South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-111 - STANDARDS FOR LICENSING TATTOO FACILITIES
Sec2 61-111.900 - CLIENT PROCEDURES AND SERVICES (I)

A. A facility shall only provide tattooing and shall not engage in any other retail business including, but not limited to, the sale of goods or performing any form of body piercing, other than tattooing. The sale of specific tattoo aftercare goods and services is permitted.

B. A tattoo artist shall verify by means of a picture identification that a client is at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall not perform or offer to perform tattooing upon a person under the age of eighteen (18).

C. The facility shall perform tattooing only for those persons for which the facility can provide the appropriate accommodations and services.

D. Tattooing shall not be performed upon a person impaired by drugs or alcohol. A person impaired by drugs or alcohol is considered incapable of consenting to tattooing and incapable of understanding tattoo procedures and aftercare suggestions.

E. Tattooing shall not be performed on skin surfaces having rash, pimples, boils, keloids, sunburn, open lesions, infections, or that manifest any evidence of unhealthy conditions.

F. A tattoo artist shall not tattoo any part of the head, face, or neck of another person.

G. Prior to performing a procedure on a client, the tattoo artist shall obtain information from the client regarding any existing condition(s) that could affect the healing process, such as allergies to medications, tattoo dyes or inks, or to latex, or taking medications such as anticoagulants that thin the blood and/or interfere with blood clotting. If a client indicates the presence of such a condition, the facility shall obtain documentation from a physician or other legally authorized healthcare provider that the procedure is not contraindicated prior to the tattooing procedure.

H. Inks, dyes or pigments used in tattooing shall be nontoxic, obtained from a commercial supplier or manufacturer and specifically manufactured for tattooing, and shall be used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and standard professional practice. Products banned or restricted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shall not be used.

I. The facility shall provide aftercare recommendations to the client to include but not be limited to:

J. Clients shall be given the opportunity to participate in aftercare programs if offered by the facility. (II)

K. During all operating hours, tattooing shall not be performed unless there is an experienced tattoo artist present in the facility.

L. The tattoo artist is not authorized to remove a tattoo(s) or perform micropigmentation or permanent cosmetic procedures. Tattoo removal, micropigmentation or permanent cosmetic procedures shall be provided only by physicians or other legally authorized healthcare providers.