Assessment of the level of knowledge of body art professionals on the safe use of inks

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, the term tattoo refers to the process by which a pigment is introduced into the skin using metallic and disposable needles, with the aim of producing permanent figures. Most pigments used in inks have harmful chemical compounds whose safety is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge of body art professionals about the safe use of inks.

Methods: A questionnaire was designed divided into three sections: a first part for the sociodemographic characterization of the tattoo artists and their motivation, as well as the variable hygienic and sanitary conditions of the place where they are tattooed, a second for the identification of the most frequent aspects of the activity and a third for determining the level of knowledge of the tattoo artists about the activity they carry out. This questionnaire was applied to 52 professionals from the western region of Cuba.

Results: A predominance of male tattoo artists was found, aged between 25 and 30 years and with empirical training. The majority of the premises visited did not comply with the required hygienic-sanitary measures. Tattoos predominated on legs and arms, in which the colors black, red and blue were used. There is a lack of knowledge among the artists surveyed not only with the art itself, but with safe and ethical health standards.

Conclusions: It is necessary to control and regulate activities related to
the development of tattoos in order to guarantee their safe practice.