P.E.I. tattoo and piercing regulations needed, say shop owners
Good sterilization techniques, blood-borne pathogen training should be required - shop owner
Some tattoo and piercing artists in Prince Edward Island want to see the industry better regulated.
Shops are inspected by Environmental Health officers using guidelines from Manitoba, Alberta, and Ontario.
They look for things like proper sterilization and hand washing, but they don't hand out certificates to tattoo and piercing shops to say they've passed inspection.
Amy Brewster, co-owner of Ironside Tattoo & Piercing Company, plans to make recommendations to the province to help create standardized regulations for the industry.
"I'd really be happy to work closely with the government officials and help them and make suggestions on the best practices as far as safety, sterilization, and procedures go."
No plans for provincial regulations
The province says it will respond to public complaints about medical issues but those are rare. It can investigate under the Public Health Act.
There aren't any plans at this time to bring in more rules.
Ironside client Carley Cochrane got her ears pierced a couple of years ago at another place. She said she still has pain.
"They were crooked, they were really sore after. I feel like they swelled a lot more than they should have."
Cochrane's story isn't out of the ordinary, Brewster said.
"More and more, as time goes on, people are coming in with botched piercings, infection, improper jewelry size and very difficult issues."
Customers should ask questions
It's important for people to educate themselves and to look for certain things when they are getting piercings done, she said..
"Shop cleanliness, body piercer portfolio. Have a look around. Ask people who have been pierced by them. They should be able to show you pictures of piercings that they've done and healed piercings that they've done."
The same goes for tattoos, said Jared Sark, Brewster's business partner and tattoo artist.
"Ask for proof that they're following proper sterilization techniques for their equipment. We have our proof mounted on the wall right at the counter so customers can see that when they come in and also ask if they've had any blood-borne pathogen training — that's training that helps prevent cross contamination," he said.
"When you're sitting down to get a tattoo, make sure that the instruments are open in front of you. Make sure they wash their hands before they perform it. Make sure they're wearing gloves."
Clear rules needed
It would be good to have clear rules for everyone in the industry, he said.
"To be able to prevent those types of situations with legislation, it would require a strong enforcement aspect."
CBC News contacted four other tattoo and piercing shops on P.E.I. and they all agreed they'd like to see tighter regulation including age restrictions and only allowing tattooing and piercing to be done at a site that can be inspected by the province.