CLEARFIELD COUNTY - Chances are you may know someone who has a tattoo.
In fact, stats from a Harris Interactive Survey says one out of five adults have a tattoo.
A tattoo is a permanent symbol it shows your personality or something you believe in.
There are no regulations on the tattooing industry in Pennsylvania.
"Whenever there are people that are within their homes and they don't care at all about what they are doing.... it's so frustrating" said tattoo artist and studio owner Bryce Stucke.
Nearly anyone can get the equipment they need to become a tattoo artist and legitimate artists say that could cause a permenant condition.
"Well about 90% of new hepatitis c cases are from people sharing needles" sayd Jennifer Hamilton of the Clearfield, Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission.
The ink does not bleed, the blood borne disease can be caused by getting a tattoo with an unsterilized needle.
"A lot of people that are tattooing out of their homes and stuff, they are not being knowledgeable at all. They don't care and they are not thinking about that" said Stucke.
Bryce Stucke has owned his tattoo studio in Clearfield for twelve years inking thousands of people.
" I have clientele that I still tattoo from when I first started. I couldn't imagine doing something where i gave someone hepatitis" he said.
When you sign the consent form and sit in a chair here for a tattoo a legimate artist is educated in blood borne pathogens, cpr and the latest sterilization techniques.
"You don't have to do that stuff, you don't have to do any of it, but why wouldn't you want to make sure you are doing the cleanest tattoos possible?" he said.
By doing an online search, WTAJ News found for just under $60 you can buy a tattoo kit with three machines, all the ink colors one could want and needles.
Cleanliness can cost the customer more than just a few dollars.
Once a month, in DuBois and Clearfield, the Clearfield, Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission offers free screenings.
"You shouldn't have been worried about the cost. You should have looked at the work and the cleanliness of the shop, that stuff should be very important" aid Stucke.
Officials reccomend if you did not get a tattoo in a repritable place get tested for Hepatitis c.
"There really are no symptoms they call it the silent killer" said Hamilton.
In fact, stats from a Harris Interactive Survey says one out of five adults have a tattoo.
A tattoo is a permanent symbol it shows your personality or something you believe in.
There are no regulations on the tattooing industry in Pennsylvania.
"Whenever there are people that are within their homes and they don't care at all about what they are doing.... it's so frustrating" said tattoo artist and studio owner Bryce Stucke.
Nearly anyone can get the equipment they need to become a tattoo artist and legitimate artists say that could cause a permenant condition.
"Well about 90% of new hepatitis c cases are from people sharing needles" sayd Jennifer Hamilton of the Clearfield, Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission.
The ink does not bleed, the blood borne disease can be caused by getting a tattoo with an unsterilized needle.
"A lot of people that are tattooing out of their homes and stuff, they are not being knowledgeable at all. They don't care and they are not thinking about that" said Stucke.
Bryce Stucke has owned his tattoo studio in Clearfield for twelve years inking thousands of people.
" I have clientele that I still tattoo from when I first started. I couldn't imagine doing something where i gave someone hepatitis" he said.
When you sign the consent form and sit in a chair here for a tattoo a legimate artist is educated in blood borne pathogens, cpr and the latest sterilization techniques.
"You don't have to do that stuff, you don't have to do any of it, but why wouldn't you want to make sure you are doing the cleanest tattoos possible?" he said.
By doing an online search, WTAJ News found for just under $60 you can buy a tattoo kit with three machines, all the ink colors one could want and needles.
Cleanliness can cost the customer more than just a few dollars.
Once a month, in DuBois and Clearfield, the Clearfield, Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission offers free screenings.
"You shouldn't have been worried about the cost. You should have looked at the work and the cleanliness of the shop, that stuff should be very important" aid Stucke.
Officials reccomend if you did not get a tattoo in a repritable place get tested for Hepatitis c.
"There really are no symptoms they call it the silent killer" said Hamilton.
Comments
"...DO NOT MARK YOUR SKIN WITH TATTOOS...." LEV. 19:28, THE HOLY BIBLE.
Elijah G.
February 20, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.