What is a tattoo?
A tattoo is a form of permanent body modification through marks or designs made on your skin by inserting ink, dyes and pigments, either indelible or temporary into the dermis skin's top layer through pricks. Typically, the tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine that acts much like a sewing machine, with one or more needles piercing the skin repeatedly. With every puncture, the needles insert tiny ink droplets. The process — which is done without anesthetics — causes a small amount of bleeding and slight to potentially significant pain. The art of making tattoos is called tattooing. Tattoos fall into three broad categories: purely decorative; symbolic; and pictorial.
Risk or side effects from getting a tattoo:
- Skin Infections:
A skin infection is possible after tattooing.
- Allergic reactions:
Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such
as an itchy rash at the tattoo area.
- Other skin problems:
Sometimes an area of inflammation called a granuloma can form around tattoo ink. Tattooing also can lead to keloids —
raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
- Bloodborne diseases:
If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne
diseases — including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
- MRI complications:
Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image.
How to look after a tattoo?
How you care for your new tattoo depends on the type and extent of work done.
Typically, however, you'll need to:
Keep the tattooed skin clean:
Use plain soap and water and a gentle touch.
While showering:
Avoid direct streams of water on the newly tattooed skin. Pat — don't rub — the area dry.
Use moisturizer:
Apply a mild moisturizer to the tattooed skin several times a day.
Avoid sun exposure:
Keep the tattooed area out of the sun for at least a few weeks.
Avoid swimming:
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while your tattoo is healing.
Choose clothing carefully:
Don't wear anything that might stick to the tattoo.
Allow up to 2 weeks for healing:
Don't pick at any scabs, which increases the risk of infection and can damage the design and cause scarring.
If you think your tattoo might be infected or you're concerned that your tattoo isn't healing properly, contact your
doctor. If your tattoo isn't what you expected and you're interested in tattoo removal, ask your dermatologist about
laser surgery or other options for tattoo removal.