The skin is the body's largest organ and most basic protection from infection. There is risk for infection anytime the skin is punctured, pierced, cut, burned, or otherwise compromised.  Therefor, like many things in life, getting a tattoo, body piercing, or other invasive form of body art, carries with it some risk.  The client is most at risk when the body artist departs from precautions meant to minimize the possibility of disease transmission. Deviation from the vigilant use of standard precautions also places the artist at risk.

 Because blood-borne diseases and standard precautions are covered in other pages on this site, this section focuses on bacterial infections which may result from body art procedures.

 There are many types of microorganisms which may infect a body art site either during or following the procedure, and as a result many different kinds of illnesses can occur. Viral diseases are discussed on the "Blood-borne pathogens" page. Listed here are some of the more common bacteria which have been found to infect tattooing and body piercing sites:

Staphylococcus aureus - Infection with this organism may be extremely problematic because some strains have developed  resistance to antibiotic treatment. Some studies have found that this organism is responsible for the vast majority of infected body piercings. Infection with this bacteria may lead to sepsis and toxic shock syndrome (both of which are serious & possibly life-threatening occurrences).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Ear piercings involving the cartilage have frequently been reported to have infections resulting from this bacteria. What makes this bacterial infection so bad is that often the infected tissue must be cut away, leaving the person with some deformity of the body part.

Group A beta hemolytic streptococci - Have you ever had strep throat? Maybe it didn't seem like a big deal to you at the time, but this is a very dangerous microorganism.  In many people, the body's response to infection with this organism is so fierce that it actually damages the heart and kidneys.  And you can't live without those...nope...uhuh.

Less common infections occurring during or following body art procedures and documented in the medical literature have been caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis), Clostridium tetani (tetanus), and Treponema pallidum (syphillis).

Aftercare of the Body Art Site - Clients should always be instructed on the proper care of their new body art site. There are two main objectives for aftercare. The first, and definitely the most important, is to protect the site against infection, and the second is to protect the artwork.

Fresh piercings, tattoos, brandings, etc., are basically wounds, and the first objective should be accomplished by proper wound care. This involves keeping the site clean, which can be accomplished by washing with soap and water. Skin should be thoroughly dried by patting.

Though medicated ointments, such as Neosporin, are not  necessary in most cases, they are not contraindicated either. Using alcohol or other harsh chemicals to clean the site is also unnecessary, and may be damaging to the site. Clients should avoid wearing tight clothing against the site, and should avoid any activities which may irritate the new site (such as having sex with a genital piercing).

If the first objective of protecting the site against infection and promoting proper healing is accomplished, the second objective of protecting the artwork should naturally follow.

Being a professional in any field requires a person to recognize the limits of his or her duties, responsibilities, abilities, and training.  Clients may contact you following any procedure to ask about symptoms they may be experiencing. To protect your client's health, and to protect yourself from liability for "practicing medicine without a license," never give advice of a medical nature to a client who contacts you with complaints or questions. Clients should be instructed to contact their health care providers with any of the following symptoms:

Itching, swelling, burning, redness, or pain surrounding a tattoo, piercing, or branding site

Pus or oozing fluid surrounding a tattoo, piercing, or branding site

Prolonged healing of the site (many medical conditions, like diabetes, may contribute to this problem, and only a health care provider is qualified to assess that situation)

Fever, fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea with onset following tattooing, piercing, or branding

Any other symptoms of concern to the client

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*Disclaimer: This site is intended for educational purposes only & should not be regarded as expert medical advice though every attempt has been made to provide current & accurate scientific information. The author & owner accepts no liability for misuse of the content of this site.