Hepatitis C from tattoos?

[Sevaede]

Yes, but you can also get infections from piercing guns (which I would NEVER recommend the usage of) and anything else that requires you to stick a needle in your body.

That's why you go to a reputable tattoo or piercing artist. Someone who is gonna use brand new needles. Oh, and when someone marks you, make sure they do it with a toothpick and not whatever the ink actually sits on. Autoclave, etc.

[junescrater716]

It's only if the needle is clean and whether or not you take care of it. Otherwise you should be fine. My mom and sister both have tattoos and they took good care of them and they're fine.

[dukedogsmom]

The place I go to looks like a hospital. They are very clean and responsible. I've been wanting to get my other ankle done. It's going to be Duke related.

[Vela]

It doesn't matter whether or not you take good care of the tattoo, you ca get HIV or hepatitis from dirty equipment, EVEN if you take good care of your own tattoo.

[NoahsMommy]

That's why you go to a reputable tattoo or piercing artist. Someone who is gonna use brand new needles.

Exactly! My tattoo artist only uses NEW needles for each client, for each tattoo.

You have to be smart getting things like tattoos and piercings...do the research and ask your artists lots of questions, especially the origin of their needles.

[buttercup132]

That's why you go to a reputable tattoo or piercing artist. Someone who is gonna use brand new needles.

Exactly. Plus most people get shots against that.

[Glacier]

Exactly. Plus most people get shots against that.

There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C, only Hep A & B.

Hep C can sometimes be treated with a long course of Interferon treatment, but there is a highly selective protocol to get into a treatment program. Interferon treatment produces some significant side effects. It's a chemo drug so you can get all the usual cancer treatment side effects. A good friend of mine went through it and was essentially out of it for a year, plus in the States your health insurance may not cover it and it is expensive.

More info:
http://familydoctor.org/071.xml

[Vela]

Exactly. Plus most people get shots against that.

You can't get "shots" against hepatitis C and HIV=) You can get hepatitis A and B vaccinations, but those aren't the potential killers anyway and the vaccines don't always work. My mother is a nurse practitioner and her speciality is hepatitis C, she is one of the leading practitioners in the country on it and it kills as many people as AIDS every year, the general population just seems to hear less about it.