My boyfriend is going to get a tattoo on his birthday in a couple of months, but I keep warning him about Hepatitus. My mom's a nurse and has told me about it, but how common is it to get hepatitus through tattoos? I told him I'm not going to even kiss him until he gets tested for it! Also, what effects does Hepatitus have and can you get them just as easy through peircings? Any info could help! Thanks!
Well, if you go to a reputable tattooist who uses sterile "Use once" kits or obviously sterilized kits then the risk for Hep C is almost nil.
Use common sense, when you go in and see the place, is it clean looking? Are the tables clear of debris and junk? Is the artist removing packaged equipment? Did he/she wash their hands first and don gloves?
If you got a guy that is drinking beers and has a smoke hanging from his mouth and who has greasy dirty fingers and hands and picks up devices out of a drawer that has obviously NOT been cleaned much less sterilized, then RUN AWAY!
Posts: 9088 | Location: PA, USA | Registered: 06-05-02
Getting a tattoo can be perfectly safe and clean with little to no risk of infection. It can also be a dirty affair if the tattooist does not use clean materials or procedures. As Sherasi said, use common sense. Check the place out. Talk to others who have been tattooed there, or other places. I know lots of people with tattoos, but I don't know of anyone who's gotten HepC from it. You're more likely to get HepC from a cafeteria or country club!
The only really bad thing about tattoos is that they're addictive.
Posts: 4539 | Location: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
*LOL* Yeah, that's what everyone keeps saying, that tattoos are addictive. I hope that's not the case w/my boyfriend! No offense to anyone w/tons of tattoos! Me, personally, I don't think I could get one just b/c of the fact that I couldn't wash it off, I'd feel dirty in a sense. I don't think that way about people that have them, it's just my personal preference.
Also, what effects does Hepatitus have and can you get them just as easy through peircings? Any info could help! Thanks!
