Tattoo and body piercing shop owners, take sterilization very seriously. Tattoos can transmit HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and MRSA (flesh-eating disease). A sterile workstation is essential for any tattoo parlor. Almost all of the equipment used is sterilized using an autoclave. All unused tattoo equipment should be wrapped in a plastic film that will not get touched during the session.
Equipment
Because tattooing and piercing involve penetrating the skin, body art, and tattooing, businesses must take the proper precautions to prevent infections between clients. This includes sterilizing all of the equipment and supplies used during a session. While a simple spray or wipe can kill most viruses and fungi, it cannot kill all bacteria, including spores. That’s why it is insufficient to sterilize equipment that will come into direct contact with a client’s skin. Instead, tattoo and piercing shops should use an autoclave. Autoclaves for tattoo shops are airtight sterilization machine that uses high temperatures and pressure to destroy microorganisms, including bacteria. It is commonly used in hospitals and laboratory settings but is now available in tattoo parlors. They must test their autoclave regularly to ensure it’s functioning correctly. In addition, they should sterilize all the disposable items they use during sessions, such as sterile gloves, piercing bars and tattoo tubes, needles, and ink caps.
Ventilation
It is essential to have a ventilation system that keeps bacteria and other contaminants from blowing around. It will keep your tattoo station clean and sterile and protect you from getting sick after your appointment.
All of the tools and instruments used must be sterilized before each client. Many use autoclave for salons to sterilize their equipment. These are machines that use high-pressure and steam to kill bacteria and germs. Other sterilization methods are chemical baths, barricades, and UV light “sterilizer” boxes, but these methods are not as effective at killing germs as an autoclave. Tattoo artists should always wear disposable gloves and never contaminate them by touching something dirty. For example, if they need to answer the phone or take out the trash while working on a client, they should remove their gloves and put on fresh ones. They should also use a disposable tube when applying Vaseline to the client before their tattoo.
Cleanliness
Keeping up with cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing equipment is essential for salons. A clean salon will protect the client and prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and C and HIV. All nondisposable tattoo devices and instruments should be scrubbed with soapy water, disinfected, and sterilized inside an autoclave to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause infections and disease. To avoid contaminating each other’s equipment and materials, all tattoo artists should have specific work tables, chairs, and cabinets for dyes, instruments, and single-use articles. Chemical spill kits are also essential to any tattoo studio as they help avert disaster when accidents occur. These kits contain large rolls of wipes to cover a wide area quickly, and they can be used as an alternative to paper towels, which may leave behind lint and residue that is hard to get rid of.
Education
While correct sterilization techniques may seem complicated and time-consuming, keeping up with these procedures is vital for tattoo and piercing artists. When not done correctly, germs can contaminate the skin and cause an infection after the procedure. In addition to proper sterilization, tattoo and piercing technicians should educate their clients about aftercare procedures. They should also ask their clients about preexisting skin conditions, such as a rash, atypical mole, or a scar. Tattoo artists should also always wear clean examination gloves. A tattoo shop should use a routinely tested sterilizer to ensure it works correctly. The best option for sterilizing nondisposable equipment is an autoclave which heats the tools to a high enough temperature to kill bacteria, viruses, and spores. Makeshift sterilizers, such as pressure cookers or toaster ovens, are unacceptable. Also, a tattoo shop should only touch contaminated items if they throw away gloves and wash their hands before handling uncontaminated items.
