So I have a tattoo on my wrist. I’ve had it for almost 2 years, and got it touched up about 3 1/2 months ago, which apparently was a very very bad idea. I also went to a shop that I had never been to before, like an idiot. The artist touched up the black and red in the bat (he also messed up my tattoos outline, but that’s another story :mad:) and it was really swollen and hurt but I figured that was just because it was a touch up, my mom who has 30+ tattoos also told me not to worry. about a week after the touch up it was really itchy and started flaking in the red area. I scratched part of the red and a piece of it came off and put a hole in the tattoo, but it didn’t ooze at all, it was dry. a couple days later the same thing happened but it flaked off because the tattoo rubbed against my jackets zipper. and then it happened a third time, none of them oozed. so I have 3 holes in my tattoo and there are also these little black/gray spots all through the red. It’s still really itchy and it looks like there’s going to be more holes soon. I’ve gone to a dermatologist and they just said they didn’t know what it was. they thought it might be a fungus infection and told me to use Lamisil. It hasn’t helped at all. I have 2 other tattoos and haven’t had any problems with those, and before the touch up this tattoo was perfect. I don’t know if its a red reaction or some kind of infection. If any of you guys have had anything like this happen to you please help!
you can’t really see the little black/gray spots but they are there :(.
ps, sorry for the long ass explanation/question.
Hi Genna, sorry to see that you have this worry about your tattoo, I can’t offer any advice I’m afraid, I’d be worried I gave the wrong advice. I’m sure someone will be along shortly who can give you an idea what to do for the best, until then the best advice i can give you is to do nothing, just hold on for someone a bit more experienced.
thanks for your concern.
does anybody have any advice? I really need some help 🙁 another scab just came off.
Hi
Yes I have seen this issue before and the first thing is not to panic.
There are two factors involved here – the first is that you are likely having a red ink reaction which is causing the area of skin to blister and peel.
(Click on my sig and check out the chapter on tattoo inks).
The second is that the scratching, rubbing, and picking has left it open to an infection. This could either be the fungal infection or a general bacteria one.
The main thing is that you have to keep the area sterile and this means no picking, scratching, rubbing or touching of the tattoo with nails – it can lead to blood poisoning and scarring.
You are going to have a period of time where the tattoo is going to blister like mad keep having holes form in the tattoo.
DO NOT BURST THESE! I cannot stress this enough – your skin is likely having a toxic reaction and is trying to slough off the infected areas by forcing the pigment up out of the lower dermis.
You will have to keep bathing the area and keeping it clean with an antibacterial wash.
The main battle here is stopping the area from getting a major infection and spreading so do not be shy with cleaning it. The ink below is likely fucked up and will leave a pink colour where the new skin is underneath – cannot be avoided and I am sorry about that. 🙁
The tattoo will have to stop blistering before you can do any further touch ups – this will likely be followed by a period where the skin may be;
Scaly/dry
Taut or tight but silver in complexion
Raised, blistered, or potholed.
The best you can do is
1. Keep it washed 2-3 times a day with an antibacterial wash.
2. Moisturise with a non-scented cream this will help with the itch.
3. Pat dry and avoid any friction on the tattooed area.
4. The use of an antiseptic is optional – this is for 2 reasons it may react with the skin further and cause more irritation and will certainly lift more ink. You may have to test.
The amount of time it can take to fully heal is anything from 1-6 mths (or longer) this is because the reactive elements have to be forced by the body from the skin and may form a new layer of scar tissue which will take time to heal before being re-tattooed. This would be best to leave for at least 2 months.
I am sorry there is nothing further I can suggest as it is a toxic reaction by the sound of it – maybe speak with a Dr who has experience in skin toxicology?
Good luck and take care
Matthew
Yes I have seen this issue before and the first thing is not to panic.
There are two factors involved here – the first is that you are likely having a red ink reaction which is causing the area of skin to blister and peel.
(Click on my sig and check out the chapter on tattoo inks).
The second is that the scratching, rubbing, and picking has left it open to an infection. This could either be the fungal infection or a general bacteria one.
The main thing is that you have to keep the area sterile and this means no picking, scratching, rubbing or touching of the tattoo with nails – it can lead to blood poisoning and scarring.
You are going to have a period of time where the tattoo is going to blister like mad keep having holes form in the tattoo.
DO NOT BURST THESE! I cannot stress this enough – your skin is likely having a toxic reaction and is trying to slough off the infected areas by forcing the pigment up out of the lower dermis.
You will have to keep bathing the area and keeping it clean with an antibacterial wash.
The main battle here is stopping the area from getting a major infection and spreading so do not be shy with cleaning it. The ink below is likely fucked up and will leave a pink colour where the new skin is underneath – cannot be avoided and I am sorry about that. 🙁
The tattoo will have to stop blistering before you can do any further touch ups – this will likely be followed by a period where the skin may be;
Scaly/dry
Taut or tight but silver in complexion
Raised, blistered, or potholed.
The best you can do is
1. Keep it washed 2-3 times a day with an antibacterial wash.
2. Moisturise with a non-scented cream this will help with the itch.
3. Pat dry and avoid any friction on the tattooed area.
4. The use of an antiseptic is optional – this is for 2 reasons it may react with the skin further and cause more irritation and will certainly lift more ink. You may have to test.
The amount of time it can take to fully heal is anything from 1-6 mths (or longer) this is because the reactive elements have to be forced by the body from the skin and may form a new layer of scar tissue which will take time to heal before being re-tattooed. This would be best to leave for at least 2 months.
I am sorry there is nothing further I can suggest as it is a toxic reaction by the sound of it – maybe speak with a Dr who has experience in skin toxicology?
Good luck and take care
Matthew
Thank you so much! I’m so glad somebody finally knew something about whats happening. I have one more question, do you think I should keep a bandage on that part of the tattoo to avoid getting dirt and such in it? Or would it be better to just leave it uncovered? I know that usually you leave a tattoo uncovered when its healing, but I’m not sure if these are special circumstances. Also, since you said the ink underneath is messed up and going to leave a pink color on the skin, it will still be able to be tattooed over, right? Since I’m going to end up trying to get a pink color instead of red next time.
Once again thank you, you’ve helped me so much you don’t even know! 🙂
Hi
If you do bandage you will have to replace daily as the sweat build up will create a soreness on the area and bacteria build up can create an infection.
The top layer of the tattoo has to peel away either in part or in whole depending on how bad the reaction is. It should slough off like dead skin but takes time.
The ink below is usually much paler or blotchy because the pigment has been rejected by the dermis (lower skin). You have wait at least 6 weeks for the tissue beneath to heal before a re-tattoo.
If you are finding it is not healing I would suggest hitting the red patch with a laser and breaking down the pigment so that it can be replaced in the future by safer ink.
Take Care
Matthew
If you do bandage you will have to replace daily as the sweat build up will create a soreness on the area and bacteria build up can create an infection.
The top layer of the tattoo has to peel away either in part or in whole depending on how bad the reaction is. It should slough off like dead skin but takes time.
The ink below is usually much paler or blotchy because the pigment has been rejected by the dermis (lower skin). You have wait at least 6 weeks for the tissue beneath to heal before a re-tattoo.
If you are finding it is not healing I would suggest hitting the red patch with a laser and breaking down the pigment so that it can be replaced in the future by safer ink.
Take Care
Matthew
Ok. Thank you for all the advice! You’ve really helped me 🙂
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