Activist Shreha Dhargalkar alleges tattoo shops in Goa using non-sterile equipment and inks

CALANGUTE: Coming down heavily on illegal and unhygienic tattoo studios, shops and outlets in the coastal belt in the Morjim, Anjuna, Vagator, Arpora, Baga, Calangute and Candolim stretch, Goan social activist Shreha Dhargalkar said the Village Panchayats are solely responsible for the proliferation of such illegal and unhygienic tattoo shops and outlets in the respective areas and localities of Goa.

“Many tattoo shops in these areas do not have a Panchayat license, forget about a FDA license. In the USA it is compulsory for tattoo shops and artistes to obtain an USFDA license,” she stated.

“Today, I read about raids by the Goa FDA against shops and outlets selling cashew and cashew products. This is a good step by the Goa FDA as some unscrupulous elements are spoiling the name of our State selling expired and spurious products. I had myself purchased a cashew packet months earlier,  in which the cashew were either infected or spoilt. Both domestic tourists and foreigners who buy such products blame the Goa government and administration, but it is ‘get-rich-quick’ attitude of the businessmen which is to blame for these problems. When it comes to the tattoo business as well, most of the shops are run by outsiders and non-Goans who do not use sterile materials, inks and water. They do not have the requisite licenses and permissions and yet charge anywhere from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 per hour to do a tattoo,” Shreya explained.

As reported earlier, several illegal and unhygienic tattoo studios, shops and outlets are operating in the coastal belts of Goa, without the fear of the law, bringing a bad name to Goa tourism. (Read Here)

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) advisory on tattoos, people can develop infections from contaminated equipment and tattoo inks, as well as serious and adverse reactions to the inks, pigments and other ingredients, including water used to thin or mix inks.

While doing a tattoo, you can get serious infections from unhygienic practices and equipment that isn’t sterile, infections can also result from tattoo ink that was contaminated with bacteria or mold (fungus) or any other microorganisms.

Using non-sterile or outright contaminated water (tap water in some places) to dilute the pigments (ingredients that add color) is a common cause for infection, although not the only one, opines the US FDA.

Shreya alleges that inks are contaminated even if the ink vial is sealed and air-tight or the label says the product is sterile, if the product is used beyond the expiry date or the water used to thin the inks and pigments is not sterile.

Clients do not check expiry dates on the inks used and tattoo artistes very often mix inks from different vials, some of them expired, which are sold at discounted rates of less than 25 per cent of the original cost of the ink vial.

“Many operators purchase such expired vials or inks and pigments as they are available cheap,” alleges Shreha Dhargalkar, demanding strict action by the Goa FDA and village panchayats against such unscrupulous tattoo shops and tattoo artistes.

She said she is going to write a letter to the Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant demanding strict and stringent action against such fly-by-night tattoo operators who are bringing a bad name to the coastal state.

Shreha has demanded that individual tattoo artistes must be required to obtain an FDA license, besides the mandatory Panchayat or shop license and the same must be renewed or checked every six months after inspection of the equipment, material, inks and other products.