Bloodborne Pathogens Class

It occurred to me that I have been a serious slacker with this blog. While it is a gloriously beautiful day and the Cubs are playing (and hopefully winning) I am sitting in a bloodborne pathogens class. It is the third one I have attended within a year's time (I sponsored this one) and even now the discussion has changed.

There are always new things happening regarding our industry in this regard. It is amazing how many in the permanent cosmetics arena don't take this class regularly. In fact, there are many who never take it at all.

I have personally witnessed some very bad habits in this industry even from medical professionals.


Some things that come to mind to work safe...

Always use barrier film on lamps and essentially anything that you will be touching with gloved hands.

Don't adjust your glasses, blow your nose, scratch your face, pour more pigment or anesthetics, etc., with gloves that have touched the client. And for goodness sakes, DON'T answer your phone with gloves on either!

Be sure to cleanse ALL adjacent areas of the client's face - not just the immediate area. When you are stretching, etc., you are often touching various parts of their faces. Also realize that clients love to touch their tattoos even while you are working on them; then they will touch your counters and what nots. Be sure they know they cannot touch anything but make them wash their hands before and after the procedure before you let them out of the procedure room just to be on the safe side.


Tattoo and beauty shows...

If you see cosmetic tattooing being done at one of these shows, talk to the show organizer. While tattoos can be bandaged after being done at a show, you can't bandage cosmetic tattooing. The client touches her brows and then touches things at other booths. OTHER PEOPLE have been seen touching newly tattooed brows! This is not the environment for this sort of thing.

We all know this is not a one time deal, either. It is really unethical to tattoo someone at a show out of town and not be able to do a touch up for them. Other techs should not have to clean up these things and then the client gets upset when we need to charge them.

So since I am being called on now for not paying attention during class, I will close with a final thought.... remember next time you do an eyeliner on a woman with long acrylic nails there is more bacteria under one of those nails than there is on the rest of her entire body so be sure she is not going to be scratching!!