Though the process of tattooing is legal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that tattoo ink has not undergone any approvals from the agency. Tattoo ink distributors are not required to list ingredients on the bottles and some tattoo artists mix ink themselves for tattooing. Receiving a tattoo from a licensed, professional tattoo shop can reduce the risks and dangers of tattoo ink.
Allergic Reaction
An allergic reaction to tattoo ink is possible when you receive a tattoo, though allergic reactions are rare. Red tattoo ink, because some red inks are made with mercury or cinnabar, is the cause of most allergic reactions from tattoo ink, according to a study published in a 2009 issue of "Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology." If you are allergic to shellfish due to the mercury, tell your tattoo artist before receiving a tattoo with red tattoo ink. While a tattoo is healing, ulcers or a rash may form on your tattoo if you are experiencing an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink. Scabs are normal during the healing of a tattoo and should not be confused with ulcers or a rash on or around the tattoo. If an allergy to ingredients in tattoo inks develops in the future, your healed tattoo may react with swelling, itching or a small rash.
Disease Transmission
Disease transmission is possible with tattoo inks if the tattoo artist is not a licensed professional. Professional tattoo artists disperse ink into disposable caps to avoid contaminating an ink bottle and never place ink that is in a contaminated ink cap back into the bottle. Any leftover ink after a tattoo procedure is disposed into a biohazard trash can to prevent the spread of infection or disease. The needle on a tattoo machine breaks the skin to insert the tattoo ink. If the tattoo ink is contaminated from a previous client's infected blood, it is possible for you to contract diseases such as hepatitis B or C or HIV, according to Mayo Clinic.com. Receiving a tattoo from someone that works outside a tattoo shop, such as in the home or at a party, is not safe and should be avoided to lessen the risk of disease transmission from tattoo ink.
Fading
Tattoo inks are permanent, but can fade if the procedure is performed incorrectly or you neglect the life long care regimen of your tattoo. The tattoo ink is under the skin, so if the skin on top of the tattoo is dry or burnt, the appearance of the tattoo will not be as bright as when you first received the tattoo. Applying sunscreen to block the sun from fading your tattoo ink will help your tattoo appear bright. Avoiding contact with the sun is a life long commitment for your tattoo, not just during the two week healing period.
During the healing period, if you do not follow the aftercare instructions provided by your tattoo artist, your tattoo ink can fade or completely disappear. Picking at the scabs on your healing tattoo or applying products such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide--which are not recommended by professional tattoo artists--can lead to ink loss or fading. When ink loss is due to your negligence, a tattoo artist will charge you a fee to brighten the ink, a procedure called a "touch up".
If a non-professional performs the tattoo, the ink may quickly fade out of your tattoo because the non-professional is not educated in anatomy and is not aware of the depth necessary to insert the ink.
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