The legal age to get a tattoo without parent permission is 18. So where are teens getting them? There's been a birth of in-house tattoo parlors and their requirements are virtually null. State and county law require tattoo parlors to follow certain precautions to prevent blood-borne diseases, but those requirements aren't enforced on individual artists or those who are aspiring to be one. Staff infections, hepatitis B and C and AIDS are among the serious illnesses that those seeking tattoos are exposing themselves to. With tattoo equipment available on the Internet and in the malls, it seems anyone can be a tattoo artist. It is strongly encouraged to only patronize reputable tattoo parlors who practice clean and sterile procedures and who don gloves and take the health side of tattooing seriously.
The Capital Article 17 September 2012
Risks and Precautions of Tattoos
