Tattoo secrets revealed: What Pamela Anderson wishes she had known

March 15, 5:22 PMHealth Care ExaminerDoctor Lissa

Previous Next

7 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Health Care Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Granuloma: a chronic inflammatory lesion that spreads

Last time I mentioned Tattoo Barbie, the 50 year old toy that teachs girls how cool it will be when they can get a real tattoo. of their own  For now they can just practice.  Well, tattoos are not child's play.  And complications from tattoos are the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about.  Sure most people want to think that they're sexy and a sign of creativity or a quirky personality.  But like the Sneeches, when everyone has one, isn't it just, well, average? 

The evidence has been mounting for the past decade that tattoos are not as safe as most believe-even when done in commercial tattoo establishements.

Tattoo inks are classified as cosmetics, so they aren't regulated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The pigments and dyes used in tattoo inks aren't approved for injection under the skin. Long-term effects of these are unknown. They are also not regulated in most states.  So, the risk those who wish to release their inner creativity is greater than most believe. 

Specific risks of tattoos include:

• Blood-borne diseases. If the tattoo equipment is contaminated with the blood of an infected person, you can contract a number of serious blood-borne diseases, which include hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis and HIV — the virus that causes AIDS. Pamela Anderson says she contracted hepatitis C this way.
• Skin disorders. Your body may form bumps around tattoo ink, especially if your tattoo includes red ink. Tattooing can also cause areas of raised, excessive scarring (keloids), if you're prone to them.
• Infections. Tattoos can lead to local bacterial infections. Typical signs and symptoms of an infection include redness, warmth, swelling and a pus-like drainage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked clusters of potentially serious antibiotic-resistant skin infections to unlicensed tattoo artists who don't follow proper infection-control procedures. Some antibiotic-resistant skin infections can lead to pneumonia, blood infections and a painful, flesh-destroying condition called necrotizing fasciitis.
• Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes, particularly red dye, can cause allergic skin reactions, resulting in an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This may occur even years after you get the tattoo.
• MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup may cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases — such as when a person with permanent eyeliner has an MRI of the eye — tattoo pigments may interfere with the quality of the image.

If you develop an allergic reaction, infection or other skin disorde, call your doctor immediately.  Don't just go on the internet and read about how someone you don't know worked throught it.  You may need antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, permanent tattoo removal is required to resolve the complication.

Still want one? Well, next time, let's look at things you should consider before you get it.