After getting tattooed, it is perfectly normal to experience pain and discomfort. After all, you’re dealing with a type of open wound which needs time to properly heal. Now, the healing process is where the pain and discomfort should subside. Usually, the healing involves overall discomfort of itching, skin peeling, new skin layer forming, etc.<\/p>\n
But, what happens when the pain continues, and the tattooed skin starts to raise, hurt and itch? Is that a common part of the healing process or a sign of trouble?<\/p>\n
Well, that is why we’re here; to explore all the possible causes and reasons your skin is raised and itchy after you’ve gotten tattooed. So, without further ado, let’s get exploring and answering!<\/p>\n
Tattoo infections<\/a> can appear anywhere between a few days and 2 to 3 weeks after you’ve been tattooed. The infection can occur for numerous reasons, including;<\/p>\n These are some of the most common causes you could experience a tattoo infection. Alongside raised and itchy skin, symptoms of a tattoo infection also include redness, increased pain levels, swelling, rashing, oozing, and puss, as well as a fever.<\/p>\n If you experience any of the following symptoms, and you think you could have been exposed to any of the aforementioned situations and environment, make sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You’ll be prescribed antibiotics and proper treatment, so make sure to always talk to a medical professional.<\/p>\n This may come off as a surprise, but you could be allergic to tattoo ink and not know it. Unfortunately, one becomes aware of the allergy when it’s already too late; the tattoo has been done, and now you’re dealing with raised, painful and itchy tattoo.<\/p>\n Now, the ink allergy occurs for a few reasons, like;<\/p>\n As you can tell, the majority of ink allergies occur as a result of unknown ink ingredients and the overall poor quality of the pigment itself. Unfortunately, apart from toxic metals and plastics, many inks contain dyes made from the same components used to create car paint or prints.<\/p>\n No tattoo ink is regulated by the FDA, so there is no insight into the components of tattoo ink in the USA. However, the ingredients found in ink, known to\u00a0cause allergic reactions<\/a>, include aluminum, manganese, cobalt aluminate and chloride, carbon or India ink, lead chromate, zinc oxide, and many others.<\/p>\n Skin conditions are some of the most common causes of a raised and itchy tattoo. Whether you have dry or sensitive skin, or you’re dealing with\u00a0eczema<\/a>\u00a0and dermatitis, any kind of change on the skin can be considered a skin condition. Many people aren’t aware of this and think that if they simply have dry or sensitive skin, they’re good to go and get a tattoo.<\/p>\n It is essential to see a dermatologist and get your skin checked before a tattoo appointment. A dermatologist will provide a detailed insight into your skin’s status and condition, and clear you for tattooing if everything’s fine.<\/p>\n A dermatologist can even predict whether you could experience skin cancer in the future and recommend you do not get a tattoo. Ink can cover\u00a0skin cancer symptoms and visible signs<\/a>, which can be a severe problem on its own.<\/p>\n However, if you experience itching and raised skin after the tattooing process, you should go and check the issue with your dermatologist. They will check your skin type and possible conditions, study the itchiness, observe the skin swelling and provide adequate treatment.<\/p>\n This may seem surprising to many, but getting an MRI while being tattooed can cause the tattoo to be raised and itchy. You may wonder why?<\/p>\n Well, remember when we said that inks contain metals? Such, metal-based ink can react during an MRI scan, due to the magnetic forces. Because metals from the skin are being pulled, the skin swells, and tattoos become raised, itchy, and even burning.<\/p>\n There was one particular case of a man\u00a0going through an MRI and experiencing a second-degree burn<\/a>\u00a0because of the reaction between the ink and the magnetic resonance. His tattoos contained iron oxide, which is a metallic compound. The compound reacted with the electromagnetic waves, resulting in terrible burns.<\/p>\n So, if you’ve had an MRI scan, and soon after you start experiencing tattoo swelling and itching, chances are your ink has reacted with an MRI. Seek medical attention in that case and explain what has led you to such a state; you’ll get proper treatment and hopefully get better soon.<\/p>\n As the seasons change, your tattoo may change as well. Even if it’s fully healed, your tattoo can become a bit raised and itchy due to irritations caused by temperature fluctuations, humidity rise, and similar occurrences.<\/p>\n For example, during summertime, you may experience slight swelling of the skin due to temperature changes. As a result, your tattooed skin may stretch a little bitch and cause irritation and itchiness. It is best to avoid scratching the skin, since you may damage the skin and introduce bacteria.<\/p>\n On the other hand, during wintertime, you may experience increased itchiness of the tattoo. That is because\u00a0cold weather tends to irritate and dry out the skin<\/a>. As a result, you may also experience rashes and skin peeling<\/a> in extreme cases. It is best to keep the skin moisturized and protected from the cold during these times.<\/p>\n\n
2. Ink Allergy<\/h3>\n
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3. Skin Condition(s)<\/h3>\n
4. Going Through an MRI<\/h3>\n
5. Weather Changes<\/h3>\n
6. The Tattoo Is Simply Healing<\/h3>\n