As Navratri approaches, many youngsters are opting for tattoos and body piercings to elevate their festive style. Social media trends and celebrity influence are fuelling the craze — but health experts caution that unsafe practices could expose people to serious infections, including hepatitis B.
Gujarat, which currently ranks sixth in India for hepatitis B cases, is seeing rising concern over the risks linked to unregulated tattooing.
Unsafe Tattoos Can Spread Hepatitis B and C
Doctors warn that tattooing involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with fine needles, which can transmit viruses if proper hygiene is ignored.
“If a needle contaminated with hepatitis B or C is reused on another person, the virus can spread easily,” explained a local physician.
Studies estimate that about 3.3% of tattoo recipients may carry hepatitis B, underscoring the need for strict safety standards.
How to Stay Safe When Getting a Tattoo
Medical professionals recommend taking these precautions before getting inked:
- Always choose a licensed and experienced tattoo artist.
- Make sure the artist wears fresh, disposable gloves.
- Inspect the studio for cleanliness and sterilisation measures.
- Confirm that needles come from a sealed, branded pack opened in your presence.
- People with skin conditions or allergies should consult a doctor beforehand.
Understanding the “ABCs” of Hepatitis
- Hepatitis B spreads mainly through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Common sources include sharing needles during tattoos, piercings, or medical procedures, unprotected sex, and mother-to-child transmission during childbirth. Untreated cases may become chronic, often without symptoms for years.
- Hepatitis C is also bloodborne, commonly transmitted via shared or unsterile needles during tattoos or medical treatments.
- Hepatitis A, by contrast, spreads through contaminated food or water, usually causes short-term infection, and is often reported after the monsoon season.
Gujarat’s Higher Prevalence
Gujarat records a hepatitis B seroprevalence of 1.2%, higher than the national average of 0.95%. For hepatitis C, the state’s rate is 0.19%, slightly below the national figure of 0.32%.