You probably know that a body tattoo is injected into the skin by
using a machine with a sharp needle and ink. What you probably don't
realize, is that a tattooing machine can pierce the skin as many as
3,000 times a minute. Each one of these holes can be as deep as 1/16 of
an inch. These open wounds scab over, but they can still cause health
problems... and maybe even death. Before you even consider injected in
this fashion, you need to know the deadly dangers of body tattoos.
As
far as tattoo parlors are concerned, it's the responsibility of the
operator to make sure his/her equipment and shop are clean and sanitary.
It's also their responsibility to use hygienic procedures. Tattoo
parlors are governed by state and local laws to do so. But, these laws
aren't always strictly enforced. So, no matter if you have your neighbor
give you a tattoo in his basement, or you visit a legitimate tattoo
parlor, your new
body marking can be a deadly danger.
While some tattoo parlors do pay strict attention to sanitation, they are in the minority...
One
of the most common health problems with body tattoos is allergic
reactions to the ink. Body tattoos can also cause skin infections and
chronic skin ailments. Examples of recurring skin ailments include
psoriasis and dermatitis. Body tattoos can also cause tumors which may
be benign, or even malignant.
If these deadly dangers don't make you
think twice about getting a tattoo, then consider the fact that getting a
body tattoo puts you at the risk of contracting tetanus, HIV, AIDS,
Hepatitis B and C, and even Syphilis. Hepatitis C alone claims more than
10,000 lives every year!
The results of research performed by Dr.
Bob Haley and Dr. Paul Fischer of the University of Texas Southwestern
Medical School shows that getting body tattoos at parlors may well be
the "number one distributor of Hepatitis C." The doctors found that
getting tattoos at an establishment "accounted for more than twice as
many Hepatitis C infections as injection-drug use." The research also
shows that people who get a body tattoo in a parlor are "nine times more
likely to get Hepatitis C" because of infected needles and unsanitary
conditions. This is the reason that people who get a body tattoo aren't
allowed to donate blood to the American Red Cross for an entire year.
Medical experts recommend that anyone who gets a tattoo get tested for
Hepatitis shortly afterwards.
And finally, if you still aren't
convinced about the deadly dangers of body tattoos, think about this:
the ink that's injected in your skin contains metal filaments. If you
need to have an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), these bits of metal
can cause you to feel a burning pain during the test. Some hospitals and
testing locations refuse to do an MRI on people who have body tattoos.
That means, if you have a tattoo, and your doctor recommends an MRI, you
may not be able to have this life-saving test performed.
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