Getting a Tattoo With an STD: Risks and Precautions
Having an STD doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting a tattoo, but there are a few genuine considerations worth understanding beforehand, both for your own safety and out of consideration for the tattoo artist.
What reputable shops already do
Licensed, reputable tattoo shops follow universal precautions — treating every client's blood as potentially infectious regardless of known status, using single-use needles and sterile equipment for every session. This means a properly run shop is already taking the precautions that protect both you and the artist, regardless of whether you disclose an STD status.
What's actually worth considering
An active skin infection or outbreak (like an active herpes outbreak) at or near the tattoo site is a reason to wait, both because tattooing over active skin issues carries its own complication risk and because it can worsen the outbreak. For blood-borne infections like HIV or hepatitis, most reputable shops don't require disclosure specifically because their standard precautions already account for any client's status — but some people choose to mention it anyway, and there's no requirement either way in most places.
Current STDcheck.com Coupons
If you're moving forward with testing, it's worth checking STDcheck.com's current promo codes before you check out.