That's Fit

Do you know the health risks associated with getting a tattoo? According to the FDA--and a recent article on MSN Health and Fitness--one in four Americans between the ages of 18 (the legal age to get a tattoo in most states) and 50 has a tattoo, but chances are not all of them are not aware of the health risks of getting inked.

This article had personal appeal to me: I have four tattoos. I made sure before I got the first one to look into any possible health or side effects before committing to one. Although tattoos are no longer "permanent" the idea of them still is, and the effects to overall health can certainly be.

Anyone remember the Pamela Anderson debacle? She got a tattoo, and by allegedly sharing a tattoo needle with Tommy Lee, she got hep C. She underwent outpatient treatment for the disease which required a lot of very powerful medication along with constant visits to the doctor. Hep C is potentially life-threatening but many otherwise healthy people live with the disease.

Because a tattoo breaks the skin anyone who gets one could potentially expose him- or herself to infection, along with the aforementioned hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis and HIV. According to the article staph infections are also a possibility.

One doctor rightly noted, however, that even the most sanitary of environments cannot protect against allergic reaction to the dye used for tattoos. Allergic reaction is the most common side effect of tattooing.

Luckily, if the environment is a sterile one and the parlor is up to code, using proper procedures, your tattoo experience should be safe. So while there are risks associated with getting a tattoo, careful selection of a tattoo parlor run by professionals should make the pain of getting a tattoo your main concern.