Tattoo machines 'damage health'

Tattoos are becoming increasingly popular

Hand-held machines used to etch semi-permanent make-up and tattoos into the skin may provide a serious risk.

A year-long Health and Safety Executive investigation found certain types of micropigmentation equipment cannot be properly cleaned.

Inspectors found that although needles are routinely replaced between customers, pigment residues may be left on other parts.

The HSE is issuing new guidance to health and beauty salon inspectors.

The machines work by injecting pigment into the surface layers of the skin.

HSE inspector Helen Thackray said: "Since pigment may mix with blood and body fluids, this leaves serious implications for cross infection between clients, including HIV or hepatitis."

She added that there was very little information about the risks available, and salon owners may not realise that they were technically responsible for the health and safety performance of their equipment.

Alert raised

The investigation was started when the use of a system called Goldeneye Basic was taken out of use because it could not be properly cleaned.

As a result, all known suppliers of various machines in the UK were investigated to establish if they could be cleaned effectively.

Some 13 suppliers have 21 different types of equipment, varying in design, and where defects were found improvement notices were served.

One other machine - Reza - was voluntarily taken out of use.

Professor Norman Noah, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines, said inadequate cleaning could make transmission of potentially fatal infections very easy.

He said: "I cannot stress too strongly the importance of using equipment that is properly designed for the job.

"Unfortunately the three most important risk infections - hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV - are so highly contagious that simple cleaning and disinfection are inadequate for parts such as needles which are in direct contact with the skin.

"It would be tragic if someone dies or becomes seriously ill after what after all is basically a fashion procedure."