Questions to ask "Before" you get a Tattoo!

Before you make the big decision to get a tattoo, it's pertinent that you do your homework. Don't depend on Social Media to guide you through the process, and remember no matter how corny it sounds, talk to your Doctor first to make sure you are a good candidate for getting a tattoo. Here are some matters to take into consideration before you get the colored needles inserted into your skin. Although the results are often beautiful and a wonderful conversation piece, be educated about your choices, and below are the questions that you should ask.  







1. Ask about the pigments and inks that will be used.
Tattoo ink, is not really regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Inks may be made from titanium dioxide, lead, chromium, nickel, iron oxides, ash, carbon black, and other ingredients. Some of the pigments are industrial grade and used as automobile paint if you can believe that?  However, pigments that have a metal base also can cause allergic reactions. The FDA has noted that there’s a huge variety of colorants and carriers being used by different tattoo artist, and some of the colorants are completely unfit for injecting into your skin. Colorants that can double as car paint can increase your risk of infection. So, to lower your chances of getting an infection, ask your prospective tattoo artist about the specific ingredients in the ink that they use, and if they refuse to disclose them, that should be a "Red Flag". You can also check for yourself, that none of the ink’s ingredients are in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s using the "Toxic Substance Portal".





2. Ask if you are able to watch while the Tattoo is being applied. 
For each new client, your artist should use a brand new set of unopened needles. Gloves should be used, and new containers or trays must be used to reduce the risk of infection.  They should also use a heat sterilization machine (autoclave) to clean any non-disposable tools and manually disinfect items such as sinks each time they use them. Even if your tattoo artist complies with all of the above, you must still confirm that they are licensed before consenting to the service.





3. Is your Tattoo artist licensed in "your" state?
Licensing compliance is different in every state. Do your research, and confirm that your artist is licensed in your particular state. That can be done easily by going online at your state's website or calling to reference their license number and/or complaints.


       

4. Ask for the "Patch Test" before you consent to the service.
If your tattoo facility won't perform patch tests, ask your artist for ink samples to bring to a dermatologist who does. Remember to disclose any known allergies to the artist before you sign the consent form.



                               
5. Ask your Doctor if you have been vaccinated against hepatitis B? 
Getting tattooed with needles or equipment that aren’t sterile can lead to various types of infections such as bacterial Staphylococcus aureus infection, Hepatitis B & C, and other chronic infections that can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis. Although these cases may not be as common, the risk is always there, so err on the side of caution, says the Center for Disease Control.





7. Do you feel comfortable with your Tattoo artist?
Talk to your Tattoo artist about your concerns, and if you are uncomfortable with their professional responses, follow your gut, and seek another professional!   Remember this is a permanent mark, that will likely be there for the rest of your life, so proceed with caution, and if you don't feel a connection, run for the hills.  




   
8. Will I regret this in 10, 20, 30+ years? 
“The main reason that patients want their tattoo [removed] is simply regrets,” Michele Green, M.D., a board-certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist in New York City who has specialized in laser tattoo removal for over 15 years, tells SELF. Sometimes a tattoo won’t reflect you as you age. Or maybe you’ll love the tattoo but hate that it’s harder to hide than originally anticipated.  Only you know if you would always treasure a tattoo as a marker of how you felt at one point in life or if you’d want it removed. Since tattoo removal can be wildly painful and cause scarring or infection, and in some cases may not fully erase or remove them, it might be easier to avoid getting one at all; or at the least get them in a spot on your body where you can easily cover it with clothing.  




9. Are you prepared to take care of the Tattoo after the application? 
Taking care of your tattoo properly is crucial for reducing your chances of a negative reaction such as an infection and making your tattoo look as good as possible for as long as possible. Aftercare recommendations vary among tattoo artists and shops, but in general, the Mayo Clinic says that for around two weeks, you’ll need to keep the area clean, moisturize it frequently, avoid exposing it to the sun, avoid submerging it in water, and avoid any clothing that might stick to the tattoo. You should also resist picking the scabs as well.  If you don’t think you’re up for this level of aftercare, you may want to reconsider getting inked until you are.