Nearly one in five people (18%) in the UK who had a tattoo, cosmetic piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis in the last five years has had negative side effects – putting them at risk of infections.
A poll of 2,000 people, by the Royal Society for Public Health, found one in ten people had then gone on to require medical treatment as a result.
The report called Skins and Needles – which looked at the health risks associated with the increasing number of people in the UK having procedures that break the skin barrier – calls for stricter rules around infection control when licenses are given to these businesses.
Currently, there is no legal requirement in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland for a business to have infection control qualifications. Now, Shirley Cramer CBE, chief executive of RSPH, is encouraging the rest of the UK to follow Wales – where a mandatory infection control scheme has been introduced.
Between 2004-2014, there was a 173% increase in the number of tattoo parlours in the UK – and now one in five Brits have a tattoo.
But the survey revealed two fifths of people did not check whether the person carrying out their procedure was registered or licensed.
The RSPH research also found anyone can purchase specialist equipment online to carry out tattooing or piercings, without the necessary training or qualifications in how to use them. This means anyone can set up shop without appropriate training – and put people at risk of infection.
As well as there being no legal requirement in infection control for businesses offering these procedures – there is also no legislation covering other equally invasive treatments, such as dermal fillers, RSPH found.
In response to the findings in its report, the society is calling for the sale of tattoo and piercing equipment to be more closely monitored so only those who are officially registered, and trained to use the tools, can buy them.
[Read More: Getting a tattoo can lead to long-term health problems if you have a weakened immune system]
RSPH is also demanding age-limits on cosmetic fillers, making them illegal for under 18s. Currently the procedures can be carried out on younger people.
“The legislation and regulation of providers of these services, which ultimately protects the public, is markedly different across the UK and in some areas is not fit for purpose,” said Cramer.
“With the surge in demand for tattoos, piercings and a growing variety of cosmetic procedures, such as fillers, we hope this report sparks a wider discussion about the need to provide safeguards and reassure those who seek to undertake body modification in all forms in the UK today.”
Commenting on the findings, Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “Getting a tattoo or piercing might appear cool, but ending up with hepatitis or sepsis certainly isn’t.
“The NHS will always be there for anyone who needs it, but shouldn’t be left to pick up the pieces from dodgy tattoo parlours who don’t take infection control seriously. All organisations involved need to take their responsibilities seriously, particularly when it comes to young people, and higher standards are long overdue.”