The Darker Months: A Health Update.
Dear friends,
As we move into the quieter months, I need to make a few changes to my tattoo schedule to care for my health. I value being transparent with you, especially when something affects the time we have set aside together.
I live with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory condition that can affect different parts of the body. For me, the skin symptoms include raised, inflamed areas within my tattoos, joint pain, and brain fog. I am also working through new pulmonary symptoms involving my breathing and chest, alongside fatigue and flare-ups, while seeking further evaluation and care.
With new doctors’ appointments and the unpredictability of these symptoms, some appointments this winter will likely need to be rescheduled. If yours is affected, I will reach out directly with as much notice as possible.
Until further notice, I will be tattooing for a maximum of four hours per client, per appointment. Larger pieces may require additional sessions. If you already have a longer appointment booked, I will be in touch to discuss how this affects our plans.
Your time matters to me. I know an appointment can mean arranging childcare, taking time away from work, traveling, and setting aside money for something deeply personal. I do not take those commitments lightly, and I understand that changes can create a real inconvenience.
Your trust and financial support sustain both my livelihood and the work I care so deeply about. I am profoundly grateful for that. To continue giving your tattoos the attention and care they deserve, I need to keep my workload manageable, especially during flare-ups. These limits are necessary, even when I wish I could do more.
I am also reinstating the following health policies:
If you feel sick before your appointment, please contact me to reschedule. Please do not arrive hoping to work through it.
If you have been sick recently, a mask is required at your appointment, even if you are feeling better.
Even a runny nose requires a mask. If it is part of an illness, or you are unsure whether you are getting sick, please contact me before coming in so we can reschedule.
I will have masks available at the studio if you need one.
Protecting my health is essential to keeping appointments available and continuing this work. I am currently on a short dose of medications that lower my immune system. Thank you for taking these requirements seriously.
Your patience gives me room to care for my body while continuing to create. Every returning client, every new project, and every word of support means more than I can easily express. Thank you for the stories you entrust to my hands, and for helping me keep this little corner of art and connection alive through a more difficult season.
With so much gratitude,
Ceferina Vale