My Tattoo is driving me crazy?

Question

Somebody help me Please!! I got a tattoo on March 20th. I used the Bacitracin for the first few days as directed and then switched to lotion w/ no fragrance. It itched so badly with the first lotion, which was lubriderm or something, I switched to Vaseline Intensive Care w/out fragrance, after a couple days of that, it itched so badly that I couldn't sleep at night. I switched to Cocoa Butter Formula w/ Vitamin E w/out fragrance of course, and that hasn't done a thing to help. Yesterday I looked at it, and it was red, swollen & raised, and it itches so badly that it feels like something is crawling on my skin. It's sensitive & sorefor jeans or anything to touch it. I ceased using the lotion. Washed it off yesterday and haven't put any on it since. But, it's so dry. It itches SO BADLY, and I don't know what to do. There is no red ink at all. Just black and a hint of white for the shadow of the letters I think. It's looking kind of faded to me, but it is scabby and dry looking

Oh, I do have three other tattoos and never had this problem before. The others healed and never gave me an issue.

It's on my calf. I can't go back to the artist who did my tattoo, because I live in Virginia and he's in Florida. I got it done while I was on vacation in Ft Lauderdale. I am hearing so many conflicting things. Some say don't use the bacitracin, use lotion, now i'm seeing don't use the lotion. I'm not sure what to do. Right now i'm not using anything because it's so irritated. I have a tattoo on each of my arms and one on my thigh. This one on my calf is the only one that's given me a problem. There is no colored ink or anything. Just black. It's a picture of a bible, and it says In Memory Of written above it, with my grandmother's name written inside of it. I'm not sure what the problem is with this thing. It's upsetting because I fear it will be faded and a waste of time and money once this thing is over, what ever it is.

Answer 1

Stop using any antibiotic or antibacterial cream right now. Do NOT SOAK IT AND DO NOT LET IT DRY OUT ANY LONGER> If it scabs up too bad, it will heal with a scar. Wash with cool water and dove soap. it's probably too dried out. Use some A&D cream. for a day or two, wrap a piece of plastic wrap over it, until the skin soften's up. Take a benadryl for the red itchy feeling. After it softenes up and the skin heals, use curel lotion on it. If it stays red and swollen for more than a few more days, you'll need to see a doctor. It could be infected or the ink could have been moldy causing an allergic reaction. Another thing to try is going to a local tatto shop. They can take a look and give you a professional opinion. Never use cocoa butter, bacitraacin, or vaseline it draws out the ink! If it faded out a lot, you may have to have it recolored. I have 6 tats and this has never happened to me, but my sister had the same problem and the A&D and curel worked like a charm. Itching and red swollen skin can happen if your allergic to the ink.

Answer 2

You got this on March 20th and it is not April 4th. That is 2 weeks, it should be getting a bit better, at least the redness should be going away by now!

Go see a doctor and have him look at it. Sounds like it is infected a bit. I do not believe lotion had anything to do with it.

I just got a back tattoo on March 3rd. Within 2 weeks even though it itched a bit, it was fine and all healed up. I took off the bandage after 2 hours, used A&D Ointment for 2 days as instructed and then used non fragranced Lubriderm Lotion.

I would seriously see a doctor, infections are nothing to mess with.

Answer 3

Since you have other tattoos, I don't think you have an allergy, unless you had another type of ink embedded. You may be having a reaction to the Bacitracin ointment. The other lotions that you used all have petrolatums that will seal in all kinds of bad things on your skin. Wash the area and use pure emollients, the best would be emu oil but jojoba and plain olive oil would be just as good. This should help the dryness and will allow your skin to heal naturally without being subjected to the garbage that is in lotions. The fading is just an illusion of the healing process, the tattoo will brighten up in a week or two.

Answer 4

The lotions and cocoa butter actually leach out color. Vasaline will do the same thing. I have 40 tattoos so I know a thing or two about them. Bacitracin is the only thing that will lock in moisture and not pull the color. This sounds barbaric, but when mine itched, I slapped them as hard as I could stand it. The slap brings blood to the surface and replenished the tattooed area with fresh oxygen and healing cells. You may have to go back for a color touch up if the lotions pulled the color. Good luck

Answer 5

A simple problem - it is on your calf. Everytime you walk, you move the tattoo. It cannot heal quickly enough. It tries to heal, then you walk and it has to heal again. This same problem persists with hand tattoos. Soak in a very warm tub. Keep it lubed with hand lotion and no vaseleine. Air dry it every chance you get without lotion. Stay off the leg as much as possible.

Answer 6

Sorry to hear about your tattoo troubles. I have a few and my wife has more.. (too many to count)

I would say go back to the tattoo artist. and maybe see a doctor. we have never had such a bad reaction. my first quess would be an infection of some kind. but I am not a doctor. we always used A-D ointment and keep them covered for the first 6 hours. no swimming and do not get it wet for 24hours.

It will ich and peal a little bit. and scab over maybe.. do not pick at it. or scrach it..

where is your tattoo and what is it?

Mike

Answer 7

TAKE SOME BENDRYL AND stop using all creams,lotions, just wash it with the anti bacterial soap..let your tattoo dry out, your most likely having a reaction to the lotions, If it doesnt clear up within a few days of discontinuing use of the lotions, then consult a DR. you may have a minor infection that may need some antibiotics to help heal up

Answer 8

Go back to bacitracin or switch to A & D ointment. It sounds like either an allergic reaction to the lotions or it is infected. You might want to see a dr. if the A & D doesn't help.

Answer 9

i got my 1 tattoo March 25, it was so itchy yesterday and the day before until now. i almost wanna scratch it real hard. When i put Curel lotion on. Much BETTER. Look really nice and almost stop itching now.
For your case, should go back to the shop and tell the artist.
Good luck.

Answer 10

Wow, that sucks. :( I'd go to a local tattoo artist, maybe they've seen something like this before and they can advise you to do something to help the itching. If they can't help, I'd head to a doctor.

Good luck.