The US Food and Drug Administration says tattoos may cause infection ever since they became aware of a problem after testing inks of in-home use tattoo kits marketed by White and Blue Lion, Inc.
The FDA has confirmed bacterial contamination in unopened bottles of the company’s inks.
“FDA has confirmed one case of skin infection involving a consumer that used this company’s tattoo products,” said Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., Director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, using these inks for tattoos could cause infection.
Katz went further, “and we are aware of other reports linked to tattoo products with similar packaging.”
There are millions of people in the world with tattoos but Katz says that this does not mean that getting a tattoo may not involve some risk no matter where you live.
Tattoos pose a risk to anyone
“Tattooing poses a risk of infection to anyone, but the risk is particularly high for those with pre-existing heart or circulatory disease, diabetes or compromised immune systems.”
She said that the infection is usually at the site of the tattoo and include excessive pain at the site, weeping wounds, swelling, redness and the area could even become permanently scarred.
Much worse is the possibility of infection getting into the bloodstream causing sepsis with fever, shaking and rigors which requires hospitalization and possible surgery.
Product recalled but risk still there
On July 2014, the FDA recalledWhite and Blue Lion, Inc. r but indicated that they were still concerned about that professional tattoo artists may be purchasing contaminated inks from other distributors.
The FDA indicated that consumers should look out for inks that do not have a brand name, carry a dragon logo, and/or are missing the name and place of business of the manufacturer or distribution; are sold singly and in kits containing anywhere from five to 54, or perhaps more, bottles of inks of various colors; and are marked with “Lotch” [sic] and Batch numbers, and “Date produced” and “Best if used by” dates.
“If you’re buying tattoo inks or getting a tattoo from a professional tattoo artist, you should first examine the products to determine whether the inks or kits meet the above descriptions,” Katz cautioned.
“Reporting an infection to FDA and the artist is important in order for FDA to investigate, and to enable the artist to take steps to prevent others from becoming infected,” said epidemiologist Katherine Hollinger, D.V.M., M.P.H., from the Office of Cosmetics and Colors.
Those who experience any of the above mentioned symptoms are asked by the FDA to visit an emergency room particularly if they are already ill and have fever.
