Eczema And Tattoos
Are you thinking of getting yourselves inked? There may be many thoughts with eczema and tattoos such as can i get a tattoo with eczema? Is it safe to get tattoo? Is tattoo safe for my sensitive skin? Also, you may be thinking that’s great and all, but how does that relate to eczema as well?
Having eczema makes your skin infinitely worse as you have to deal with all the stress of passing and moving on with this thing as soon as possible, which means you can’t stop ripping out chunks of your skin.
Tattoos seem to be more popular nowadays so each and every individual can be seen asking for tattoo appointments. But certain eczema symptoms, such as itchiness and redness, can be a signal of getting the eczema flare-ups soon.
If this is the case, you may reschedule your tattoo appointment and hold it until your eczema flare-up has completely passed.
There are some medical experts who don’t recommend getting a tattoo if you are the one suffering from eczema; however, there are thousands of people who have done this without any problem.
According to Anton Alexandroff, from the British Association of Dermatologists said that
“There are certain skin conditions when people shouldn’t get tattoos, but with eczema, it generally makes no difference,” as every eczema sufferer is different and may react differently.
In this article, we will look at the possible effects of getting a tattoo. Eczema and Tattoos is an interesting topic so let’s have a look at it.
Tattoos involve deliberately placing permanent colors into your skin and considering the popularity of getting yourselves inked, these tattoos complications are relatively rare. A tattoo is not just ink drawn on the surface but is injected several layers into your skin.
However, the introduction of foreign substances into the skin can sometimes result in an immunological response
Can a person with eczema get a tattoo?
Tattoos can cause eczema flare-up along with an allergic reaction.
Getting a tattoo basically involves aggravating and heating your skin, as well as putting a foreign substance into it, so all of this could cause your eczema to flare-up.
They use needle to tatoo your skin which is then heated and pierced in your skin, these both are an excellent triggers for eczema.
the tattoo will take longer to heal If you have an eczema flare-up while getting it .
There are a lot of unknowns with eczema, and you may never in your life stop discovering new triggers for your sensitive skin.
It is highly unlikely that you will have a long-term reaction to the tattoo, just another case of eczema to get past.
There are a lot of different types of eczema such as eczema on hands, facial eczema, eczema on legs, Weeping Eczema, Dyshidrotic Eczema, Follicular Eczema, Eyelid Dermatitis, Eczema Herpeticum, or Neck Eczema . If it’s the intrinsic eczema that people have within them, I don’t think that there’s a major link.
But if you have inflamed eczema in the area you are tattooing, it could increase the risk of an infection. I wouldn’t recommend that, and I’m sure that tattoo artists wouldn’t do it, either.”
Another important thing to consider here is the tattoo ink, it can cause allergic reaction in case your skin is sensitive.
Can Tattoos cause eczema flare-ups?
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Even if you get yourselves inked by a licensed tattoo artist and carefully follow the aftercare regimen, your skin can still react in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, tattoos may cause eczema flare-ups because of the foreign triggers being injected into the skin.
People with eczema can often get an itchy rash at the site of the tattoo. Although there are many people who get tattoos and end up with a slight inflammation at the tattoo site, eczema sufferers can receive added itchiness, redness, inflammation and even pain.
Ink for sensitive skin
tattoo inks come in different varietiesSome tattoo artists already have ink for sensitive skin on hand.It’s also important to know that a tattoo artist may not have the legal right to work on your skin if you have any lesions related to your eczema flare-up. You’ll need to wait until your skin has healed before getting a tattoo.
Questions to ask your tattoo artist
If you have eczema or sensitive skin, ask your tattoo artist these questions before getting a tattoo:
- Does he have experience with eczema-prone skin?
- Does he use ink made for sensitive skin? If not, can it be ordered ?
- What aftercare recommendations does he have?
- What should I do if I get eczema underneath my new tattoo?
- Is he licensed?
- Does he use single-use needles and ink and other sterilization methods?
Are there any risks of getting a tattoo if you have eczema?
Eczema tends to run in families and worsen by eczema triggers that include:
- Allergies
- Illnesses
- Certain chemicals
- pollutants
When you have eczema or other preexisting skin conditions like acne, psoriasis or rosacea, your skin becomes sensitive and you may be at an increased risk of developing allergies that may risk your health.
Risks may include:
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Eczema flare-ups
- Hyper- or hypopigmentation
- Patchy skin
- Skin inflammation
- Scarring from a tattoo
- Keloids development
Can tattoo artists refuse service?
Yes, this is obvious that few tattoo artists may refuse to place a tattoo on an affected area of skin as the heat from a needle used to engrave a tattoo on your skin may cause eczema flares. So, it’s a great idea to talk about the book an appointment in a tattoo parlor and discuss it in detail before getting yourselves tattooed.
Eczema sufferers need to be aware of getting a tattoo for the first time so here are few important things that need to be considered when thinking about getting a tattoo if you have eczema.
