Body Art Safety

Prepare for Your Appointment

If you’ve decided you want a tattoo or piercing, you may want to run down a checklist before you commit. Think about your future self. Will you still like your tattoo or piercing in 10 years? Think everything through — from the design to the placement to the effects it may have. Once you’re sure of what you want and where, it’s important that you fully understand the procedure and research the shop you plan to go to. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends avoiding tattoos on parts of the body where there is a mole. Tattoos there may make it hard for doctors to tell if the mole is cancerous in the future. The AAD also recommends avoiding getting a tattoo during pregnancy because there is minimal research on the risks posed to unborn babies.

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Review Date: 
July 14, 2015

Last Updated:
July 14, 2015