Are “Universal Precautions” followed?
These are precautions listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that outline a certain procedure to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids (in this case, blood). If they answer “yes” to this question, it should mean that guidelines for preventing infections are always followed. Most of all, though, use your instincts. If the studio looks unclean or anything looks out of the ordinary, you should trust your instincts and find a better studio. If you decide to get a tattoo at a place that doesn’t adhere to these regulations, you’re putting yourself at risk for getting serious infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. In fact, because of the risk of these infections, the American Association of Blood Banks won’t accept blood donations until 1 year after a person has gotten a tattoo. You’re also at risk of developing skin infections such as impetigo and other complications such as dermatitis (severe skin irritation). If you already have a sk