- Tattoo inks are deposited deep in the dermis, just below the epidermis (a layer of skin affected by eczema), so they will not get damaged by itchiness.
- There’s a very slight possibility of an allergic reaction to the dyes so think twice before getting a tattoo
- If you’ve got eczema, you’re more likely to have sensitive skin, so do plan a perfect skincare regimen carefully with the medical consultation
Skin Reactions Caused By Tattoos:
If you’re having a skin reaction, here’s what may be happening with your skin and what you can do to prevent it.
- Skin Rashes:
You can develop an allergic reaction at any time. It can happen:
- Immediately
- Weeks or years later
- Decades afterward
Some people develop an allergic reaction after having medical treatment. This reaction is most likely to occur if you:
- Start anti retroviral treatment for HIV
- Have joint-replacement surgery
Signs of skin rashes may include:
- Itchiness
- Scaly patches
- Redness
- Skin inflammation
- Blisters
- Flaky skin
- A watery fluid oozing out from the area
Take action immediately and consult your doctor before it gets too late.
- Skin Infections:
An infection can appear:
- Days or months after getting inked
- Immediately after getting a tattoo
If an infection develops, your skin reacts differently. You may notice one or more of the following:
- Redness
- Painful bumps
- High Fever
- Pus in the tattoo
- Chills and shivering
- Open sores in the tattoo
Medical help is recommended and also talk to your tattoo artist if anything you can apply to diminish the infection.
- Sun allergy:
After getting a tattoo, some people may also develop a sun allergy on their inked skin. This reaction can happen each and every time the skin is exposed in the sunlight.
Signs of a sun allergy appear within a few minutes of the sun hitting your tattoo or hours later. You may notice any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling and redness around a tattoo
- Itchy rash
- Blisters or hives
You can prevent your skin from the sun by applying sunscreen lotion of SPF-30 just 15 minutes prior to heading out in the sun and staying in shady areas while stepping outside. Covering the tattoo may also relieve eczema symptoms.
- Ink Allergy:
You can develop an allergic reaction any time as soon as you get a tattoo. It can happen:
- Immediately
- Weeks or years later
- Decades afterward
There are many people who develop an allergy to a specific color of ink mainly red ink. When this happens, you may notice one or more of the following in only one color of ink:
- Redness and swelling
- Itch
- Small pimple-like bumps
- Raised, scaly patches
- Deep lumps
- Blisters
- Skin crusts or flakes off
- A watery fluid leaking from the area
It is recommended to seek immediate medical help so that you may not risk your health at any cost.
Is there any special ink for sensitive skin?
Tattoo inks come in various assortments and some tattoo artists have ink for the delicate skin as well. There may be various shops that may need to arrange it ahead of time.
It’s much more important to realize that a tattoo artist might not have the legitimate ideal to chip away at your skin on the off chance that you have any sores identified with your dermatitis erupt. You’ll have to hold up until your skin before getting a tattoo. Also, vegan ink doesn’t contain metal or any other toxic elements like artificial coloring so it won’t be a cause of eczema in some cases.
Ask you, tattoo artist, this list of questions if you are the one suffering from atopic dermatitis or eczema.
Questions include:
- Do you have any experience of a tattoo on an eczema-prone skin?
- Do you use ink made for sensitive skin?
- Can I purchase my own ink?
- What aftercare skin regimen do you provide for a eczema skin?
- What should I do if I get eczema underneath my new tattoo?
- Are you a licensed tattoo artist?
- Do you use sterilized needles?
- What are the sterilization methods?
Tips to Prevent eczema flareup after getting a tattoo:
- Opt for a professional tattoo parlor with a licensed tattoo artist.
- Ensure that everything is in sterile packaging.
- Always have the area patch tested before tattooing.
- Contact your tattoo artist if you notice something suspicious about your tattoo after you get inked.
- Never miss a chance to talk to your dermatologist before you get yourselves inked if you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis.
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before touching your new tattoo.
- Leave that bandage in place for 24 hours as the tattoo artist has left.
- Switch to a fragrance-free moisturizer to prevent itchiness.
- Avoid scratching or picking at your tattoo while it heals as this can introduce bacteria into your skin.
As skin will be damaged and become extremely sensitive, it is necessary for extra hydration as well and proper care is necessary for maintaining the healthy appearance of skin and ensuring a beautiful final tattoo. If you have eczema then carefully treat your skin condition by following these:
- Opt for an oatmeal bath for eczema if there is itchiness and skin inflammation
- Use a body lotion that contains oatmeal
- Cocoa butter can help soothe dry skin
- Try Epsom Salt Bath
- Baking Soda bath
- Apply neem oil or
- Aloe Vera on the skin where you have tattoo or piercings
Suffering from eczema doesn’t mean you can’t get a tattoo on your skin, however, it is always a great idea to talk to your dermatologist and a tattoo artist before planning for a tattoo with eczema. Also, it’s never a good idea to get a tattoo with an active flare-up.
