Today’s advancement in technology and awareness has paved the way for such things as FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations even for Tattoos. Although the inks used for tattoos are subject to FDA approval, the FDA however does not regulate their use, the pigments in them or even the actual process of tattooing. Instead they are controlled by local laws.
Now, with the sharp rise in tattoo popularity, the FDA has been started taking a closer look at the health and safety associated with it. Some of the main issues being considered are: infections resulting from tattoos, the effect of tattoo colors in the body and the tattoo removal procedure.
One major health hazard associated with tattoos is that of infections. Using equipment that is not properly sterilized can lead to the transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis. Even if the needles used are new or clean, it is important that the equipment holding needle is also sterilized properly – that is sometimes a challenge due to its design. In addition, the tattooed area must be given proper care for the first week or so after the pigments have been injected in order to avoid infections.
Another problem associated with tattoos is allergic reaction to the pigment. Although this is rare, it can cause severe discomfort and when it does occur. It can be especially troublesome as the pigments are hard to remove. Sometimes people develop allergic reactions even to tattoos they have had for a long time!
Some may even develop Granulomas around the tattooed area. Granuloma is a term used for a mass of immune cells that develops when the body’s immune system tries to wall off something foreign that it is unable to eliminate. It is a special type of inflammation that can occur in a wide variety of diseases.
There have been reports of people with tattoos also having complications with MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The pigments used in tattoos are said to interfere with the quality of the image produced and some even reported swelling or burning in the tattooed area when they underwent an MRI scan.
One of the problems associated with tattoo removal is that complete removal of the tattoo without scarring the tissue may be impossible, despite technological advancements in laser tattoo removal. Also, it is reported that keloids (scars that grow beyond normal boundaries) occur more frequently as a result of the tattoo removal process.
