Safety at work in a tattoo studio

Tattooing is the artificial incorporation of pigment into the dermis where small blood vessels are located. In practice, this means that the needles used in tattooing come into contact with the bloodstream. Therefore, there is a risk of infection – both viral and bacterial infections can occur when tattooing. Poor hygiene in the tattoo studio can have serious health consequences, e.g. B. have an HIV or hepatitis contamination.

What should you pay particular attention to when it comes to security in the tattoo studio ? What measures should be taken to make tattooing safe? In this post we answer these questions. 

Hygienic equipment in the tattoo studio

There are a few important measures that ensure security in the tattoo studio:

• a partition between the tattoo area and other areas in the studio;
• wipeable, easy-care surfaces in the tattoo area;
• electronic faucet that doesn’t need to be touched with hands;
• Hygienic disposable covers for equipment and furniture located in the tattoo area;
• Cleaning plans and certificates on the wall.

There should be a well-equipped hand washing area in the tattoo area, in which there is: a soap dispenser, a disinfectant dispenser, skin care products, disposable towels, a waste container.

The work area in the tattoo parlor should be kept dust-free and free from contamination. Therefore, the entire tattoo area should be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each working day. In addition, the tattoo artist’s workplace must also be cleaned and disinfected before each session. 

Einwegmaterialien im Tattoo-Studio

It should be emphasized that tattooing can only be done with disposable gloves. Professional tattoo artists can B. classic Use nitrile gloves that offer you a high level of grip thanks to their micro-roughened surface. Important: during tattooing, the tattoo artist may only touch objects that are necessary for his work. 

For safety reasons, clothing should also be protected from viruses and bacteria by aprons and cloths. After each use, the textiles should be washed thermally (90 degrees C). Dirty aprons and towels should be transported in a sealed plastic bag to prevent contamination.

Professional tattoo studios use disposable needles and tubes as well as reusable needles and tubes that are sterilized after each use. Autoclaves, ultrasonic cleaners and hot air sterilizers are used for sterilization. Do you want to feel confident while tattooing? Ask the tattoo parlor which disposable materials are used and how reusable supplies are sterilized.

Safe tattoo colors

It should be emphasized that safety in the tattoo parlor is very important. For safety reasons, tattooing must take place in a hygienic and clean environment. When choosing the right tattoo studio, however, you should not only consider hygiene aspects. Also pay attention to the tattoo colors!

In 2020, the DIN standard “Tattooing – Safe and hygienic practice (DIN EN 17169)” came into force. In addition, there are also legal requirements for tattoo inks that have been in force in all EU countries since the beginning of 2022. Tattoo inks that contain carcinogenic or mutagenic substances were banned in Regulation (EU) 2020/2081.

The ink bottles in the tattoo studio must be closed well and protected from dirt so that their contents are not contaminated by bacteria. The correct storage of the tattoo colors is very important – they should be stored in a cool and dry place. After each use, the paint bottles should be closed immediately. The colors may only be diluted with sterile water.