When Do Tattoos Start Itching - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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Itchiness is more common with new tattoos, but it can happen with old tattoos, too. An itchy tattoo can be attributed to one or more of the following causes.

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Normal healing process

When you get a new tattoo, your skin is literally recovering from a wound. The skin is inflamed and working on preventing infection and repairing itself. As the skin tissues heal, it’s normal to experience some itchiness.

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Infection

A new tattoo exposes deep layers of the epidermis (upper layer) and dermis (middle layer) of skin tissues. Your new ink is most vulnerable to getting infected within the first couple of weeks of the healing process.

If the area does become infected, you might experience itchiness along with swelling, redness, and discharge. Severe infections can cause fever and chills. An infection will likely warrant a visit to the doctor.

Allergic reaction to pigment

Some people have an allergic reaction to the actual ink used in tattooing. Tattoo pigments may be made from dyes that are made from plastic materials. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), an allergic reaction can occur right away or even several years after getting your tattoo. As a result, you might have severe itching along with redness and hive-like bumps.

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Ink contamination

Aside from allergic reactions to tattoo ink, it’s also possible to develop symptoms from tattoo ink that’s been contaminated. You can be at risk even if the ink is labeled “sterile,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Preexisting skin conditions

If you have a preexisting skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis, you may not be the best candidate to get a tattoo. However, it’s also possible to have a flare-up after you’ve already gotten a tattoo. This can cause red, itchy patches of skin anywhere on your body; a tattooed area of skin is no exception. Learn more about tattoo safety when you have psoriasis.

Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a condition that can affect older tattoos. In fact, this autoimmune condition can occur decades later, and even affect internal organs, according to the AAD. While not directly related to tattoo ink, sarcoidosis is known to cause extreme itching and inflammation in old tattoos.

MRI reactions

Doctors sometimes order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to diagnose certain health conditions. While rare, the FDA has reports of MRI scans affecting old tattoos. Symptoms can include itchiness along with swelling. These tend to clear up on their own after a short period of time without any further medical intervention.

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