Hygiene is a crucial aspect of any permanent makeup (PMU) procedure. Because PMU often involves pricking the client's skin with tattoo needles to deposit pigment, there is a potential for cross-contamination and the spread of bloodborne pathogens. Therefore, proper tattoo needle handling and disposal are crucial to ensuring your client's safety.
Diseases from cross-contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria, viruses, allergens, and other disease-causing factors are transferred from an outside source to a person, causing illness or adverse reactions. In PMU procedures, it can happen when hygiene protocols and best practices are not observed, especially when handling and disposing of PMU needles. The diseases transferable through cross-contamination can range from simple infections to life-threatening ones, such as:
- Fungal infections like candidiasis, ringworm, and sporotrichosis
- Bacterial infections such as tetanus, strep and staph infections, and non-tuberculosis mycobacterium lung disease
- Viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes, and possibly HPV
Even if cross-contamination does not result in a severe illness, it can seriously damage your reputation as a PMU tech, leading to a lot of lost business and customers. To maintain your own and your clients' well-being, as well as your business and reputation, it's crucial that you follow the correct tattoo needle disposal and handling procedures at all times.
Handling and disposing of needles
Here is a guide for tattoo needle handling and disposal to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and disease transmission during PMU procedures.
Tattoo needle handling
The very first thing you need to make sure of is that you're using clean tattoo needles. Traditionally, tattoo and PMU artists used reusable tattoo tubes that they would need to sterilize regularly, but this made changing configurations more time-consuming and the entire process less efficient.
Today, it's common to utilize single-use tattoo needle cartridges that you can quickly attach to and detach from your machine. These cartridges are pre-sterilized -- usually with EO gas -- to ensure they are clean and safe for use.
Here are other tips for proper hygiene when handling needles:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before handling PMU needles, and never touch the needle tip to ensure it stays clean.
- Do not perform the procedure with bare hands; always use sterile rubber gloves. Replace your gloves if they become contaminated.
- Check your needle cartridges for breakage or any damage before the procedure. Doing this prevents injuries and other unforeseen events while you work.
- Avoid using needle cartridges beyond their expiry date. After a specific period, the effectiveness of sterilization decreases, making them unsafe for use.
- Make sure your needle size and configuration match the procedure. This helps maintain your precision and reduce trauma on your client's skin.
Lastly, never reuse needles, even for the same client. You might think doing so can help you save costs, but it's a serious health hazard that can endanger your client.
Tattoo needle disposal
Used tattoo and PMU needles are considered to be medical waste, so they need to be discarded following specific procedures. Here are safe disposal tips you need to remember:
- Always have a sharps container specifically for used PMU needles. This container must be made of hard materials to prevent pricking accidents and should not be used for any other waste.
- It's a good idea to seal your sharps container as soon as it's around three-fourths full. Overfilling it with used needles can lead to spillage, which might cause accidents.
- Some areas or states have specific rules regarding the disposal of hazardous waste. If this is true for your locale, make sure you adhere to the regulations.
- There are usually parties responsible for the safe and regular collection of sharps and other medical waste. Make sure to work with such parties instead of disposing of your used needles on your own. Do not discard sharps together with regular trash.
As a PMU professional, it is your responsibility to ensure that your clients leave every procedure looking their best and safe from bloodborne pathogens. Safety should be among your top priorities, and following proper tattoo needle handling and disposal methods is a surefire way to guarantee it. Stay safe, and happy tattooing!
