131 Tattoos And Allergies
Description
This article is from the Tattoo FAQ, by Stan Schwarz with numerous contributions by others.
131 Tattoos And Allergies
Josephine Valencia <jv22+@andrew.cmu.edu>, on allergies to certain inks:
The red reaction affects approximately 1 in every 100,000 to 300,000
people. It is characcterized by itching and sometimes swelling depending
on how severe the case. This usually happens 3 to 5 years after the
tattoo, although cases have been reported as early as a few months and
as late as 20 years.
Remedies usually involve OTC lotion or in more severe cases, medication
prescribed by a dermotoligist. No one seems to know what causes it and
is associated usually only with the color red.
About 20 (?) years ago most red pigments contained mercury and the red
reaction was much more common. It was widely believed that mercury was
the cause. Mercury is no longer used in tattoo inks. Red reaction
incidences decreased dramaticlly but were not eliminated.
Dr. Kai Kristensen <tattoodoc@jps.net>, on other causes for allergic
reactions: Anything that the needles must go through to drive the ink
into the dermis can be carried with the ink into the skin--and some
people are blessed with a high degree of reaction to foreign material.
Most tattoo artists use a petroleum jelly based ointment as a lubricant
on the surface of the skin and tattoo through that layer. In some
persons, driving any of that into the skin sets up a foreign body
reaction with lumps and itching (me, for one). If that is the case,
persuade your artist to tattoo "dry" without the ointment. It is
perfectly satisfactory and no harder on the tattooer or tattooee. I
personally cannot see the need for the "grease" layer as an added
possibility for forein body reactions. [Ed.-Note that some artists use
plain petroleum jelly, while others use vitamin-enhanced products.]
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