FDA Warns, Tattoo Ink can Cause Infection Even in the Cleanest Conditions

About 14 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo, according to 2013 statistics from the Pew Research Center. 

New safety information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) touches on the dangers of tattoo parlors. Research shows that even in the cleanest environments, bacterial infection can spread. 

Last month, the tattoo California company White and Blue Lion Inc. recalled inks from their in-home tattoo kits after many of the products tested positive for bacterial contamination in unopened bottles.

FDA officials have also linked company products to other skin infections, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

Though tattooing infections are nothing new, officials note that even the cleanest environments and tools can result in infection.

When someone gets a tattoo, artists using an injecting tool insert ink into the skin. The tattoo machine is electrically powered and resembles something similar to a dental drill. Depending on the size, detail and color of the tattoo, the machine will work to produce between 50 and 3,000 punctures per minute, intricately placing permanent ink below the skin's surface.

Unfortunately, if any of the ink carries bacteria, this can spread straight to the bloodstream and potentially result in sepsis--a life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndrome that spreads through germs.

Symptoms related to this infection are often fever, shaking and night sweats, among other problems. In less severe instances, a rash, redness, and swelling of the tattooed area may occur as symptoms of a general infection.

Some health officials fear that tattoo artists may still unknowingly have some contaminated products from the White and Blue Lion July recall.

Those looking to purchase a home-kit or get a tattoo soon should make sure to check with the tattoo artist beforehand. The recalled bottles have a multicolored Chinese dragon on them, along with black-and-white lettering.