Body art

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is body art?

Besides traditional tattooing, body art also includes permanent cosmetics (lips, eyebrow, eye liner, eye shadow, post-mastectomy nipple, post-trauma injury camouflage), piercing, scarification, branding, and implants.

2. Is body art safe?

Possible health risk complications of body art include:

• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Bacterial and/or viral infections of the skin or other parts of the body
• Mild to fatal allergic reactions

In addition to the risk of infection and allergic reaction, there is growing concern regarding the toxicity of certain heavy metals and pigments associated with some dyes used in tattooing, including aluminum, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel, selenium, and titanium.

3. How can I reduce the risk to my health?

Health risk is reduced when utilizing a body artist who:

• Practices in a clean and hygienic environment
• Uses safe equipment and inks
• Sterilizes equipment
• Wears a fresh pair of disposable latex gloves

Health risk is also reduced when the person receiving the body art rigorously follows after-care wound protocol.

4. Who regulates and inspects body art businesses?

There are currently no federal or state regulations governing body art businesses. On January 1, 1998, AB 186 (Brown, "California Health and Safety Code," commencing with section 119300) became effective, requiring that the California Conference of Local Health Officers (CCLHO) establish sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, or permanent cosmetics, and that all persons engaged in body art business must register with the county health department. Draft regulations have been developed, but have not yet been adopted by the State Department of Health Services. Therefore, in most counties there are no inspections and there is no enforcement due to lack of regulations.

Sonoma County Environmental Health Division started inspecting body art facilities and using the CCLHO guidelines as a reference document in July 2006.

5. My child wants to pierce or tattoo their body. Can I prevent this?

Existing law (California Penal Code, section 653) provides that it is a crime to tattoo or offer to tattoo a person under the age of 18 years, except when authorized or prescribed by a physician's statement. California Penal Code, section 652, prohibits piercing body parts of minors under the age of 18, unless the parent or guardian is present or the minor provides notarized written consent from a parent or guardian. Local law enforcement investigates such crimes.

 

Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us email.