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MDHHS hosting Body Art Conference; providing free blood borne pathogen training for artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Feb. 6, 2019

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. – Body art continues to grow in popularity with more than 14 percent of Americans estimated to have at least one tattoo. In Michigan, nearly 800 facilities are currently licensed to provide tattoos, piercing and microblading, with another 100 awaiting license approval.

To ensure artists are up-to-date on body art rules, regulations and best practices to help protect the health and safety of Michiganders, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is hosting its annual Body Art Educational Conference Feb. 26-27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Lansing.

Although individual artists are not licensed by the state, Michigan law requires all tattooing, branding, microblading and body piercing be done in a licensed body art facility. This free conference will provide artists with the latest information on medical waste regulations, nail salon air standards, permanent cosmetics, hepatitis B and C, autoclave operation, pathogen prevention and body art laws and regulations. In addition, artists and piercers will have the opportunity to receive their required annual blood borne pathogen training.

Laura Jane Leonard of Gamma Piercing in Ann Arbor will deliver the event’s keynote address: Modernizing Body Art Studios: Revisiting Reprocessing. A long-time member of the Association of Professional Piercers, Leonard served as chair of the organization’s Outreach Committee from 2013 to 2015.   

Online registration is available for this free educational conference.

For more information on body art regulations or to locate a licensed body art facility near you, visit Michigan.gov/bodyart.

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