yup I've had all sorts of weird reactions to ink that happened months later.
To begin with it depends on the rash, if it is a dry or wet (open oozing). Tattoo lines often create minor layers of scar tissue. Even if a person doesn't have an allergic reaction it is common for the areas of tissue to raise up. Sometimes it is a reaction to the blood vessels contracting. For myself I have lines inside of my tattoos that will raise up but not the whole design, though the ink is the same through out.
Ok so bumpy vs. itchy.
Bumpy but not open, not itchy, can be safely lumped into the fun land of you probably have scar tissue in that section. Like many forms of scar tissue it probably will calm down over time as it softens and becomes more supple.
Itchy or oozy is the big concern. Itchy can be from fiddling with the bumps which in turn can be confusing.
So what to do if you have an itchy oozy tattoo many months after said ink was inserted under the skin? I'd begin with suggesting a trip to the dermatologist. Ask around and you maybe able to find a tattoo savvy one. If not and you're on your own this is what I would recommend....
1. Stop putting creams, steriods, anti itch meds, anything at all on it. You sat through a needle buzzing over your hide you can probably wheel out enough self control itch tolerance to let your body deal with it for a few days. Often moisturizers, soaps, creams, aggreviate the skin. Do not put ANYTHING on the area for at least a week. try not to wear clothes that may be in direct contact with it or if you can't help it, make sure the clothing does not have laundry soap or fabric softner on it. Some folks make an organic cotton patch that can rest over the area like a sleeve.
2. Salt water soaks. Dissolve enough salt in warm water that it tastes slightly salty but not sharp. Soak the area in warm salt water 3 times a day.
3. Reexamine. Okay after a week of not having any 'stuff' on the area and soaking it, how's it doing? If better I'd suggest the tattoo may have made a patch of your skin hypersensitive and you'll have to be vigilant about not getting trigger products on it.
If it is still wet and oozy and itch you must get yourself to a dermatologist and yes they may suggest laser treatments to have the ink removed.
I had a weird experience this year when a small section of a recently healed tattoo got itchy and oozy. then it would heal and the patch would move an inch or so up or down the tattoo. I started getting freaked out as this poison ivy like area about an inch wide would wander up and down my arm. finally I thought about non tattoo related causes for it and realized that it happened when I was wearing one particular hooded sweatshirt. Turns out there was a piece of some plant leaf/oil caught in the wooly fabric of the sleeve and it had nothing to do with the tattoo at all. Big ol' red herring.
Most allergic reactions will manifest within 3 months but the range for hypersenstivity is unknown. Some people get hives just in their tattoos from eating fruit. Really. |
