my experience with ink allergies and subsequent infection

the aftermath, at this point:



well, I got this tattoo a while ago now, and basically I was really allergic to a shade of blue that was used in it. it kept scabbing over, and ink would leak from inside the scabs, then the scabs would fall off and reform, over and over. it was completely nasty.

then, somewhere along the line, since it was an open wound essentially for so long I picked up an infection.

got myself to the doctor and went on a lot of heavy antibiotics. they had me soak the area in warm water and gently remove skin (with the aid of painkillers :]) that would grow back over the site of the reaction/infection. eventually, it seemed to have healed up nicely.

but once I got off the antibiotics, redness started to come back in the area, and I had weird, scaly skin growth over the areas of the reaction.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and was told it was a form of eczema related to my allergy. I got some cream to put on it, and they told me the skin should go back to normal eventually.


Overall, it was quite an ordeal.

I am prone to dye allergy in foods (I am severely allergic to red food dye), so maybe this cosmetic dye allergy is related in some way.

basically, if you are prone to any such things, I would recommend asking your artist for a small 'spot test' with the colors that will be used in your art. they might charge you for it, but after all this shit I'd say it's definitely worth it.

 

Sorry to hear about that. Sounds pretty bad. Hopefully it will heal up decent enough.

 

Ugh all that sounds like fun. Sorry man.

 

Yes, allergic reactions are a risk to tattooing, and anybody who is prone to allergic reactions(like you) should get a spot test before getting a bigger piece. Thank you for spreading the info and personal story.

I'm sorry yours is so severe; you're somewhat unusual. I had a very slight reaction to some reds, but it was like a minor tingling/itch and only a problem when when my hayfever was flaring up. Hopefully, with time, your reaction will be less severe. Mine has gotten better. As a side note, oral allergy pills like benadryl and claritin help with the reaction.

 

Eczematous hypersensitivity reactions (one of the reactions in decorative tattooing) the two most common hypersensitivity reactions/tattoo allergies to tattoo pigments are allergic contact dermatitis and photoallergenic dermatitis. The reaction usually appears as an inflamed red rash or may sometimes be scaly and flaky (exfoliative dermatitis). Red tattoo pigments cause the most reactions, particularly those made from mercury sulfide (cinnabar). Hypersensitivity reactions to pigments used to make black, blue and green tattoos are much less common.

 

ouch! sorry to hear that hope it heals ok

 

You mean to tell me you got that tattoo...on purpose? And PAID someone? Why?