Your body is in risk while getting a tattoo

More than 40 million Americans have some type of tattoo & the popularity is increasing day by day. But people who are thinking about getting a tattoo should slow down & think twice. In most states & cities of United States, you need to be 18 or have a parent's permission to get one. There are multiple risks that should be considered first before making this very permanent decision. 

Different studies have shown that some pigment migrates from the tattoo site to the body's lymph nodes that contain special cells to trap bacteria or cancer cells traveling through the body in lymph. It is not known if this ink migration has health consequences.

Dark-skinned people have a great risk for thick scars (keloid) after its removal or from the tattooing process itself. Keloid formation is more common in dark-skinned people.

Allergic reaction to the dye used in the process can also occur. There is no way to predict who will have an allergic reaction to tattoo dyes. Allergic reactions can include ulcers, weeping, lumpy & itchy skin, burning, & sensitivity to the sun.

Through a dirty needle hepatitis B or C can easily be transmitted to the body. These very serious infections can damage your liver & are the most common causes of cancer of the liver. On rare occasions, you might get syphilis or tuberculosis while being tattooed. Again HIV infection from non sterile instruments spreads among tattooist. Blood flows into the hollow needles & can contaminate any part of a needle or instrument.

Sometimes, swelling or burning in the tattoo site can occur when a person goes under magnetic resonance imaging procedure. The process of tattoo removal is difficult. Laser removal usually involves multiple treatments & visits & insurance rarely covers the cost, which can be more than hundreds of dollars per visit. Many tattoos do not come off completely leaving the person with a shadow, visible remnants, pigmentary changes (typically, hypopigmentation), or scarring.