure, and if you are under 16 you should take your parent or caregiver along.

Before you go for it

Check:

area is clean and tidy
new clean gloves are worn
packages of sterile needles are opened just before use
the operator wears sterile gloves to handle needles and place jewellery
piercing gun is used only for ear-piercing, and is sterilised between uses
an autoclave is used for sterilisation (stainless steel high-pressure steam cleaner)
cleaning area is separate from studio
used needles are placed in special container
written full after-care instructions are provided.

Also check:

your health status is asked about
your consent is asked for
secure client records are kept.

Do you feel comfortable there? Are you sure this is the place, or the action, for you? Is it you who wants to go ahead with it?
Make sure what you have done is safe for you. Ask lots of questions.

Care of piercings and tattoos
The operator who does your piercing or tattoo should give you after-care advice – preferably written. Follow their instructions carefully.

You are still at risk of infection, scarring or disfigurement.

A piercing may take 6-8 weeks to heal – or even longer. You have to look after it while it’s healing – and one piercing should heal before you have another one.

Sharing jewellery is a no-no! Infections can be passed on. All jewellery should be hypo-allergenic, high quality metal.

Tattoo care includes keeping it out of water (apart from gentle washing!) and out of sunlight while it heals.

Looking after a piercing or a tattoo takes time and attention during the healing process.

Go for advice from the operator, or from a doctor, if you have any problems.

It’s your body – look after it!

Document availability

You can download this pamphlet in PDF format from the Ministry of Health's Health Education website.

Body-piercing and tattooing - protecting your health

Related information

Guidelines for the Safe Piercing of Skin