The first time I got a ‘tattoo’ was in primary school when we used pens and pencils to scribble images on our bodies. Our disappointment was that it only lasted a few hours or got washed away the same day with bathing soap. But now tattoo artists have special equipment to keep impressions permanent on the skin.

But there are many questions surrounding safety of body tattoos, according to health experts.

University Teaching Hospital Dermatologist, Dr Elisah Agaba warns that tattoos can lead to infections whose effects are both short and long term.

"Infections like HIV, and hepatitis can easily be spread by the instruments used for creating tattoos since individuals remain uncertain about the quality of equipment used,” says DrAgaba.

After piercing the skin the possibility of developing localized swelling is high depending on the constituents within the chemicals.

"Localized swellings can develop on the skin which requires special attention before they mature to form scars,” he adds.

In situations where tattooing is unsuccessful, scars left behind require surgery to be cleared and this is very costly.

This according to Dr Agaba can only be accomplished in phases carried out for several weeks or even months.

"The operations are tedious and people with such scars could receive injections on top of operations that are done every month. Sometimes, treatment can go up to 6 months during which time money is spent”

Dangerous constituents

Concerns have also been raised about the constituents of the ink used.

Dr Richard Usabyineza from the Ministry of Health observes that substances used during tattooing contain carcinogenic elements that find their way into the body during the process.

"Some of the components of tattoo paint have been linked to cancer. On exposure, there is a high possibility that these will migrate into the circulatory system,” says Dr Usabyineza.

Dr Usabyineza also points out that besides carcinogens, certain tattoo inks contain components that trigger allergies ‘allergens’ and occasionally first timers find hard time with these.

For example Deogratius Mpagazehe who got a peacock tattoo on his biceps regretted after experiencing a lot of itching in his right arm where the tattoo had been placed.

"When I sought medical attention, the doctor told me that I was allergic to the ink used for the tattoo. It only got better after receiving some anti-histamines,’’ says Mpagazehe.

Dr Usabyineza warns that unless people allergic to tattoo inks avoid exposure to high temperatures, symptoms such as itching and redness of the skin always come up.

"When the yellow ink is exposed to the sun, there is that sensation of itching in the skin that comes along,” adds Dr Usabyineza.

Blood clotting problems

Most studies warn that when people with blood clotting problems get exposure to tattoos severe bleeding is a likely result especially in situations where the skin is punctured.

A 2012 poll survey on tattoos found that at least 20 per cent of Americans who have tattoos include people living with bleeding disorders, a finding that demonstrates the extent of risk as people try to decorate their bodies.

But Charles Bimenyimana a tattoo artist in town points out that much as tattoos are dangerous, majority of side effects result from work done in a non-professional manner.

"Before putting a tattoo on your body, we first ask you if there is any history of diseases such as skin-irritations and other life threatening infections. We are also concerned about the social and emotional risks and it is the first rule for every artist,” he says.

Bimenyimana also adds that although sometimes the equipment can be a risk factor in spreading infectious diseases, clients should demand sterilisation before use.

"Only a few artists who want to save money avoid investing in proper equipment necessary to sterilize materials and such pose a risk to the health of other individuals,’’ he adds.