Tattoo Ink Allergy

Sweetlysad

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Posts
208
Media
37
Likes
5,391
Points
513
Location
United States
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
So I have a pretty severe tattoo ink allergy to red tattoo ink. I didn’t know this, about 6 months after I got the tattoo it became very inflamed and itchy and sore. So far steroid creams haven’t helped, and my doctor is suggesting removing it is the only option.
So I know this is a long shot, but has anyone else had this issue?
Did you find a solution?
 

Vasko

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Posts
151
Media
0
Likes
6,486
Points
663
Location
London (Greater London, England)
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Hi. Sorry to hear of your allergic reaction and I can't offer a solution. My tattooist's wife said that if you have ever dyed your hair red, even way in the past, you could be more likely to have a reaction to red tattoo dye. That's why she herself can't have any red in her tattoo.
Not a solution to your problem, sorry, but perhaps it might help explain why you have a reaction. Good luck.
 

87sultan

Sexy Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Nov 21, 2006
Posts
35
Media
1
Likes
31
Points
338
Location
Santo Domingo (Nacional, Dominican Republic)
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I had this happen too. Pretty much the same scenario, a few months after the tattoo, itchy, got some bumps, steroid creams didn't help. I don't remember it being too inflamed or sore though. I waited it out. I don't remember how long it took but all of the symptoms went away on their own. If you can stand the discomfort, maybe try waiting?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sweetlysad

hzs3fg

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Posts
3,694
Media
7
Likes
6,092
Points
443
Location
USA
Verification
View
Sexuality
80% Straight, 20% Gay
Gender
Male
Hi. Sorry to hear of your allergic reaction and I can't offer a solution. My tattooist's wife said that if you have ever dyed your hair red, even way in the past, you could be more likely to have a reaction to red tattoo dye. That's why she herself can't have any red in her tattoo.
Not a solution to your problem, sorry, but perhaps it might help explain why you have a reaction. Good luck.

Honestly, this sounds like an "old wives' tale" to me, not grounded in any scientific fact or study.

Old wives' tale - Wikipedia
 

hzs3fg

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Posts
3,694
Media
7
Likes
6,092
Points
443
Location
USA
Verification
View
Sexuality
80% Straight, 20% Gay
Gender
Male
So I have a pretty severe tattoo ink allergy to red tattoo ink. I didn’t know this, about 6 months after I got the tattoo it became very inflamed and itchy and sore. So far steroid creams haven’t helped, and my doctor is suggesting removing it is the only option.
So I know this is a long shot, but has anyone else had this issue?
Did you find a solution?

Removal?

I only know of two ways to remove a tattoo. One is to surgically remove the affected skin and then pull the incision closed (if the tattoo was very small) or apply a skin graft to cover the incision.

The other way is laser removal. My understanding is this works by fragmenting the relatively large ink particles into much smaller particles that can then be carried away by the body's normal filtering process. I would imagine, however, that that would turn a local irritation into a possibly far more serious systemic inflammation.

How Tattoo Removal Works, Q-Switched Laser Technology
 

Sweetlysad

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Posts
208
Media
37
Likes
5,391
Points
513
Location
United States
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Female
:mask:
I had this happen too. Pretty much the same scenario, a few months after the tattoo, itchy, got some bumps, steroid creams didn't help. I don't remember it being too inflamed or sore though. I waited it out. I don't remember how long it took but all of the symptoms went away on their own. If you can stand the discomfort, maybe try waiting?

I have been waiting it out it’s been 6 months :(
 

twoton

Superior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Posts
7,865
Media
1
Likes
8,301
Points
268
Location
Mid Atlantic
Sexuality
99% Straight, 1% Gay
Gender
Male
Honestly, this sounds like an "old wives' tale" to me, not grounded in any scientific fact or study.

Old wives' tale - Wikipedia
There are people who are very allergic to red colorings. It shows up in cosmetics, too. I think it’s an allergy to carmine, which is a common source of red dye.
 

hzs3fg

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Posts
3,694
Media
7
Likes
6,092
Points
443
Location
USA
Verification
View
Sexuality
80% Straight, 20% Gay
Gender
Male
There are people who are very allergic to red colorings. It shows up in cosmetics, too. I think it’s an allergy to carmine, which is a common source of red dye.

I was referring to the part that said, "My tattooist's wife said that if you have ever dyed your hair red, even way in the past, you could be more likely to have a reaction to red tattoo dye."

I don't see where one event would likely be the cause of the second event.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MickeyLee
D

deleted848353

Guest
So I have a pretty severe tattoo ink allergy to red tattoo ink. I didn’t know this, about 6 months after I got the tattoo it became very inflamed and itchy and sore. So far steroid creams haven’t helped, and my doctor is suggesting removing it is the only option.
So I know this is a long shot, but has anyone else had this issue?
Did you find a solution?
I've never had this happen to me but have heard you can be allergic to some if not all tattoo ink colors and in some cases it isnt the color so much as the brand of ink have you discussed with the tattoo artist who did it they may be able to suggest what is best. I'm going to tag @INCUBUS as he might have an idea
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sweetlysad