Tattoo ink created, used in South Florida linked to infection

Tests conducted on sealed bottles revealed that the inks had different types of mold and bacteria, including Mycobacterium chelonae, which can cause infections. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials are testing the inks to help the Florida Department of Health in its investigation of an outbreak of infections in people who recently got tattoos.

There is concern tattoo artists are still using the inks from their current stock. Contaminated inks are becoming quite common on the black market and can cause serious long-term health problems.

The FDA and Florida health department urge the public who now own the ink, which has been sold as sets or individually, to dispose it properly.

Anyone finding inks subject to the recall should put the closed bottles into a plastic bag, sealing or tying off the bag to prevent leakage. They should then check with their local waste management authorities for disposal requirements.

FDA has identified microbiological contamination in unopened tattoo inks made by A Thousand Virgins, Inc.

What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?

He said: “There is no proof that these ink ingredients are safe, being injected into the body”. Such infection might result in redness; swelling; itching; raised pink, red, or purple blemishes in the tattoo; or pain in the tattoo that does not go away.

The infections can be severe and require extensive treatment with antibiotics, hospitalization or surgery.

It can stay concentrated in the site of injection or it can spread throughout the body.

The general population is left in the dark where it concerned these possibly consequences of ink-based body art and, with the trend rising, all should pay attention to what they inject onto their skin, because it may not affect just the surface.

People with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.

What Do Consumers and Tattoo Artists Need To Do? It is harder to measure the long-term effects of ink since tattoo inks are in most countries classified as cosmetics, Luch said. If you have used these inks and adverse events occur, contact the manufacturer and the FDA.

There are no worldwide standards for tattoo ink mixtures and in-depth studies of the chemical composition of tattoo ink in regards to safety are not sufficient.

The FDA said that those who have the inks should not use them. Centered within the circle are G1, G2, or G3, indicating the particular shade of grey wash ink. The bottles in question have an expiry date of January 2016. As A Thousand Virgins withdraws three of their products from the market, tattoo shops in the South Florida are on high alert.

What is FDA doing about the Problem? A Thousand Virgins, meanwhile, has already recalled the contaminated products.