Tattoo Reactions

Question: tattoo reactions? I have had my tattoo for over a year and now it seems that there are bumps developing in the tattoo. I can't tell the colour of the bumps because the colour of my tat hides it i just feel these bumps and they itch. Does anyone know what this could be? Am I in trouble?

Answer: If you've had the tattoo over a year, then I wouldn't worry too much with regards to the tattoo being ruined. It could just be a temporary allergic reaction to something (scented lotion, perfume) you had over it. Don't scratch it it might spread into a rash or irritate it even more. I wouldn't recommend an anti-itch cream, cuz it could cause fading on your tattoo. Wash it with anti-bacterial soap & warm water, then moisturize it with unscented lotion and it should go away eventually.

Question: How to avoid allergic reactions to tattoo ink? So awhile back, my boyfriend's sister got a red heart tattooed on her foot and apparently she was allergic to the ink so her body rejected the tattoo and, needless to say, it's not pretty. I was just wondering if there is any way to know in advance if you are allergic to various colors of tattoo ink? Any answers would be appreciated :)

Answer: You betcha. When we do an allergy test, we'll know inside of fifteen minutes if you're allergic or not. We just smear a tiny bit of the colors that we'll be using on you under your arm, with a sterile Q-tip. If you're allergic, the area will start to break out within a few minutes. The problem is this... few people really are allergic, when you get right down to it, less than point zero five percent of the population. What people do, is confuse being irritated by the inks, to being allergic to them. If truly allergic, the pigment will not even dye the skin, the body will reject it so completely. There is a big difference in being irritated by the pigment, and having an allergic reaction. Truly allergic people are rare, and they are usually people who break out with any type of metal jewelry, including gold, silver, or platinum.

Question: I got a tattoo yesterday and box of color says tats can cause allergic reactions. Probably shouldn't coloryet? I got a box of hair color and it says that tattoos can increase allergic reactions...I just got my new tat yesterday. I'm guessing I should not color yet???? DARN!

Answer: The reason is you would be putting to much die in or on your body. The other reason is that the hair color might get into the tattoo and run or cause an infection.

Question: Tattoo Reaction, what is the best solution!!? I just got a new tattoo, and after 2 days my chest has turned red and has ben ichings lately, soon enough small red bumps are appearing. I am currently using Aquaphor to help heal my tattoo as I have used Aquaphor to my prior tattoos, as my past tattoos had reactions, but this one on my chest seemed real severe. Does anyone recommend another type of ointment to help heal my tattoo? I have read in forums AD ointment or Curel will be a better replacement for tattoo healing. In anycase how can I let this reaction calm or sooth itself? Is another ointment recommended?

Answer: AD is the best, but only use a little bit so that the color does not fade, do not pick at it and just clean it daily, even if you just apply lotion will help, your skin may just be dry.

Question: Weird tattoo reactions.? I have a smallish (2" x 4") dragon tattoo on my outer thigh that I've had for 10 years. Sometimes, when I get a mosquito bite on or near the tattoo, the whole tattoo will turn into a hive. The swelling will be confined to just the area that's been inked. It doesn't itch, and the swelling goes away in a couple of hours. It's happened maybe 8 times since I got it, but seems to be happening more frequently. The inks are black, blue, yellow and green. Has anyone else had this happen? Does anyone know what causes it? I'm not really worried, just curious.

Answer: The tattoo is starting to react some...you are developing antibodies to it and when you get a mosquito bite there, a reaction to that starts up a chain reaction to anything that is an allergen of any type in the area. My guess is the green but it can be any color.

Question: what do i do about red reaction tattoo? I have gotten a tattoo and a lot of it has been done in red. but in the last few days it has raised , scabbed and lightened up to a pink color. How do i get the swelling to stop and go back to normal? and when it heals is it possible to color that area to bring out the red or with a different color without having the same reaction?

