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Nothing travels like bad news. Recently, the tattoo industry got the kind of news that affects every tattoo artist and consumer throughout the world.
The FDA has discovered contaminated ink that has been sent to countless tattoo shops. Once this ink enters into your body, things can go from bad to worse.
Want to learn more about this story, including how to keep yourself safe? Just keep reading to discover the answers!
What Is “Contaminated Ink?”
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The phrase “contaminated ink” is nice and scary. But it leaves an obvious question: just what is the contamination, anyway?
Long story short, this refers to any tattoo ink that contains microorganisms. And the process of getting a tattoo means that you may be at risk of letting these dangerous microorganisms inside your body.
If you’re wondering how dangerous “dangerous” really is, we’ve got the scoop below.
What Problems Does It Cause?
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First of all, anyone getting contaminated ink in their bodies is at risk here. This isn’t one of those cases where you have to be especially allergic or sensitive to particular substances.
Anyone can get an infection from contaminated ink. And this can lead to lesions, rashes, and other skin issues in areas where the ink came in contact with your skin.
More concerningly, this can sometimes lead to permanent scarring on your body. It’s a pretty terrifying thought: people go to tattoo artists to help make their skin even more beautiful. And contaminated ink puts them at risk of walking away with rashes, lesions, and scars.
Where Does It Come From?
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Many tattoo lovers understandably panicked when they first heard about contaminated ink. Fortunately, we’ve got some good news: the FDA has already narrowed down some of the manufacturers that are to blame for this.
So far, the contaminated ink culprits include Scalp Aesthetics, Dynamic Color, and Color Art. Furthermore, we should emphasize that only certain ink colors from these companies have been found to contain contaminated ink.
As scary as it is to discover such a threat, it’s good to know that it’s being contained. And there are additional measures you can take to stay safe if you so choose.
How Can I Be Safe?
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In the short term, it’s pretty easy to stay safe from contaminated ink. Make sure you go to only reputable tattoo artists and voice your concerns before getting any work done. They should be able to ease your fears and show you that they aren’t using any of the contaminated colors.
In the long term, it will be even easier: an outbreak such as this is almost certainly going to lead to more intense tattoo regulations in the United States, Europe, and beyond. While this will hopefully keep consumers safe, it may change how tattoo artists do business over the next few years.
Contaminated Ink: Final Thoughts
Now you know more about the contaminated ink. But do you know how to stay on top of all the breaking news from the world of tattoos?
Here at Tattooing 101, we bring you the best in breaking news and breathtaking art. Be sure to bookmark our page today to stay on top of all things inky!
