MASON CITY – After recent reports and complaints regarding unlicensed tattoo facilities and artists in the area, public health officials remind residents to only get tattoos and body piercings from licensed professionals. Licensed businesses and artists should have their permits clearly displayed. If they are not easily visible, ask to the see them.
Anyone who has received a tattoo or body piercing from an unlicensed artist should be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C. Unlicensed artists are people who do tattoos in an unlicensed facility such as a home, garage, etc.
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health conducts inspections on tattoo establishments for Cerro Gordo County. Inspections are conducted to protect the public from diseases that may be transmitted from one person to another through unsanitary or unsafe tattooing and body piercing practices.
If instruments contaminated with blood are not sterilized or are used inappropriately between clients, there is a risk of transmitting blood borne pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C.
If you are considering getting a tattoo, contact the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health to ensure you go to a licensed facility. They can provide you with information about Iowa facilities, as well as facilities in other states.
For information on tattoo and body piercing safety, call Cortney Perrin, Environmental Health Specialist at the Cerro Gordo Department of Public Health, 421-9300 or visit our web site at www.cghealth.com
For HIV or Hepatitis testing, call Sam Smith, RN, Disease Prevention Specialist at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, 641-421-9300 or your local health care provider.
Just setting yourself up down the road for regret and discrimination. About the only thing they’re good for is identifying a body. Never seen a very old person with them anyways. Must be the mark of the devil. The mark of a fool. Poor bastards.
I put people with tattoos in the same category as black people who have their pants down past their butt. And they’re all one class below pedophiles.
So, do you include the hundreds of thousands of former & current military with tattoos in your claim?
Besides being a dumbass, you’re also a bigot.
And your honky white asss so big that it has its own zip code
I’d like you to say that to my face. You leave your info where I can get ahold of you, then you can say it. Funny how people like you do not express their opinion on social media, where you can be identified. Low life scumbag with no balls or heart,,, that is you. And guess what? I am a veteran who served your country. A white woman. Fully employed. (Just making that clear to you, because you’re probably sexist, as well as a racist bigot.) Pay some respect you worthless peice of crap! I’ll be looking for your response.
Tattoos are gay
“I wanna be unique…like everyone else.”
Exactly. It’s so DUH.
It would be nice to know atleast what town. ?
Hello they are speaking in general. States they have had complaints of unlicensed tattoo artists in the area. Usually if someone finds out a party is going tattoos without being licensed they turn that person into the Health dept. unlicensed tattoo artists can be shut down. It doesn’t state they’ve had positive test results. It is your responsibility if getting a tattoo to ask if they are licensed. Just because one does good work doesn’t mean they are safe. It is a good idea for anyone who has a tattoo to be tested no matter where you got it.
Why would anyone do that when we have a very good shop here in town? meth and trailer parks should both be illegal.
Tat free and loving it!
Me too!!!I have never understood why anyone would do that.
It’s just like paying to be scarred