CORRECTION: Under the photo I made the statement "All of these conditions can be transmitted during the tattoo if the process is not done..." I should have made the distinction that DIABETES, PSORIASIS and ECZEMA are not transmittable conditions, just conditions of great concern during application and healing. I apologize for any misunderstanding!

This article was shared on MY pro's FB page. (Thanks!) Thanks for clearing that caption up :) (I was going to mention that.) I would like to add to this if I may? (Im not stepping on toes, just wanting to further promote your point) MANY other health issues pose risks here also. (Well, technically ALL could, but I want to mention something that I have PERSONALLY dealt with during tattoo situations-for a lack of better words. PS- I work in the medical field and have my fair share of tattoos and piercings, so Im not just spouting ;) .) (And, I know "short and to the point", but I want to be thorough. Sorry in advance.) MEDICATIONS!!! I can't stress it enough. (Im going to throw alcohol in this "topic" as well, just to save space and time.) Even if clients are required to disclose any meds/drugs they are on, and sign... People lie. Fact of life. And MANY people filling out that form dont stop and THINK about the 600mg ibuprofen they took for their back ache this morning. Or the fact that they put down a 12 pack or a few shots the night before. (Unless of course the form specifically reminds them.) Now they are in your shop looking for a tattoo a few hours later. (I think a review course on Pharmocology would be very helpful for artists, by the way.) Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammitory drug), that works by opening the blood vessels (vaso-dialation) and allows for better circulation, hence the reduced inflammation. It also has a blood thinning property. This leads to the next thing; BLOOD THINNERS (re: and all heart patients.). My own Mom wanted a tattoo for years, but was always afraid. It wsnt until AFTER 3 open heart surgeries and a Coumadin (amoung 13 OTHER) Rx later, she realized she may not live as long as she would like, and had best get moving on her desires. She came to me to "hook her up" with an artist. Enter here: Not a SINGLE [PRO] artist in my county, or tri-county area that would touch her. 1. They didnt want to deal with the risks involved to HER health, and 2. They didnt want to see her waste her money on a tattoo that was just going to purge the ink from all the bleeding. VERY respectable of them. I had to go half a state away, to my current artist, who agreed, but made THOROUGHLY certain she understood ALL the risks (I already did). There were EXTRA forms signed. We even had our attorney draw up a paper stating she understood and released him of ANY liability should something go wrong. She signed, he (artist) signed, I signed, and our attorney CAME WITH (friend of family) and singed as witness. $150 and a unicorn on her inner wrist later, she is satisfied and there were NO (I mean ZERO) setbacks during or after. The "Scratchers" are in it for the hobby, and the MONEY. (Not all, but most. ALL around here.) Case in point; (Again, genuinely sorry for the length!) Do you truly think a scratcher would have gone through ALL that trouble to help her out (and to cover all his bases!). Absolutely NOT. A true Pro loves the field but also has a genuine caring for his/her clients and WANTS them to be safe, as well as a satisfied customer. It plays (or SHOULD play) a HUGE role in one's final decision when choosing an artist. If they [the potential artist] jumps at the oppertunity to ink someone, without blinking an eye, even after they have BEEN informed of the client's condition, STEER CLEAR, because they obviously DONT care, and are concerned with nothing more than a quick buck. Nor are they probably worried too much with the effects on the client after they walk out, inked up. Don't just settle for the first "artist" in the phone book that says they can fit you in this afternoon. Russian Roulette. Honestly. (Off my soap box now. Sorry so long winded; again, just wanted to be thorough and help to advocate your "Find a true pro" point!) Great article!!! :)

Yes, Stacy, it IS the mark of a professional to have each client complete a release form where many questions regarding medications, health concerns, etc are addressed. We review each one of ours and discuss with our clients how medications, skin conditions, etc can be of concern. It's disappointing to see how few people understand the lifelong implications of improper tattoo procedure. Getting it cheap could prove to be deadly. Thank you for your support in spreading the word! SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL TATTOOING!