Topic Overview
Problems after getting a tattoo
Tattoos and permanent makeup have been used by
most cultures for centuries and recently have become very popular with both men
and women. Most people who have a tattoo do not develop any problems. Home
treatment can help speed healing and prevent problems.
A tattoo is
a series of puncture wounds that carry dye into the different levels of the
skin. At first, the tattoo may be swollen and there may be some crusting on the
surface. It is normal for the tattoo to ooze small amounts of blood for up to
24 hours, and it may ooze clear, yellow, or blood-tinged fluid for several
days.
Problems with tattoos include:
Be sure to consider all aspects of getting a tattoo. A
tattoo should be considered permanent.
Tattoo removal is hard and may cause scarring. It
may not be possible to completely remove a tattoo and restore your normal skin
color and texture. If you have not yet made a decision about tattooing, see the
Prevention section for information about tattooing.
Temporary
tattoos, such as
henna tattoos (mehndi), may also cause problems. Although most of the
ingredients in temporary tattoos are safe for application to the skin, there
have been reports of allergic skin reactions (contact dermatitis) to the
ingredients in some of the tattoos. Henna tattoos are not approved for use by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Henna is a plant-based dye and is
approved for use only as a hair dye.
Consumers and health professionals are encouraged to
report adverse reactions to tattoos and permanent
makeup, as well as reactions to temporary tattoos.
Check your symptoms to
decide if and when you should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
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Home Treatment
Caring for a tattoo
Most minor swelling and redness
(inflammation) from a tattoo can be treated at home. If your tattoo artist gave
you instructions, follow them carefully.
If you did not receive
instructions for skin care of the tattoo site, try the following:
- Stop any bleeding. Minimal bleeding can be
stopped by applying direct pressure to the wound. It is normal for the tattoo
site to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours and clear, yellow, or
blood-tinged fluid for several days.
- Apply a
cold pack to help reduce the swelling, bruising, or
itching. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage.
Put a layer of fabric between the cold pack and the skin.
- Take an
antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, to
help treat
hives and relieve itching. Be sure to read and follow
any warning on the label. Do not use strong soaps, detergents, and other
chemicals, which can make itching worse.
- Protect your tattoo with a
bandage if it might become dirty or irritated.
- Apply an antibiotic ointment, such as
Polysporin or Bacitracin, to a nonstick bandage, such as
Telfa.
- Apply the nonstick bandage with the ointment on it to the
tattoo site. The ointment will prevent the irritated skin from sticking to the
bandage. Putting the ointment on the bandage first will be less painful. If a
skin rash or itching under the bandage starts, wash the ointment off and don't
use that type of ointment again. The rash may mean an allergic
reaction.
- Apply a clean bandage once a day and change the bandage
if it gets wet. If the bandage sticks, soak the tattoo area in warm water
for a few minutes or take the bandage off under running water in the
shower.
- Leave the bandage off with the skin open to air whenever
you can.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription
| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your pain: |
|
|
Safety tips
| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
- Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than the
recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
-
Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20
unless your doctor tells you to.
|
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
Prevention
Preventing tattoo problems
You can prevent problems from developing
at your tattoo site. Review the following guidelines and information before
making your decision to tattoo a part of your body.
- Do not get a tattoo while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
- Get a
tetanus shot before your tattooing if you have not had
one in the past 10 years.
- Choose an experienced person who uses
sterile gloves and sterilized equipment to do the tattoo. Ask the person doing
the tattoo how he or she cleans the equipment and what
safety standards he or she follows. Sterile gloves and
sterilized equipment should be used. A fresh pair of gloves should be used for
each procedure. Make sure that the operator
washes his or her hands before putting on the gloves.
Ask the operator to change his or her gloves if he or she answers the telephone
or does anything else during your procedure.
- Check the studio and
see whether it looks clean. Ask the operator about sterilizing techniques and
safety standards.
- If you think you may
want to have your tattoo removed at a later date—dark blue, black, and red are
the easiest colors to remove with lasers. Bright colors—blue, green, and
yellow—are hard, if not impossible, to remove.
- If you have had
an
allergic reaction to tattoo dye in the past, do not
get any more tattoos. Be sure your health professionals know about these
allergies.
- Wear medical alert jewelry such as a
MedicAlert tag if you have had an allergic reaction after a
tattoo.
- If you have had an allergic reaction to the
henna used in a temporary tattoo, you have a higher
chance of developing a skin reaction to hair dye. Mix up a small amount of the
dye solution and paint it on a small patch of skin, such as the inside of your
wrist, to see if you are going to have a reaction to it. Do not use the hair
dye if your skin turns red or itches.
- Check with your city or county health department to
find out whether there have been any complaints about the studio you are
thinking of using.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
Questions to prepare for your appointment
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to
answer the following questions:
- Who did the tattoo? Where is the tattoo artist
located?
- When did you have the tattoo?
- Where on your
body is the tattoo? Have you had previous tattoos?
- What are your
main symptoms? When did your symptoms start?
- Were sterile
instruments used?
- What home treatment measures have you used to
clean or treat your tattoo? Be sure to include any nonprescription ointments or
creams you have applied to the tattoo.
- What prescription and
nonprescription medicines do you take?
- When was your last
tetanus shot?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
|
Last Revised
|
May 3, 2012 |