5 days ago
Milwaukee Health Department warns of skin disease from unlicensed tattoo operation
The Milwaukee Health Department is investigating unlicensed tattoo operations after cases of skin disease in minors emerged.
The health department said it started investigating the case after a report on May 14 from a medical provider of a case of nontuberculous mycobacteria from a tattoo procedure on a minor.
The health department said they found two additional cases of minors with NTM on May 20 and June 2.
The health department teamed up with the Milwaukee Police Department to find one of the suspects, according to Carly Hegarty, director of consumer environmental health for the City of Milwaukee.
Citations were issued against Jonathan Beasley accusing him of giving tattoos to minors without a license. He faces $614 in fines. MPD and health officials connected Beasley to two locations associated with Davinci Way Ink.
NTM is an environmental bacterium that can cause a skin infection. NTM can come from tattooing if the tattoo tools aren't properly cleaned or used in unsterile tap water used to distill the black ink, according to a health department press release.
According to Hegarty, the symptoms of NTM are swelling, pain, and pus and drainage near the tattoo area.
While NTM can heal in two to three months, Hegarty said anyone who believes they have NTM should get an official diagnosis and treatment from a doctor.
The Milwaukee Health Department is urging medical professionals to report if they see cases of tattoo-related infections and to ask their patients about recent tattoos and where they obtained them.
Investigations into other unlicensed tattoo operations are still ongoing, Hegarty said.
For parents or other people interested in tattoo safety, Hegarty said there are a few signs people can look for to be safe.
According to the press release, licensed tattoo artists are supposed to verify the age of the person receiving the tattoo, follow proper sanitation procedures and give detailed instructions for aftercare.
Hegarty said when getting tattoos, regardless of age, it's important to advocate for yourself.
'People absolutely have the right to ask, hey, can I see your City of Milwaukee-issued license? Can I see your practitioner's license? I would say good any tattoo artist would have that readily available,' Hegarty said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cases of skin disease from illegal tattoo operation in Milwaukee
