Risks involved with getting tattoos

Today it seems like every other person you meet has a little (or big) design somewhere on his or her body. Tattoos are more popular than ever, but they're not without risks.

Yes. It's possible, but not likely, especially if you choose a reputable tattoo parlour.

• If we can trust the statistics, getting a tattoo from a legitimate artist in a clean parlour is fairly safe.
• In a study of 500 random tattoo wearers (ages 18 to 50) few reported any serious or long-term medical problems stemming from their tattoos.
• There's not enough research to indicate a link between tattoos and blood-borne diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. That said, many doctors and health organizations believe that tattoos present a risk for transmitting blood-borne diseases, and they suggest erring on the side of caution.
• A 20-year study shows less than one percent of people newly diagnosed with hepatitis C had ever been tattooed. On the flip side, however, one study found that people who received tattoos in a commercial tattoo parlour were nine times more likely to have hepatitis C than those without tattoos.

Though unlikely, other risks range from infection to scarring.

• Choose a licensed tattoo artist who uses sterile tools lowers the risks of infection and scarring.
• While serious diseases and allergic reactions are statistical long shots with tattoos, less serious complications are likelier.
• A recent study of 824 subjects reported that almost a third of tattoo wearers complained of bleeding or itching as the tattoos healed.
• Other risks include scarring and bacterial infections (there have even been some cases of antibiotic-resistant infections traced to tattoos).
• These happen infrequently, but dealing with unlicensed or unclean tattoo artists can increase the odds.
• Tattoos have also been known to spread warts, says dermatologist Carolyn Jacob, MD.
• If the tattoo artist drags a needle through a small wart on the tattoo site, it can spread the human papilloma virus that causes warts to other skin areas.
• Old tattoos can cause problems with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) tests due to the magnetic properties of some inks used decades ago.

No. It may take several painful, costly sessions to remove even a small tattoo, and you could still be left with scarring.

• Laser treatments can destroy tattoo pigments and erase tattoos, but they often leave at least some scarring, and certain ink colours are notoriously difficult to remove.
• Black and dark blue are easy to remove with lasers, while reds, yellows and greens are more stubborn.
• "Fluorescent colours, including teal and yellow, are very difficult, if not impossible, to remove," says Dr. Jacob.
• In selecting a doctor to remove a tattoo, insist on a dermatologist who has vast experience in laser tattoo removal, advises Bruce Katz, MD.
• Hint:  pick a specialist who owns (not rents) several of the costly lasers used to disintegrate inks.
• Don't be surprised if that cute $250 tattoo you got in college takes five sessions and $2,500 to erase.

With all that being said, everyone has the right to express themselves with body art. If you want to get a tattoo, stick with a highly reputable artist. Choose a licensed tattooist who uses disposable needles and clearly shows how the equipment is sterilized. To avoid complications later (if you ever want the tattoo removed), get a small, dark blue or black tattoo.