City streets and festival grounds remain hotspots for risky tattooing, know this before tattooing

KOTTAYAM: Unsafe tattooing practices, which pose serious health risks including the transmission of deadly diseases such as AIDS, are rampant on city streets and at festival grounds in the district. Despite a decision made three years ago mandating licensing and inspection for tattoo artists and studios, no effective action has been taken against unlicensed tattoo studios.

Tattooing continues to be done in unsanitary conditions and without proper safety standards. The surge in tattooing among the new generation has heightened concerns about the risks associated with this. Repeated use of the same needles can increase the risk of transmitting diseases, including AIDS. Many of the 'tattoo artists' operating on the streets are migrant workers. Tattooing is also being done in barbershops.

There has been no inspection of such places. Inspections should be conducted under the supervision of a committee comprising the Health Inspector, an officer from the District Chemical Analytical Lab and an officer from the Pollution Board. However, no inspections have been carried out to date.

Department of Health emphasizes that tattooing equipment and ink must be approved by the Drug Control Department and only disposable needles and tubes should be used. The tattooing area must be maintained as clean as an operating theatre and used materials should be disposed of per biomedical waste management regulations. Tattoo artists are required to use clean gloves and perform tattooing with the utmost care to prevent potential health hazards.