(WWJ) Tattoo and piercing shops in Michigan will have stricter guidelines to follow under updated rules outlined by the state health department.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidelines have now banned body art facilities from using over-the-counter numbing products, such as gel and creams, which MDHHS says are not meant for broken or irritated skin.
If these products are used, they must be prescribed by a doctor specifically for use when getting a tattoo or piercing, and may be applied only by the client — not by tattoo shop employees. The body art facility must then keep a copy of the prescription with the client’s record.
Numbing creams purchased online that indicate use for body art procedures will not be allowed.
Numbing gels and creams not expressly allowed in past, but there was no law specifically stating their use was prohibited.
New regulations also require these facilities to make sure that their tools are clean, more often. Previously, the standard was to check tools at least once a month for harmful bacteria. Now, tools must be checked weekly.
Also, no live plants are allowed in procedure rooms, and no live animals are allowed in the facility — with the exception of fish tanks in the waiting area.
There are also some new regulations regarding the storage and disposal of pigments.
“These updates are all about protecting the health and safety of both clients and artists,” said Jeremy Fruk, Director of Environmental Health for the The Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW), in a statement. “Clear rules around numbing products and strong sterilization standards help ensure that body art procedures are done in the cleanest, softest way possible.”
To find out more about body art facility changes, visit the MDHHS Body Art website and click on "Body Art Facility Rules."