information

Pregnancy and Medical Conditions

Version 1

Issued 22/10/2026

Draft. Not yet approved by the studio's qualified practitioner. Do not issue to clients.

Some health conditions and medicines can affect how safe a tattoo or piercing is, or how well it heals. Your practitioner will ask about your health in private. This guide explains when we may say no, or ask you to speak to your GP first.

What to expect

You will answer a short health questionnaire. We ask so we can look after you, not to judge.
Your answers are kept private and stored separately.
Answering yes to a question does not always mean we will say no. We may ask for more information, or for advice from your GP or specialist.
We follow the same infection control precautions for every client, so you do not need to tell us about infections or conditions for our protection. Please tell us anything that could affect your safety or healing.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

We do not tattoo or pierce clients who are pregnant. There is not enough evidence on the effects, and the body changes a lot.
If you are breastfeeding, we may decline or suggest waiting. We will not do nipple piercing.
If you think you might be pregnant, please tell us.

We will usually ask for your GP's or specialist's advice first

Blood-thinning medicines (such as warfarin) and bleeding or clotting disorders.
Diabetes. Healing may be slower and infection more likely, so we need your condition to be well controlled.
A weakened immune system, including from chemotherapy, steroids or other immunosuppressant medicine, and conditions such as lupus.
Heart conditions or heart valve problems, especially for oral piercings.
Surgery or treatment in the last few months, or planned soon.
Epilepsy or fainting. We can plan ahead, but we need to know.

We may need to wait or decline

A history of keloid or very raised scars.
Isotretinoin (for acne). Skin is fragile while taking it and for a time afterwards.
Skin infections, sunburn, rashes or broken skin at the site.
Being unwell, with a fever, cold or flu, or recent vaccinations that make you feel poorly.
Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Talk to us

If you are unsure whether something affects you, ask. We would rather talk it through before your appointment. We will never ask you to stop taking a prescribed medicine. Always talk to your GP or pharmacist about that.

Important: If you feel unwell after a procedure, or notice signs of infection, contact your GP or NHS 111. Call 999 in an emergency.

Practitioner to confirm: the studio's own decision on each condition above, in particular the waiting time after isotretinoin and after surgery, how the studio treats well-controlled diabetes, whether it will tattoo or pierce at all during pregnancy (this draft says it will not), whether it will pierce while a client is breastfeeding (other than nipple piercing), and what insurer conditions apply. Review the list with the studio's insurer.

Questions? Email thedesk@rebelliousink.tattoo. For anything medical, contact NHS 111 or your GP. In an emergency, call 999.