Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Tattoo artists in the UAE say that the lack of regulation on tattooing has led to artists going underground, posing a public health threat.
An amateur Filipino tattoo artist, Edgar (not his real name) has been drawing tattoos in Abu Dhabi since 2002. He is not licensed and does not know where or how a licence can be obtained, but admits that his job could be made easier with one.
Tattooing is currently unregulated by health authorities in the UAE. Without a licence, Edgar is forced to draw tattoos in the homes of his clients
Infections
Stephanie Shekrabi, a Dubai-based tattoo artist who is licensed as a beauty and skin therapist, agrees that a lack of regulation has led to tattoo artists going underground, which results in safety procedures often being ignored. Tattooing, which involves breaking skin and putting ink under it with special needles, carries health risks of spreading blood-borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis A, B and C. The ink can also cause an allergic reaction in some people, sometimes severe enough to cause death.
Drawing up to two tattoos a month, Edgar insists that he takes the necessary health and safety procedures when drawing tattoos. "I clean the work area and never reuse needles."
However, Stephanie says that her clinic treats at least one case of a badly drawn or infected tattoo a week, adding that it is difficult to maintain sterile conditions as it is costly.
"Many come in pain with bleeding or infected tattoos, saying they got it done at somebody's house," said Shekrabi, noting that unhygienic conditions can lead to the transfer of diseases.
Regulating the procedure, she argues, would also help ensure that children don't get tattoos. "I've had reluctant mothers bring their children to our clinic because they don't want them going to amateurs, but I don't accept under-18s for tattoos," she said.
Despite the health risks, health officials do not think that unlicensed tattooing was immediate or serious enough for health authorities to implement regulations and licensing requirements are tailor-made for the procedure.
"Tattooing is not popular here, so licensing it is not a priority. We have so many other priorities," said Dr Abdul Gaffar Al Hawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Curative Medicine at the Health Ministry.
He said current health laws regarding the issue only addressed it after it posed a problem to the public - when someone lodges a complaint with health authorities.
But tattooing is unlikely to remain unregulated forever, health authorities assure.
Dr Ebrahim Al Qadi, director of licensing at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry would like to address all health-related issues in the future.
