All You Need to Know

• What are the health risks of piercings?

  Body piercing is when a hollow needle is pushed through the skin, making a hole which jewellery can be pushed through. It's become very popular and there are lots of piercing studios available, but it's minor surgery that breaks the skin, so there's always a risk of infection or injury. 

  The first thing to do is to make sure the studio you plan to use is registered. This ensures the body piercer is adhering to health and safety laws and will keep their studio to the correct level of cleanliness. 
  
  Possible health risk always include:

  • Allergic reactions to the jewellery
  • Severe swelling and inflammation around the jewellery site
  • Jewellery embedding in your skin, or moving over time
  • Scarring
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Piercing of cartilage leading to deformity, infection or blood poisoning
  • Blood infections such as HIV/Hepatitis

  Always make sure the piercer has asked you for your medical history before the piercing so that they have the information to be able to advise you whether the piercing will be safe. 

  Find out the facts about body piercing here 

• What are the health risks of tattoos?

  A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on to your skin using inks pricked into the top layer of your skin with needles in a hand held machine, or with one larger needle if it's hand poked. 

  Tattoos breach the skin, which means that however clean the studio is, there is always a risk of infection and possible complications. These could be:

  • Allergic reactions to inks
  • Skin infections
  • Scarring and raised inflammation
  • Blood borne diseases

  If you experience a bad reaction to your tattoo you may need medication or other treatment. 

• How do I know if a studio is clean and safe?

  Hygiene and safety should be a top priority when you choose which studio to get your tattoo or piercing. A studio with a good reputation will adhere to strict cleanliness standards to prevent infections and diseases. All studios should use disposable equipment, meaning gloves, needles, ink cups and have a clean working environment. 

  Every UK studio must register with Environmental Health and have an inspection where they will get a certificate which must be on display in the premises. If you don't see this, avoid the studio as you cannot guarantee they are being safe. 

  It's worth doing your research on the studio, and the piercer or tattooist before you book in with them. You can check:

  • Read online reviews
  • Look at portfolios of their work online
  • Speak to other people who have had work done by a tattoo artist or piercer
  • Check local authority licensing registers for the studio
     

  Find out more about studios and the law

• Tell me about tattoo aftercare

  To keep your tattoo in the best condition and prevent it from getting infected it's important to follow the advice of your tattooist. 
  
  Generally, tattoos all follow a similar healing journey:

  • Dressing/Covering - Your tattoo will be covered by a dressing or medical adhesive that looks like clingfilm, which is designed to stay on for several days. 
  • Oozing - You will notice fluid oozing from your tattoo which is a mix of blood, plasma and excess ink.
  • Cleaning - When it's ready to remove your dressing, you can gently wash your tattoo with warm water and fragrance-free soap before patting the area dry with a clean towel. 
  • Moisturise - After allowing the skin to dry you can apply whichever ointment your tattooist recommends. Redness will start to fade and you may notice some scabbing over the area. 

  If your tattoo becomes more red or swollen, then you may have an infection. Go back to your tattooist, or book an appointment with your GP or local walk-in centre to get advice. 

  Ask 111 for advice if your tattoo doesn't look or feel right

• How can I look after my piercing?

  To help your new piercing heal and to avoid infection, it's important to keep it clean. 

  Always wash your hands before touching your piercing and follow these steps:

  • Leave your new jewellery in for at least 6 weeks before attempting to change it with other pieces of jewellery to allow the new wound to start to heal well. 
  • Gently wash your piercing with fragrance-free soap and water once a day.
  • Thoroughly rinse the piercing after you've washed it. 
  • Use a petroleum jelly like Vaseline and apply a very thin coat over the opening of the wound to keep it moist, this will help it heal faster. 

  Keep an eye out for infection. If it gets sore, inflamed or oozes yellowish liquid you may have an infection and will need to book an appointment to see your GP or go to the walk-in centre for advice. 

  Find advice about oral (mouth) piercing aftercare here

• My tattooist/piercer made me uncomfortable, what can I do?

  While most tattoo artists and body piercers are professional in their conduct and want to keep you safe, it's useful to know what is normal and what isn't when you go to a studio, especially if it's your first time. 
  
  Here are some quick safety tips:
  
  What is usual practice: 

  • You may need to remove clothing depending on the area you are having a tattoo or piercing. You should be offered something to protect your modesty, like nipple covers, plastic aprons, tissue or a privacy screen.
  • Your tattooist/piercer may need to gently touch you, move parts of your body or ask you to adjust clothing to be able to access the part of your body to work on.  
  • There may be potential for the artist to gently lean or accidentally nudge on a body part as part of the process, they should check in with you and make sure you are comfortable.
  • Although there can often be 'banter' between an artist and their customer, this should be light-hearted and non-offensive.  
  • After a very long tattoo session, you may be the only person left in the studio. You should always have the option to bring a friend so you feel safe. 

  What isn't acceptable: 

  • It's not expected to remove clothing fully and not be offered something alternative to cover you up. 
  • It's not acceptable for an artist to grope or touch any part of your body that isn't being pierced or tattooed.  
  • The tattooist or piercer should never mount the bed, be on top of you or pin you down to reach any body part. 
  • A tattooist/piercer should never comment sexually on your body or appearance, directly ask you about your relationship and sex life or make suggestive comments about any staff or customers.   
  • It's not normal for you to be encouraged to come to an empty studio to be alone with a tattooist/piercer, or be unable to bring along a friend. 

  If you notice behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable, don't be afraid to speak up and you have every right to end the session. If you have been a victim of sexual harassment by a tattooist or piercer, Victim Support offer advice and support on how to report it.  

  Find out how to report sexual harassment

• Do tattoo removals work?

  Tattoos can be removed gradually over a series of sessions using a laser. The laser breaks down the inks in the tattoos which are absorbed into the bloodstream and passed out of the body. 

  The price range can start from £50 for a single session for a small tattoo, to more than £1000 for larger tattoos over several sessions. It's not usually offered on the NHS so it can be costly. 

  Find out more about tattoo removals