Pain with tattoos?

Question

I read that tattoos burn afterward. But what makes it burn? About how long does the tattoo hurt after you have it done. I've heard stuff from 2 days to a month. Is it a good idea to take a week off from work when I have a tattoo done? In my job I answer phones, look up customer accounts, and do alot of typing. How would that affect the tattoo and the pain that goes along with it?

I'm planning on getting one on my right shoulder blade. It's a sun I drew myself at work.

I've only had one sunburn and that was years ago. I've burnt myself on accident with the oven. I grew up with 7 cats so cat scratches aren't a new feeling and I accidently get myself with my own nails.

Part of the problem is I have a really bad habit of picking scabs wiping off the blood, wait for it to heal, then I pull the scab off again and repeat. Don't ask me why, I just do.

I have a low threshold for pain even though i'm no stranger to it. I've wrenched my back out on multiple occasions,a concussion, pulled muscles,a broken wrist, pinched nerve in my neck, thanks to my doctor a couple of unnecessary tests where the first one varying strengths of volts of electricity were shot though my arms and then needles were put throughout my hands, fingers, and arms, and a neck sprain.

Part of it is my name. If you scramble the letters you get "at risk". Creepy isn't it?

Answer 1

Congratulations on your first tattoo! I have four tattoos and I wouldn't say that any part of getting a tatto nor any part of the healing process burns. After the tattoo, the area may be warm, but it shouldn't burn. A burning sensation may be a sign of an infection. The tattoo doesn't really hurt after it's done, unless you touch it. Or clothing rubbing against the tattoo might make it hurt. The tattoo will be tender for a while, but it should be healed within a week. I have the same sort of job as you and I don't think you'll need to take any time off work.

Answer 2

I always think of a tattoo as being like a graze. OK, a very decorative graze, but a graze nonetheless. The process of getting a tattoo basically scrapes your skin quite a lot, and the discomfort you feel afterwards is pretty much what you would expect in this situation.

The whole healing of a tattoo can take up to a month, but that doesn't mean you'll feel discomfort for that whole time. Again, think graze. For a couple of days after getting it, the area might be sore and tender. This will gradually subside. Often a scab will form, and you need to let this fall off naturally and not pick at it. It can be very, very itchy! Somewhere one to two weeks after getting the tattoo, any scabs will all have finished dropping off and in terms of how it feels, it'll be fine. The skin will still have some more healing to do - the area could be dry and flaky for a while, because this is fresh new skin and it'll take a while to settle down. But you won't feel anything in particular at this point.

How much any discomfort affects you will depend on whereabouts you place your tattoo. But it isn't really all that big a deal, and I can't see it being an issue in terms of work. returning to the idea of a graze, that isn't really something you'd stay off work for; it's just a bit sore and something of an annoyance. If you're really nervous you could take a day or two, but you certainly wouldn't need a week.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

The burn lasts for a few days. It burns because it is like getting a scratch or a sunburn....because they have to go down pretty deep in your skin. They do have some kind of numbing cream they can put on during the tattooing process. But you have to ask if they have it. No need to take off of work. Just make sure you keep it clean and moist. The healing process is the same as getting a cut....you get a scab as the skin is healing back to normal. Just make sure to wear loose clothing so it doesn't rub against the tattoo. You will be fine!

Answer 4

The after feeling of tattoos is similar to that of a sunburn. I have no idea what makes it burn, but it really just feels like a sunburn. The 2 that I have stopped hurting after 4 or 5 days. However, they itched for up to a week afterwards. With the type of job that you have, you shouldn't worry about any of that affecting the pain level of your tattoo. You should be fine. However, no matter what you do, it will still hurt for the first couple days.

Answer 5

Lol! It really depends on where you get the tattoo done and how high/low your pain tolerance is. From experience, it usually doesn't hurt for more that a week (at least mine did). The one I have on my shoulder burned afterwards but than in a few days the pain was gone. The one on my ankle, hurt like hell, took a little longer for the pain to go away. No you don't need to take time off to get a tattoo or for it to heal.

Answer 6

I didn't felt burn after make my tattoos. The only thing I remember is that the skin was a little bit red for few hours and nothing more. I have no pain at all. You don't have to take a week off from work. You must be careful not to hurt the spot with the tattoo, don't let the others to touch it, wash it smoothly with your hand only every week carefully with soap, put lotion every 3-4 hours and no sun... After 3-4 weeks is going to be perfect.

Answer 7

Lol, don't take off of work. It's not that kind of pain. It hurts more to get the tattoo than the recovery process (of course). It feels like a light sunburn (at least mine did) for a couple days. Maybe two or three.
It really depends on where you get it, and how big it is.

Good luck! :)

Answer 8

No, you're fine. No need to take time off from work. Depending where you get your tattoo, you may be sensitive in that area. I think Tattoo Goo works great for helping with the healing. Most shops will sell this. Follow the directions that you are given and you'll be on your way to a beautiful tattoo. Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 9

Apply an antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin or Bacitracin, or Neosporin ointment. to a nonstick bandage, such as Telfa. I was told that these ointments stops the infection and burning of tattoos. Also my friends use these ointments
Apply the nonstick bandage with the ointment on it to the tattoo site. The ointment will prevent the irritated skin from sticking to the bandage. Putting the ointment on the bandage first will be less painful. If a skin rash or itching under the bandage starts, wash the ointment off and don't use that type of ointment again. The rash may indicate an allergic reaction.
Apply a clean bandage once a day and change the bandage if it gets wet. If the bandage does stick, soak the tattoo area in warm water for a few minutes or take the bandage off under running water in the shower.
Leave the bandage off with the skin open to air whenever you can.
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Answer 10

you ever skinned your knee when you were younger? its that kind of burning sensation. Its only sensative and burns for a few days. with your job, you should have no problem working even the day you get a tattoo. unless of course you get a tattoo on your fingertips or the palm of your hand. i can tell you that i got a huge tattoo to cover almost my entire upper arm 1 day before i deployed to iraq. you can absolutely function after you get a tattoo. plus, my dear, pain is just part of the process. its only for a short time and the tattoo will last forever.