Tattooing

Health Risks of Tattooing

A tattoo needle breaks the skin, so you can get a bacterial or fungal skin infections or have an allergic skin reaction. If infection prevention and control practices are not followed you could also be infected with a blood-borne disease such as HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. You can protect yourself from hepatitis B by being vaccinated. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C or HIV.

What to Look for Before Getting a Tattoo

It is important to get a tattoo from a studio inspected by public health. Toronto Public Health inspects all known tattoo studios annually to make sure they are taking the right steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. You can search previous inspection results on BodySafe.ca or contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 if you are uncertain a studio is inspected or would like to know about its inspection history.

Before receiving a temporary tattoo, confirm with the artist that the ingredient para-phenylenediamine (PPD) or hair dye was not added to the ink or the paste. The use of PPD in cosmetics that are applied directly to the skin (such as with “black henna” temporary tattoo ink) can cause serious allergic reactions and are banned from sale in Canada.

Lower the Risk of Infection

Go to a studio that is inspected by your local public health unit. Your artist should undertake the following infection prevention steps as well:

  • Wash hands with soap and water or use a 70% alcohol hand sanitizer and put on new gloves before starting the tattoo procedure. If the tattoo artist has to stop tattooing at any time (e.g. to answer the telephone)the artist should clean their hands and put on new gloves before continuing with your tattoo.
  • Use a disposable, single-use razor if a part of your body needs to be shaved.
  • Apply an antiseptic such as 70% alcohol before the tattooing begins. If your skin is visibly soiled, the artist will clean your skin with soap and water before the applying antiseptic.
  • Use only single-use disposable stencils to transfer the tattoo outline onto your skin.
  • Use only new, sterile single-use needles. You should be able to watch the artist open the package in front of you.
  • Throw used razors and needles immediately into an approved sharps container and not into regular garbage. The sharps container cannot be discarded into regular garbage.
  • Use sterile, individually packaged equipment such as tips, grips and tubes. The package should be opened in front of you.
  • Sterilize instruments using a sterilizer. Sterilizers are to meet Health Canada and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards.
  • Glass (hot) bead “sterilizers”, UV “sterilizers”, chemi-claves, ultrasonic cleaners, pressure cookers, microwaves glutaraldehyde or boiling water are not acceptable methods of sterilization.
  • Have the sterilizer tested using a “spore test challenge” that is sent to a laboratory at least once every two weeks to ensure it is working properly.
  • Items sterilized in the studio must be placed in a sterilization pouch with a chemical indicator.
  • Some artists may purchase instruments as pre-packaged sterilized from a manufacturer and may not require a sterilizer.
  • Some tattoo machines use needle cartridges.
    • The tattoo needle cartridges are purchased pre-packaged, sterile and discarded after use into an approved sharps container.  The sharps container cannot be discarded into regular garbage.
    • Needle cartridges are required to have a membrane to prevent blood and body fluids from escaping the cartridge.
  • Cover the tattoo machine and the cord with a single-use plastic film that is discarded between clients.
  • Use only unused pigments and trays. The ink caps should be cleaned and disinfected before use.
  • The artist should pour the ink from the bottle into disinfected ink caps right before starting your tattoo. If additional ink is required, a new ink cap must be used. Leftover inks and used caps must be discarded after each client.
  • Dispense all lotions and creams in a way that does not contaminate the remaining lotion or cream (no “double dipping”).
  • Cover your tattoo with a non-stick bandage when the tattoo is finished.
  • Avoid drinking, eating and smoking while tattooing.
  • Explain to you how to care for your new tattoo and give you written instructions. The artist should tell you to see a health professional if your tattoo develops pus or becomes red, swollen or tender. These might be signs that your tattoo has become infected.

What to Expect from My Tattoo Artist

  • Your tattoo artist should ask you if you have any allergies to pigments, latex, iodine (antiseptics) before getting started.
  • Your tattoo artist will provide you with information about the procedure and associated risks.
  • Your tattoo artist should be willing to answer all your questions about the procedure and any infection prevention steps taken.
  • The tattoo studio should be well-lit, clean and tidy.
  • Your tattoo artist should ask you for your contact information for record-keeping purposes.
  • Your tattoo artist should deny you service if you have visible skin irritation such as a rash, are under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Report a Complaint

A complaint about infection control practices in a tattoo studio, in the City of Toronto, can be made by using our online BodySafe Complaint Form, emailing BodySafe@toronto.ca or by calling 416-392-0658. All complaints are confidential and can be anonymous.