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“I had carpal tunnel.
Getty Images; Clara Hendler/Allure
I also just have a lot of hand pain and wrists.
My hands, my wrists, my forearms.
It sounds like I’m a wreck.
Debra Yarian tattooing
This underemphasized occupational hazard comes as a result of holding a vibrating instrument while seated for hours on end.
Onlyone studyexists on the prevalence of chronic pain among tattoo artists, she notes.
The muscle is basically screaming for blood flow and oxygen that’s where the pain signals come from.”
Ariel Wei at work
Now, the level of appreciation I have for tattoo artists and the body art I have has raised.
Since she was 19, Yarian has had a tattoo machine in her hand.
The second decade brought Yarian neck and lower back pain.
Mira Mariah at work
“It’s really toxic,” she adds.
Take 27-year-old Ariel Wei, a tattoo artist in New York City known as@arielisgood, for example.
At the time, she wasn’t tattooing full time, so the pain was bearable.
Thomarya “Tee” Fergus
“I can’t really straighten my back at the end of the day,” Wei tellsAllure.
Her popular Instagram account,@girlknewyork, is also a resource for her transparency.
Toronto-based tattoo artistThomarya “Tee” Fergusattests to such.
Montserrat Andreys
Thomarya Tee Fergus
Thankfully, technology is advancing to hopefully remedy this situation.
Because of this, the tattoo industry doesn’t have any sort of workers' compensation.
Montserrat Andreys
To makehealth caremore accessible for artists, Andreys just released a three-hour webinar calledHealthyInk.
Ariel Wei
They can also save the webinar and refer to it whenever needed.
(you’re able to get $25 off of it with the code ALLURE.)
To manage their pain, artists often take breaks in between and during appointments.
They also take fewer appointments, even when they have thousands of appointment requests awaiting them.
Although she recently had to take some time off after getting minor back surgery, Wei barely takes vacations.
“I love tattooing, so not being able to work makes me anxious,” she says.
Debra Yarian
Tests showed she had a torn rotator cuffandbicep on her left arm from the wear and tear of tattooing.
“I’m right-handed,” she notes.
But tattooing requires yourwholebody.
This causes the non-dominant shoulder and neck area to take a beating, Andreys says.
She also replaced her actual chair after experiencing sciatic nerve pain and seeing neurologists.
Yarian regularly sees therapeutic pain specialists to learn new, ergonomic ways toadjust her postureand movements during her workday.
“That has really been helping me to see pain differently,” she says.
Wei also goes to physical therapy once a week.
“There’s little things like extending their elbow and then dipping into the ink,” she explains.
When asked if chronic pain affects their rates, all of the tattoo artists quickly confirm it doesn’t.
Mariah points out her rates are expensive to begin with.
“They aren’t do-overs for them.”
Although Wei is only 27, she’s worried about how long she will be able to tattoo for.
“Im always thinking about my future and my career.”
Woo, have found ways to share their designs beyond inking them on skin and creating full-fledged personal brands.
BothWeiandMariahwork with Inkbox to provide their art as long-lasting temporary tattoos.
With her latest break, her plan has changed.
Now, she doesn’t have a set age for retirement.
Debra Yarian
What keeps Yarian going through it all: she loves tattooing.
Yes, it’s as simple as that.
She doesn’t wax poetic about it.
Instead, “I tattoo; my husband tattoos.
Now, four of my children tattoo, she says.
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