I've had this idea for a tattoo for a long time, and just as I was about to get it done, I was telling a friend and he talked me out of it. He said that there was a risk of infection, that you could get blood poisoning, or even hepatitis and other diseases... what should I do?

There are always risks when you put needles or any foreign substance into your body. I think the risks are minimal if you go to a reputable tattooist. There are certainly many people, male and female, who have very nice tattoos and no problems.

I have no idea what your age is, but I think it's a good idea to also consider how this tattoo will work with the upcoming years of your life. They are very difficult to get removed.

All 4 of my sons have tattoos and the only time there was an infection was when one tried to remove a tattoo in later years. Give it a lot of consideration and if you really want one, and check the credentials of the artist before allowing him to do artwork on you. You may want to speak to one of his previous clients to see the kind of work he does too.

If you do your proper research and pick a clean, reputable shop with an up to date license, your risks for Hepatitis are low. You always want to make sure they are strict about sterilization -- if the atmosphere in the shop is dirty, don't get your tattoo there.

Yes, there is a risk of infection, but think about this : every time you get an open sore on your body, there is a risk for infection. As long as you care for the tattoo properly, like you would any cut or scrape, the tattoo will treat you right. The same concept goes for blood poisoning -- keep the tattoo neat and clean, and blood poisoning should not be a worry.

If you care for your body art, it will care for you. :)