INKING a permanent design onto your body can represent a great many things: An identity, undying love, a memory or just a fashion statement.

But just how safe are they?

“In this day and age tattoos are completely safe if done in a clean environment by a professional using sterile or disposable instruments,” said Ko Hla Moe, 37, who has around four years of experience as a tattoo artist in Sangyaung.

He orders most of his materials from Singapore and Italy, uses disposable needles and sterilises all of the equipment after each customer in water heated to 100 degrees Celsius for at least an hour. He also soaks his equipment overnight in mentholated spirits.

Tattoos are quickly becoming popular among Yangonites and the number of tattoo artists is on the rise.

“I have five times the number of customers I used to have just over 12 months ago. It’s remarkable how much the craze has taken off in only a year,” said Ko Hla Moe.

Foreigners also make up a large chunk of Ko Hla Moe's clientele; mainly, he thinks, because tattooing is cheaper here than other parts of Southeast Asia.
Most tattoo artists in Myanmar work out of their homes and Red Head, 27, is no exception.

He has been tattooing for seven years and started with a three-month course in painting. He sees around 10 customers per week.

He said the craze started in 2000 and this is part of the reason he decided to go into the industry. He said the interest in tattooing has increased by 50 percent among men since then and 20pc among women.

Red Head, who has inked the likes of famous musician Han Htoo Lwin and actor Min Thu, said it is not sufficient to only check safety standards, they need to deal with an artist who will listen to them and take time to discuss what they like.

He also uses disposable needles and soaks his equipment in mentholated spirits before and after use.

He said it takes around three months to finish a tattoo that covers the whole back and about a month for half an arm, depending on the materials used. Tattoos can cost anything between K50,000 to K300,000.

Dr Soe Win Oo, a derm-atologist at M&S Skin and Laser, said the ideal safety measures should include disposable single-use needles and single-use ink cartridges. The tattoo gun must be autoclaved and tattooists should always wear gloves during the entire procedure.

He said that currently there are no regulations in place from Myanmar’s health department requiring tattoo artists hold a license or certificate stating that they have passed any safety requirements.

“As public health safety measures and regulations are strengthened, it is hoped that such parlours will need a certificate for safety measures in the future,” said Dr Soe Win Oo.

He said he doesn’t think people are aware of how dangerous dirty equipment can be. A number of diseases can be passed on through dirty needles, from simple bacterial infections like folliculitis to deadly diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.

Other complications include immediate and delayed hypersensitivity, allergic reactions, pain and scarring.

“Anybody using needles needs to take the necessary precautions to make sure that they are not putting people at risk,” said Dr Soe Win Oo.

Ko Zay, 32, had his tattoo done in 1996 at the Kyee Ma Noe festival without disposable needles and without checking that the needles were clean.

“I am lucky I wasn’t infected with anything. I didn’t know about the health dangers at the time and I think it’s probably common for people to trust that the equipment is clean without checking.”

Ko Arkar, 29, got his first tattoo at age 15 and hasn’t stopped there. He also has them on his calf, arm and back.

“The art’s great and everything is always clean and sterile,” he explained. “I think most artists here are aware of the health risks and do what needs to be done.”

Phillip, 29, has three tattoos and said he had them done to improve his appearance.

“I wanted to look hot in short sleeves for Thingyan,” he said.
He said he made sure everything was sterile.

“The first time is scary so you want to make sure it’s all safe.”
Dr Soe Win Oo said that if you are thinking about getting a tattoo there are two important things to consider.

“The first is the potential complications and the second is that you need to realise tattoos are permanent. They will last forever. If you want to remove it, it will take more time and money that it cost to get it in the first place.”