Tattoos, Body Piercing, and Healthcare Concerns

Tattooing imprints a permanent marking or design on the skin. There is an increasing need for states to set standards for safety and prevention of disease transmission. Minor burns have been noted during magnetic resonance testing with tattoos and permanent make-up. Body piercing punctures or cuts the skin to create an opening for jewelry or apparatus. Complications with jewelry left in place may cause difficulty with placement of treatment devices and can interfere with magnetic resonance imaging, creating artifact, distortion, or even injuring the patient.