The Amsterdam model for control of tattoo parlours and businesses

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control
• Regulatory Science

Background:

• Tattooing involves breaking the skin barrier, posing infection risks.
• Past outbreaks, like hepatitis B in the 1980s, highlighted the need for hygiene standards.
• Professionals performing tattoos are often not medically trained, increasing vulnerability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the implementation of uniform hygiene regulations for tattooing and permanent make-up professionals in The Netherlands.
• To outline the key components of the new hygiene guidelines developed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.
• To assess the impact of these regulations on tattoo studio licensing and complication rates.

Main Methods:

• Development of comprehensive hygiene guidelines in collaboration with public health institutes and tattooing associations.
• Implementation of a permitting system requiring inspection and demonstration of tattooing procedures.
• Monitoring of licensed studios and reported complications post-regulation.

Main Results:

• Over 95% of tattoos in The Netherlands are now performed in nearly 900 licensed studios.
• Complication reports following tattooing procedures are generally low.
• Uniform regulations cover studio environment, equipment, sterilization, and customer information.

Conclusions:

• The implemented hygiene guidelines have successfully increased the number of licensed tattoo studios and appear to be associated with low complication rates.
• Uniform regulations contribute significantly to the safety of tattooing and permanent make-up practices.
• Adoption of similar uniform European hygiene guidelines could further enhance tattooing safety across the continent.