In recent years numbers having a body piercing or tattoo have increased dramatically, particularly amongst younger people.
Areas pierced and the types of attachments are becoming more unusual. Even if the piercing is undertaken hygienically, certain sites on the body can cause more problems than others. Infection is a common complication of mouth and nose piercings because of the millions of bacteria that live in those areas. Serious risks associated with such activities, which can be comparable to minor surgical operations, must be strictly controlled.
Other body piercing activities also becoming more popular include therapeutic treatments like acupuncture and cosmetic treatments such as electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up. Whichever treatment you choose, all types of skin piercing can be extremely risky if the proper precautions are not taken.
Things you need to consider:
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are the tattooist and the premises registered with the council? NEVER have a tattoo done by someone who is working illegally from home. By law, their certificate must be clearly displayed with the tattooist's photograph
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you must be 18 years or older to have a tattoo. There are no exceptions to this. The police and the council will prosecute anyone who breaks this law. Just like buying alcohol, the responsibility is on the tattooist to ensure they have made reasonable checks to ensure the person is over 18. Official evidence must be provided, such as a passport or driving license with photo ID
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the tattooist must ensure you have no medical conditions that will increase the risk of complications occurring. These checks are vitally important and must be recorded and signed by the customer
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does the premise look and smell clean and tidy?
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is the tattooist washing their hands regularly? Wearing disposable gloves does not replace hand washing