Are you that kind of person who celebrates milestones of your life with getting a tattoo? These milestones could be anything, including the things you achieved, or the things you could not achieve but taught you a lesson. If you are this person, then you must have wondered if you can donate blood with all the tattoos on your body? There are lots of rumors on how can one donate blood, or if at all they are allowed to donate blood. So let's get into its nitty gritty!

As per American Red Cross, in most states, a tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity. Which means the tattoo artist must be licensed and must practice following all the guidelines, using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. The same is the guideline for cosmetic tattoos, which includes microblading of eyebrows. If it is done by a licensed artist in a regulated state, then it is acceptable.

However, if you got your tattoo in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities, you must wait three months after it was applied.

The states that do not regulate tattoo facilities are:

• Arizona
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Utah
• Wyoming

Body Piercing

Similar is the case with body piercings. It has to be done following the regulation, here the key is that the instrument used has to be a single-use equipment and disposable. Which means if you are getting it by a gun, or an earring cassette, they have to be disposable. In case you got your piercing with a reusable gun or a reusable instrument, you will be required to wait for three months.

Three-Month Wait Period

The reason behind the wait time is associated with the concerns of hepatitis, which could be easily transmitted from donors to patients through transfusion. All blood donations are thus tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, with several tests. However, not always are these tests are perfect, thus the three-month period is given.

What Dangers Loom Over?

Donating blood after getting a tattoo can be dangerous as unclean tattoo needle could carry bloodborne viruses, which are hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guideline, making the wait time shorter from one year to three months. This is because if you contract a bloodborne illness, it could be detectable within the period of 3 months.

What else makes you ineligible to donate blood?

There are other reasons why you may not be allowed to donate blood. As per the American Red Cross, you are not allowed to donate blood if you have

• hepatitis B or C
• HIV
• Chagas disease, which is a parasitic infection that kissing bugs cause
• leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection that sand flies cause
• Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare disorder that leads to mental deterioration
• Ebola virus
• hemochromatosis, which means extreme build up of iron
• hemophilia
• jaundice
• sickle cell disease

As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blood Bank, these conditions make you permanently ineligible from donating blood.

While there are certain conditions that makes your permanently ineligible, there are other conditions that makes you temporarily ineligible from donating blood. These include:

• If you have a bleeding condition, and have issues with your blood clotting
• If you have received transfusion from a person
• If you have cancer. Here, the eligibility depend son the type of cancer you have
• If you have recently underwent a dental or oral surgery. In such a case, you would have to wait for three days
• If you had a recent heart attack, heart surgery or angina. You must wait for 6 months
• If you are pregnant, you can only donate blood after 6 months after delivering your child

A two-year-old boy from Bristol, UK has died from a rare heart disease, known to mostly affect children with only flu-like symptoms, on January 8.

Hudson Martin had been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease when he was seven months old and was placed on lifelong medication including aspirin and blood thinners to reduce the risk of clots. Since then, he had been living a normal and happy life, according to father Damien Martin.

He told Bristol Live: "You’d never know anything was wrong from pictures or videos. He bounced off everything. He loved climbing, dancing, music, he was a proper daredevil."

But days before his third birthday, he suddenly collapsed while playing at home. Despite being given CPR by paramedics for an hour, his heart did not restart and he passed away.

“They did absolutely everything they could,” Damien said. "His heart just wouldn't come back."

What Is Kawasaki Disease?

Also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body which can damage to the heart and blood vessels, mostly in children younger than five years old.

When this happens, the heart doesn't work as well to pump blood to the body and could burst (coronary artery dilation and aneurysms). It also causes swelling in the lymph nodes and mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose, eyes and throat.

Apart from a 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) fever that can last for five days, children with Kawasaki may also experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Rash on the main part of the body or in the genital area
• Swelling and redness of their hands and feet
• Irritation and redness of the whites of their eyes
• Swollen lymph glands in the neck
• Irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat

It remains unknown what causes Kawasaki disease in children and if it affects adults.

Diagnosis involves ruling out other diseases that cause the same symptoms which include:

• Scarlet fever
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a disorder of the mucous membranes)
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Measles
• Some illnesses caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Is It Curable?

While this non-contagious disease can be treated with a mixture of antibodies given through the veins (intravenous immunoglobulin) and aspirin, it remains uncurable. Doctors may also advice steroids if intravenous immunoglobulin is not effective.

After receiving treatment for Kawasaki disease, most children recover fully and long-term follow-up care remains unnecessary. However, children who have suffered through aneurysms or other complications related to the disease will need lifelong monitoring with a cardiologist.

Cases of scabies, a highly contagious skin condition caused by microscopic mites, continue to remain higher than normal across England this winter, according to the latest surveillance data. Recent findings from the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Research and Surveillance Centre indicate that scabies has been spreading more widely than expected over the past few months, with infections steadily increasing through autumn and winter.

Overall, reported cases have stayed above the usual five-year average, with the sharpest rise recorded during the final four months of last year, particularly across northern regions of the country. With scabies infections continuing to climb, concerns are growing around which treatments are safe to use, especially when it comes to children.

What Is Scabies?

Scabies is caused by a microscopic parasite known as Sarcoptes scabiei. This mite burrows into the top layer of the skin to lay its eggs, triggering severe itching and a red, spotty rash that often becomes more intense at night. Although the mites are too small to be seen easily, measuring less than half a millimetre, the body reacts to their saliva, eggs, and waste, leading to an allergic response.

Scabies spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and can affect people of all ages. According to the NHS, it is most commonly transmitted through close household contact, including between partners, family members, people living together, and during sexual activity.

