Health risks which concern commercial tattooing usually tend to be somewhat exaggerated and certain people will go to great lengths to mount campaigns against tattoo establishments and their presence in their neighborhoods. Despite all this tattoo shops have come a long way from once being a taboo to something that is a fast growing area of commerce and enterprise.

These shops and establishments are now extending into areas that they previously would not have been in. A number of such locations are the different middle-class cities in the United States and the world over. Media establishments have fuelled the association of tattoos with health risks by linking the practice to widely feared diseases and conditions such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.

History has never had a case of HIV transmission occurring through a tattooing that took place in the United States. In contrast to this fact however, more than five documented cases of HIV transmission has been linked to dentists and dental workers.

In reality, there has never been a real documented case of HIV transmission occurring via tattooing anywhere in the United States. On the other hand however, more than five cases of HIV transmission through dentists and dental workers have been experienced.

In regards to hepatitis and tattooing, there are about 14,000 cases of reported hepatitis annually. From that number 12 are associated with tattoos but 43 or more cases resulted from a trip to the dentist. There are stringent safety procedures that are required by law that tattoo studios must follow so any health risks related to tattooing are basically obsolete.

The issues surrounding any health risks that might be related to tattooing are because they involve needles and blood. When tattoo artists follow all the correct sterilization and sanitation procedures, risks for disease transmission are relatively low. If non sterile practices are used then there is a risk of syphilis, hepatitis B, and other diseases.

Infections can occur in new tattoos, especially without appropriate aftercare. Some people also experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks. Although the pigments used may have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for other purposes, the FDA does not regulate tattoo inks. Tattoo artists must also take special safety measures regarding their hands. Gloves help prevent disease transmission from bodily fluids, but bacteria thrive in the warm, damp environment they create. This means that artists must: wash hands thoroughly and often, inspect hands for cuts or sores and cover them with bandages, remove hangnails and keep nails short to prevent punctures to gloves, and refrain from tattooing when experiencing lesions, dermatitis or allergic reactions.

Because of the nature of the rules and safety regulations which usually apply to the practice of tattooing, tattoo parlors tend to be very careful with the issue of providing these tattoos. The health risks described under most circumstances are those which occur in cases where the proper procedures required are not adhered to. As far as the United States is concerned, getting a tattoo is something safe which you should not bother about as long as you a dealing with a safe and reputable tattoo salon.