Spring Break
Tattoo artists advise students to keep their body art clean
Research says risks are things of the past
Laura Cordle
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: News
Ten to 20 years ago tattoos were thought to be dangerous, but Steve May, owner of Defiance Tattoos, said research has debunked some of these rumors.
Some of the main concerns of tattooing were ink poisoning, Hepatitis B and the possibility of a staph infection.
"There is no such thing as ink poisoning; it is totally fictitious," he said. "In the 1930s Hepatitis B was the main concern of tattooing; it's still possible of getting, but it is not very possible, and it never was really possible, even in the dirtiest of circumstance."
Hepatitis B could only be contracted by unsterile needles used to tattoo the skin, he said. Now tattoo parlors are under police regulation to make sure health conditions are met to lessen the chances of contracting diseases.
"Another way to contract diseases is by not taking care of your new tattoos," said Scott Voltz, junior art history major, who wants to someday be a tattoo artist. "By not washing it, not cleaning it at all, going tanning or swimming while the tattoo is healing also can infect it.'
Jeremy Kales, owner of Smokin' Tattooz, stressed how important it is to keep new tattoos clean.
"You (have to) keep washing your new tattoo after you get it," Kales said. "Every couple of hours just slick on some tattoo-goo or Neosporin. Not cleaning it could infect your skin or at best make your tattoo look bad."
Because of the lack of possibility in contracting diseases from getting tattoos, people today are more concerned about other causes of tattoos, such as the amount of pain the tattoo will cause or regretting their choices.
"I was most nervous about it hurting, because I heard getting one on the ribs would be painful, and I was concerned of maybe regretting it," said senior accounting major Kelli Raines.
Contact news correspondent Laura Cordle at lcordle@kent.edu.
Some of the main concerns of tattooing were ink poisoning, Hepatitis B and the possibility of a staph infection.
"There is no such thing as ink poisoning; it is totally fictitious," he said. "In the 1930s Hepatitis B was the main concern of tattooing; it's still possible of getting, but it is not very possible, and it never was really possible, even in the dirtiest of circumstance."
Hepatitis B could only be contracted by unsterile needles used to tattoo the skin, he said. Now tattoo parlors are under police regulation to make sure health conditions are met to lessen the chances of contracting diseases.
"Another way to contract diseases is by not taking care of your new tattoos," said Scott Voltz, junior art history major, who wants to someday be a tattoo artist. "By not washing it, not cleaning it at all, going tanning or swimming while the tattoo is healing also can infect it.'
Jeremy Kales, owner of Smokin' Tattooz, stressed how important it is to keep new tattoos clean.
"You (have to) keep washing your new tattoo after you get it," Kales said. "Every couple of hours just slick on some tattoo-goo or Neosporin. Not cleaning it could infect your skin or at best make your tattoo look bad."
Because of the lack of possibility in contracting diseases from getting tattoos, people today are more concerned about other causes of tattoos, such as the amount of pain the tattoo will cause or regretting their choices.
"I was most nervous about it hurting, because I heard getting one on the ribs would be painful, and I was concerned of maybe regretting it," said senior accounting major Kelli Raines.
Contact news correspondent Laura Cordle at lcordle@kent.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Anim Poster
posted 4/02/09 @ 6:39 PM EST
Thank God, break's over. Didn't know what I was going to do without my daily dose of The Stater.
Today's Question: Is the reporter capable of capturing a direct quote, or has The Modern Day Student's complete disregard for the English language expanded from the written word to the spoken word as well?
Exhibit A:
"There is no such thing as ink poisoning; it is totally fictitious," he said. (Continued…)
Anim Poster
posted 4/08/09 @ 6:56 PM EST
Amen, Steven. And thank you for following up. It may be the only way to reinforce to our young writers that, as much as they may hate the thought of it, there are established traditions in place that exist solely to protect the integrity of the craft of journalistic reporting. (Continued…)
Allison
posted 4/09/09 @ 12:20 AM EST
Dear Anim Poster,
Like Ms. Cordle, I am a budding journalist. I am always looking to improve my writing and greatly appreciate constructive criticism. (Continued…)
Anim Poster
posted 4/09/09 @ 5:04 PM EST
First -- to Arcygenical: Did you *read* Steven May's response on his feelings about being misquoted?? Yeah. Clearly, we *can* know -- he told us. Run along. (Continued…)
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