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Infectious Diseases

Beauty and Body Art

Visiting a Personal Service Setting

Personal Service Settings within the Province of Ontario are required to be inspected for infection prevention and control (IPAC) practice under Ontario Regulation 136/18: Personal Service Settings.

Personal service settings are businesses where personal services are offered and may occur in a variety of settings such as mobile spas, festivals, salons or in a private home setting, and include, but are not limited to:

  • Tattooing and ear/body piercing
  • Permanent make-up
  • Micro-blading/needling and micropigmentation
  • Hair salons and barbering
  • Aesthetics (e.g. nail services, waxing, facials, eyelash extensions)

Personal services pose a risk of exposure to blood and body fluids. Prior to receiving a personal service, it is important to do your research and be aware of IPAC practices that are occurring at the premises.

Prior to visiting a personal service setting, it is important to be aware of the following:

  • Serious blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV can occur if improper practices are used. You do not need to see your blood or body fluids on equipment for infection to occur.
  • Visit only inspected facilities. You can determine if a facility is inspected using the following methods: 
    • The facility has inspection reports posted on our Inspection Connection webpage.
    • The facility is displaying a Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) inspection sign in a visible location at the premises.
  • The facility should be clean, well-lit and include/provide:
    • A sink with hot and cold running water, single use towels and liquid soap for hand washing.
    • A sink for cleaning multi-use equipment.
    • Single-use equipment (if applicable).
    • An area for sterilizing multi-use equipment.
  • Talk to your service provider. Ask them about their practices and how often they clean and disinfect/sterilize equipment. Watch them at work so that you know they are washing their hands and using new, clean equipment for each client.
  • If you have concerns regarding the IPAC practices occurring at the facility, you may issue a complaint for follow-up by a public health inspector on our website.

If you are planning to receive an invasive service (i.e.: tattoo, piercing, micropigmentation, microneedling, electrolysis, etc.) it is important to look for the following IPAC practices:

  • The operator provides an explanation of the invasive service and any risks that may be associated.
  • Ensure the operator cleans their hands and wears new/clean gloves.
  • Skin antiseptic is used on the skin before tattooing or piercing. Injectable antiseptic must not be used.
  • A single-use cover is provided on surfaces where tattooing is occurring.
  • New sterile needles are used each time.
  • Only new single-use disposable needles, tubes, barrels, grips or cartridges and body piercing equipment are used if no sterilizer (autoclave) is on-site.
  • Ear piercing devices are used as per the manufacturer directions.
  • Sterile hollow-bore needles are used to pierce any part of the body, including cartilage.
  • Only sterile jewellery made of bio-compatible material is used.
  • The artist does not double dip the needles into ink that has been used on other people.
  • Used needles are disposed of in a sharps container. 
  • Reusable equipment and services are cleaned and disinfected or sterilized after each client.
  • Written and verbal aftercare instructions are provided on how to take care of the tattoo or piercing until it heals.
  • Your full contact information is recorded in the event a follow-up is needed.

If you have received service which breaks the skin (i.e. tattooing, micropigmentation, microneedling, piercing) it is important to ensure the area is kept clean and all aftercare directions provided by the service provider are followed.  Ensure to keep the area clean and always wash your hands thoroughly before applying locations or ointments and before rotating jewellery.  If you are concerned about infection, it is recommended to seek medical attention within 24 hours.

Prior to receiving any service, you should ensure your skin is free from infections and there are no breaks in your skin.  Personal services should only occur on intact skin that is free from infection or rash.  If you have concerns regarding your skin, it is recommended to seek medical attention and ensure skin or area is properly healed prior to seeking the personal service. 

For more information about reducing your risk of infection, or to discuss infection control practices in personal service settings, call Your Health Connection at 705-721-7520 (1-877-721-7520) weekdays from 8:30am - 4:30pm. 

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If you have any questions or concerns that require a response, please contact Health Connection directly.

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