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In compliance with the Body Art/Tattoo Ordinance the Consumer Health Protection Division regulates parlors and body piercing establishments. If you are a body art professional, or are thinking about getting body art, please read the following FAQS on body art and the risks of Hepatitis B and C.
Is it necessary to regulate parlors and body piercing establishments?
Without requiring safe standards, hepatitis could spread throughout
other areas of our community.
How long has the City of Albuquerque Body Art Ordinance
been in effect?
The effective date was December 1998.
What does the ordinance regulate?
Any type of Body Art shop that performs tattoo's (including permanent
cosmetics), body piercing and branding within the city limits.
How do I file a complaint about a body art shop or operator?
Call (505) 768-2638..
How old do you have to be to have body art done professionally
at a shop in the City of Albuquerque?
You must be able to prove that you are 18 years old or older with
a valid photo ID. If not, your parent and/or legal guardian must
accompany you to the shop. Their identification will be verified
and copied. If they do not want to stay and observe the procedure,
they must personally deliver a notarized letter giving permission
to the shop to perform body art on their son and/or daughter. Emancipated
and/or married minors are still required to have their parents involved
in the process as stated above.
Does the Body Art Ordinance cover the entire state?
No. This ordinance was written strictly for the City of Albuquerque.
Does the ordinance regulate ear piercing establishments?
Establishments that just pierce ears do not receive permits from
the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. We do inspections
to evaluate their process to ensure that all the necessary safety
precautions are being taken.
Who can I speak to if I have a specific question about
the ordinance?
You can speak to Susan Spring or Olivia Sanchez at (505) 768-2638.
How do I know if a shop is permitted by the City of Albuquerque,
Environmental Health Department?
The shop owner must display a City of Albuquerque Environmental
Health Department permit for the public to see in a prominent location.
If not, just ask someone at the shop if they are permitted by the
City of Albuquerque. The artist must also display an operator's
permit, in his/her studio.
How do I get a permit if I want to open a Body Art establishment?
Set up a pre-opening inspection with an inspector by calling (505) 768-2638.
You cannot open for business until you have approval by the City of Albuquerque
Environmental Health Department.
How do I get an operator permit to work in a permitted
facility?
Call (505) 768-2638 to make an appointment with an inspector.
How much is a Body Art permit?
It costs $100 for an establishment permit, which is paid annually.
An operator permit is also $100, but paid every two years. The operator
permit is approved for that person at any location that is permitted
within the City of Albuquerque.
Am I at risk for hepatitis when I get
a tattoo and/or body piercing?
There is a very low risk. All equipment used in the invasive procedure
of body art is required to be autoclaved (sterilized) prior to use.
This prevents potential cross-contamination by blood-born pathogens.
The artists themselves have a greater risk of infection because
every customer is a potential carrier. That is why extreme care
is taken by the artist in performing a body art procedure. Every
operator/owner must take a Preventive Disease Transmission course
at least every three years.
Are body art professionals at risk for contracting hepatitis?
Yes.
What is hepatitis and how is it transmitted?
Hepatitis is a viral disease that affects the liver. There are many
forms of hepatitis, including Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C
(HCV). It is transmitted through infected blood and other body fluids
and unsafe sexual practices. It can also be transmitted from mothers
to babies.
How serious is Hepatitis B?
140,000-320,000 people in the United States become infected yearly
and 50% of people infected show no symptoms. Between 8,000-32,000
people in the US become chronically infected yearly, meaning that
the virus has been present for more than six months. One million
-1.25 million (1 in every 200) people in the US have chronic infection.
Fifteen percent through 25% of chronically affected people will
die as a result of complications associated with chronic hepatitis
B. HBV costs more than $700 million yearly in medical and work loss.
Who is at risk of developing HBV?