Answer: thats only the scab, when the scab falls off it will be red underneath, dont panic about it, if you have any probs when its healed go back to the tattooist and they will touch it up for you

Question: What type of allergic reactions can people get from tattoos? I have really bad allergies. I am allergic to latex, and most metals to be exact but every since I was small I wanted to get a tattoo. Now that I am grown I am really considering getting one but some people close to me are telling me maybe I shouldnt because my allergies are so bad. I just want to know can reactions to tattoos be fatal?? Please feel free to share any experiences!! Thank You

Answer: If you are allergic to the ink of the tattoo to have it injected into your skin would be worse then you wearing latex gloves. Think more along the lines of you using a latex condom. Think of that world of pain. The only way to safely get a tattoo is find out if you are allergic to the ink. Talk to your tattoo artist, see if you can get a list (either from the artist him/herself or from the manufacturer of the ink) of the ingredients in the ink. Do this for each and every color/shade that you will be using for your tattoo. Look over that list, if you are unsure as to whither you are allergic to any of the ingredients, make an appointment with your allergist and get an allergy test. Also, find out what kind of metal the needle used for the tat is. If you are allergic to that kind of metal, find out if it is possible to use a different kind of needle. And, if its all free and clear go for it. Just remember, don't move while getting your tat, and tip your artist well. Especially for going through all this work with you. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Maybe even a pic of the tat, ne?

Question: Tattoo Allergic Reactions? I'm thinking of getting a tattoo but worried about have an allergic reaction from it. I would like to know all the symptoms and what has to be done if you are allergic to the dye. I found out today that I was allergic to the dye in a common stitch that is used during surgery. All information is helpful because I want to make an educated decision before I do this and become very ill! The place where I'm having it done is very clean. They use new stuff on every customer. Many of my family members have had tattoo's done there without any problems. I also saw something in the paper rating them as the top place around here to get one done!

Answer: Hi I am a tattoo artist and there is NO latex in tattoo ink. What this other person had a reaction to was probly the latex gloves that that tattoo artist shouldnt have used. He should have had nilon gloves. So theres a 99% chance thats why. Tattoo ink DOES have some metals in them. The only ink that I have ever herd people having a problem with is Red. You can check www.camtattoo.com for info about what is in there inks. Intenze tattoo ink is the best around so have a look there. www.studiomaxx.ca

Question: common color tattoo allergic reactions.? i was wondering.. i once heard RED is the most common tattoo color that people get reactions too... how rare is this? is it true? are there any other colors that are as bad? i once heard purple is too.... thanks ! ;) lets say i get a red tattoo and i find myself with a reaction to it... what would i do? how would i treat it?

Answer: Red pigment seems to be the most common, however rare, regardless. Sometimes these red reactions are precipitated by sun exposure - people find the rest of their tattoo is fine but the red raises up. This can resolve on its own or with medication in most cases. Proper sun protection is VITAL to the care of tattoos. The worst case scenario is that the tattoo will have to be removed. Sometimes it just means some of the ink needs to be released and it is fine, though. A word about skin testing - useless. People do not react to their tattoos right away - there has to be something there that causes the reaction - an antigen sort of thing goes on. This is why people discover they are allergic to their second tattoos (still very rare).

Question: is there a tx for skin reactions caused by mercury in red tattoo dye? My daughter has tattoos on both wrists. She has had them for a couple of years but recently has developed irritation and swelling on both sites. One Doc says, "oh well that's what you get for having tattoos" and another just says "humph?" Is there something that can be done to eliminate the irritation? Should she be worried that her symptoms will worsen to something more?

Answer: I think Iodine is used for the red color in tattoos, not mercury. Mercury is known cancer agent. The reaction may be due to an allegy or something, but because the stuff is actually embedded in the skin, there is no topical medicine that is going to work. If drugs are used and it truley is an allergy, once you stop taking whatever RX, you will likely have the rash return. I think the only permanent solution is to have them removed by laser. This breaks up the inks and releases them into the body to be eliminated. If not, have her go to an allergist and get tested for all the stuff they use to ink tattoos ans see for sure if thats causing the rash. If they are a couple of years old, then it is not a bacterial infection because that would have become apparent soon after she go tthe tattoos.