common color tattoo allergic reactions.?

Question

i was wondering.. i once heard RED is the most common tattoo color that people get reactions too... how rare is this? is it true? are there any other colors that are as bad? i once heard purple is too....

thanks ! ;)

lets say i get a red tattoo and i find myself with a reaction to it... what would i do? how would i treat it?

Answer 1

Red pigment seems to be the most common, however rare, regardless.

Sometimes these red reactions are precipitated by sun exposure - people find the rest of their tattoo is fine but the red raises up. This can resolve on its own or with medication in most cases. Proper sun protection is VITAL to the care of tattoos.

The worst case scenario is that the tattoo will have to be removed. Sometimes it just means some of the ink needs to be released and it is fine, though.

A word about skin testing - useless. People do not react to their tattoos right away - there has to be something there that causes the reaction - an antigen sort of thing goes on.

This is why people discover they are allergic to their second tattoos (still very rare).

Answer 2

Something to do with the dyes/properties in the red ink that cause the reaction...purple is a mixture of red and blue pigments so in some cases it can cause similar reactions.

My second tattoo (done about 15 years ago) contained several colors including purple. I had no reaction when I got the tattoo but a few years ago I decided to have that particular tattoo removed (via laser) and I had an awful reaction. Swelling, burning, scabbing, oozing...TERRIBLE and PAINFUL! The Dermatologist said it was an allergic reaction to the red pigments in the purple ink! Anyways, the type and severity of reaction a person has can vary but I recommend a skin test just to be sure!

Answer 3

well since the colours have been done ill let you know about what happens. But yes, RED is the one to watch for (the rest are pretty harmless) and UV reactive of any sort.

Say you get the colour test and it reacts, basically while its healing the ink will be pushed out of your skin and when the scab falls off there will just be scar skin underneath, no ink. This however may happen on one person and not another depending on meds, skin type and suchlike. (i have been guineapiged before as a red test subject and the ink held fine on me yet was rejected on the other people who tried)

Now say you went for the whole shebang red tattoo. The same would happen on a much larger scale. However while it was healing up it would be red, sore, itchy, swollen (more so than simply being fresh). Benadryl will however take this down without much of a problem.

Answer 4

I have heard that red causes alot of reactions in people. I've also heard that white doesn't always "take" well. Oh...and the 'new' thing with the UV ink that is 'invisible' unless under black light...heard that causes some reactions too.

At the shop I go to, they offer (not require) color-testing prior to any inking. So if you're concerned about it, spend the extra $20 or whatever and get that done (not sure how it's done exactly as I've never done it).

As for what happens if you have a reaction to the color...I dunno...talk to the tattoo artist about it before getting the ink done. They are the most knowledgable about it.

Answer 5

I'm not sure statistically, but I know it happens. I have 2 tattoos with true red in them, but I only had an allergic reaction with one. my first red tattoo was done by one artist, the other was done by a different artist. I had a bad reaction too. once it finally cleared up, I went back to the first artist, had him touch it up, haven't had a problem since. it's not just red ink in general, it's the brand. those 2 artists use 2 different brands of ink and I'm allergic to the one. I never planned on going back to him again anyway.

Answer 6

Red is usually but not always made with iron oxide which is more or less rust all tattoo inks are usually made with or contain heavy metals which is why your body doesnt just carry them away i have had trouble with a lot but not all reds ask your artist if he has had many reactions with the particular ink he is using but if you take good care of your tattoo worst case scenerio is usually a longer heal with some minor infection if it starts to get red hot and swollen around the red ink then switch from what your artist recommends to a triple antibiotic ointment normally the ingredients in the ointment arent great for the colors in the tattoo but better than letting it get really infected if it does heal a little rough you might have a couple light spots in the red that will need to be touched up but good news is that the area to be touched up will be much smaller than the origional tattoo and your body should take care of this no problem. i wouldnt completely change my tattoo to avoid red but i would be aware of whats going on with it and dont sweat it too much i have had mostly good luck considering the amount of red i have in my huge number of tattoos and only occasionally have a problem.

Answer 7

Red. Don't know why that is but the tattoo parlors in my area will tell you that if you ask for a red design.