People who come into contact with infected people's blood and body
fluids-such as health workers, tattoo artists or body piercers;
injection drug users; sexually active people who come into contact
with infected people; hemophiliacs and hemodialysis patients; people
who had blood transfusions before 1975; newborns of infected mothers;
prison inmates and personnel; travelers to underdeveloped countries;
and people adopted from countries with high HBV rates.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Almost half of all people infected will have no recognizable symptoms.
The virus may be asymptotic or may take many weeks to present symptoms.
People may note flu-like symptoms which include the following: extreme
tiredness; loss of appetite/weight; nausea/vomiting; fatigue; muscle/joint
aches; fever; jaundice (yellow skin and eye color); and dark colored
urine/light colored feces.
How do I find out if I have HBV?
A blood test will tell you if you have or have had HBV. This test
is not in the usual battery of blood tests during a routine physical,
so you must ask a medical provider to order a special test.
What do I do if my test comes out positive?
See your doctor. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm the
diagnosis. Some treatment is possible, although only about 35% effective
at this time. Do not drink alcohol, since it worsens HBV. Help protect
others from getting HBV by educating yourself on safe and unsafe
practices, and adhering to safe practices.
What can I do to protect myself from getting HBV? Get the hepatitis
B vaccine--three shots over six months. Always use Universal Precautions
in your tattooing or piercing studio. Do not come into contact with
other people's blood or bodily fluid. Attend continuing education
courses on infection control procedures for tattooist and body piercers.
Do not share needles or stick yourself with contaminated needles.
Become educated on safe and unsafe practices, and adhere to safe
practices. Use safe sexual practices.
If I have been exposed to HBV, what should I do?
Call you doctor immediately. Receive an injection of HBIG within
24 hours for the best protective effect. Follow-up with the series
of three vaccinations against HBV.
How serious is HCV?
HCV causes chronic liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, a form
of cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Thirty-six
thousand through 230,000 people in the United States develop HCV
each year. Only 25-30% of people with HCV develop symptoms and 4.5
million people in the United States have HCV. Eighty to 90% of HCV
infections become chronic, meaning that the infection has been present
for more than six months. Up to 10,000 people die from HCV complications
each year. HCV is the biggest cause of liver transplants in the
United States. More than $600 million is lost yearly due to HCV
costs.
How is HCV transmitted?
HCV is passed to others through blood. It can be transmitted through
sexual contact and from mothers to babies.
Who is at risk of developing HCV?
Like HBV, those at risk include: injection drug users; people with
tattoos and body piercing acquired with non-sterile equipment; sexually
active people who come into contact with infected people; people
who come into contact with infected people's blood either directly
or indirectly such as health workers, tattoo artists or body piercers.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Most people with HCV infection do not know that they have it. The
virus may not show up for many weeks. People may note flu-like symptoms
such as: extreme tiredness; abdominal pain; loss of appetite/weight;
nausea/vomiting; jaundice (yellow skin and eye color); dark colored
urine/light colored feces; itching; joint pain; and fever.
How can I find out if I have HCV?
A blood test can tell if you have HCV. You must ask to be screened,
since this test is not done in the regular battery of blood tests.
What do I do if my test comes out positive?
See your doctor. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm the
diagnosis. Some treatment is possible, although not very effective
at this time. Do not drink alcohol, since it worsens HCV. Help protect
others from getting HCV through educating yourself on safe and unsafe
practices and adhering to the safe practices. Get the HCV and HBV
vaccines.
What can I do to prevent getting HCV?
Do not come into contact with other people's blood or body secretions.
Always use Universal Precautions in your tattooing or piercing studio.
Become thoroughly familiar with infection control practices, the
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, and Universal Precautions. Attend
continuing education courses on infection control procedures for
tattooists and body piercers. Do not inject drugs. If you are an
injection drug user, do not share needles. Do not share cocaine
straws. Practice safe sex. Do not share items that may contain blood
such as toothbrushes, razors, earrings, chewing gum, or needles.
What if I have been exposed to HCV?
Currently, there is no vaccine or immune globulin available for
HCV.