standards for premises than about art technique and infection control
standards.
Arriving for your procedure
What your body artist needs to know
The body artist wants you to be comfortable and safe. At the same time they need to
take care of their own interests and health, so there are a few things they will ask you
to do, such as:
o Sign a statement saying you are over 18, if you don’t have proof of your age.
o Give them your medical history, particularly any infectious skin diseases or
communicable diseases you may have.
o Tell them of any metal or chemical allergies you have.
o Let them know if you have any problems with skin healing, especially if keloid
scarring occurs (keloids are raised scars, more common in people with dark
skin).
o Talk about the style of body art and where you want it placed. Remember that
body art that is very noticeable may hurt your chances of getting some jobs.
o Tell the body artist whether you have had alcohol or drugs that day. Most body
artists will not work on people who are under the influence.
Your health and safety
Make sure that the body artist:
o Knows the Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures and can talk
about it with you.
o Has a clean and tidy, well-lit studio. (The body artists should be clean and tidy
too!)
o Washes hands at the beginning and end of the procedure, and whenever there
is a need to take a break in the procedure, such as answering the phone.
o Wears new, disposable gloves throughout the procedure. Once the body artist
puts on gloves, nothing should be touched except your skin, the needle or
tattooing machine, or the jewellery. A good body artist will change gloves many
times during the course of a procedure.
o Uses sterile equipment. The body artist should be able to explain how
equipment is sterilised and have a functioning autoclave steriliser on the
premises.
o Assures you that any jewellery used for body piercing is new – recycled
jewellery can have tiny scratches, which can irritate a new piercing and cause
infection.