How Is Scabies Spreading In The UK?

UK Health Security Agency surveillance data shows that scabies cases reported through sexual health services remained relatively stable before the COVID-19 pandemic, but numbers began rising sharply from 2022 onwards. Diagnoses increased from 3,393 cases in 2023 to 4,872 cases in 2024, marking a 44 per cent rise.

• London accounted for roughly one-third of all cases recorded in 2024.
• The steepest percentage increase was seen in the North East, where reported cases nearly doubled.
• Young adults aged 20 to 24 made up 41 per cent of diagnoses, while those aged 25 to 34 accounted for 31 per cent.

Scabies UK: What's Behind The Surge In Cases?

Both the UKHSA and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) suggest several reasons could be driving the surge:

• Increased social interaction and physical contact following the pandemic, after years of reduced mixing.
• Greater awareness of scabies and more testing taking place at sexual health clinics.
• Overcrowded housing and the ongoing cost of living crisis, which may delay access to prompt treatment.

Experts also caution that the actual number of cases is likely much higher, as the available data only reflects diagnoses made in sexual health settings.

Scabies UK: Can Ivermectin Treat Scabies In Children Safely?

Ivermectin is an oral antiparasitic medicine used to treat scabies by paralysing the mites. It offers a systemic alternative to topical creams and is often considered in cases that are widespread, severe, or involve institutional outbreaks. Because the drug does not kill scabies eggs, a second dose is usually required after seven to fourteen days to target newly hatched mites.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, ivermectin is generally well tolerated, improves treatment compliance compared to creams, and has been widely used in mass drug administration programmes, though repeat dosing is important due to its limited effect on mite eggs.

Despite its broad use in programmes targeting conditions such as river blindness, intestinal worms, and scabies, ivermectin has traditionally not been recommended for children weighing under 15 kilograms, largely due to limited safety data. However, researchers revisited this concern following a systematic review and meta-analysis that suggested the drug could be safe even in children weighing as little as 11 pounds.

In a double-blind clinical trial, researchers assessed the safety, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetics of ivermectin in young children with scabies. A total of 240 children weighing between 11 pounds and under 33 pounds in The Gambia, Kenya, and Brazil were randomly assigned to receive ivermectin at doses of 200, 400, or 800 micrograms per kilogram alongside a placebo cream, or placebo tablets alongside permethrin cream. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14 to monitor biochemical markers, drug levels, and blood health.

Ivermectin: Only One Serious Adverse Event

The findings showed that ivermectin was effective in treating scabies, with just one serious adverse event reported. This involved a temporary increase in liver enzymes, which returned to normal levels within 32 days. All other side effects possibly linked to the treatment were mild, resolved on their own, and were similar to those seen in children weighing more than 33 pounds.

“Outcomes from the Ivermectin Safety in Small Children trial will hopefully provide greater reassurance that ivermectin can be safely used in children weighing less than 15 kilograms,” said lead study author Kevin Kobylinski, PhD, an honorary visiting research fellow at the University of Oxford with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok, in an ASTMH press release.

England is recording higher-than-normal scabies infections this winter. Health authorities have cautioned that the condition, caused by microscopic mites known as Sarcoptes scabiei that tunnel into the skin, spreads quickly through close physical contact and often leads to severe itching and irritation. Data from the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Research and Surveillance Centre shows scabies is circulating more widely than usual in England, with cases increasing through the autumn and winter months.

Also Read: Doctor Explains Why Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Are Truly A Medical Breakthrough

Scabies UK: What Is Scabies?

Scabies is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. These tiny parasites burrow beneath the skin where they survive, feed and lay eggs. The presence of the mites triggers an allergic reaction in the skin, resulting in an itchy rash. Scabies passes easily from one person to another, particularly among people living in close quarters.

If one member of a household is infected, doctors usually advise checking and treating other family members and close contacts at the same time, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Scabies UK: What Are The Early Symptoms Of Scabies?

Early signs of scabies include intense itching, which is often worse at night, along with a pimple-like rash, small blisters, and thin, irregular lines on the skin known as burrows. These symptoms commonly appear between the fingers, on the wrists, elbows, armpits, waist and genitals. According to the National Health Service, these reactions occur due to the body’s response to the mites and their eggs beneath the skin.

Symptoms do not usually appear straight away and may take three to six weeks after the initial infection to develop. However, people who have had scabies before may notice symptoms within a few days. Typical signs include severe night-time itching and small bumps, blisters or burrow-like tracks on areas such as the hands, wrists, elbows, nipples, genitals and waist.

In more severe cases, the skin may become thickened, rough and scaly. Among children and older adults, scabies can also affect the scalp, face or the soles of the feet.

Scabies UK: Are There Different Types Of Scabies?

Yes, scabies exists in several forms beyond the classic type. These include:

• Crusted (Norwegian): This form is more likely to affect people with weakened immune systems. It causes thick crusts over large areas of skin and can involve millions of mites, compared with the 10 to 15 mites typically found in classic scabies.
• Nodular: More commonly seen in children, this type affects areas such as the genitals, groin or armpits. Firm, raised lumps may persist even after the mites have been eliminated.

Scabies UK: How Is Scabies Treated?

Scabies is usually treated successfully with prescribed medicated creams and lotions called scabicides, along with careful hygiene measures. To avoid reinfection, clothes, bedding and towels should be washed at high temperatures and tumble-dried or ironed. Items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a bag for at least three days, as the mites cannot survive without contact with human skin.

Professor Michael Marks, a professor of medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former chair of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies, said the rise in cases may be linked to delays in accessing medical care and gaps in identifying and treating close contacts, which can allow the infection to continue spreading.