Body piercing and tattoo's
These are not advised. Your heart specialist will advise that you don’t have these done because of the risk of endocarditis.
If you are going to ignore this advice then at least follow these few simple rules:-
- We used to advise that you get antibiotics from your G.P to take one hour before you have any body piercing or tatto's. However there are new guidelines that have been produced by the Government. They don't cover what to do prior to having a piercing or tattoo. However you may find that your G.P is reluctant to prescribe you any antibiotics because of these new guidelines. Click here to read them. (They are very long!)
- However your heart doctor may still advise taking antibiotics one hour before. If you think this applies to you talk to your heart doctor before you go ahead. Make sure you understand the risks you are taking and what your heart doctor advises.
- Avoid getting your belly button pierced as it is a hard place to keep clean and more likely to cause a problem
- Inspect the building or room where you are having it done - and make sure that the work areas are clean
- Make sure that they use pre-packed sterilized needles only once and then throw them away
- Check they don’t use a piercing gun
- For piercing make sure that the jewellery is not silver or gold plated. Instead insist on either surgical stainless steel, titanium, or 9c gold
- Make sure they use fresh sterile gloves each time
- If having a tattoo – make sure that left over ink is thrown away and not re-used
