do your tattoos ever itch?

[Aednatia]

Odd random question but I've had a tattoo on my foot for five years and occasionally the ink gets all raised up (3D effect) and itches. I have two other tattoos this doesn't happen to. Is it cause of the location?

[Eviecorn]

It might be the location, or the ink (even though it's 5 years old.)  I've had a similar thing happen occasionally with a tattoo on my shin.  It may have something to do with the ink used and the way it sits in your skin - it may have an extremely mild allergen in it, especially if it has yellow or red in it.  Nothing to worry about!  Some hydrocortisone cream will help with the swelling and itch.

[Phekzhen]

If you're concerned, swing by your tattoo shop and ask your artist about it. Ze would know exactly what's up, as they've had so much experience with tattooing.

[melodys_angel]

Thats not an allergic reaction, is it? Is that even possible on an old tattoo?

[kaninchen]

when it's hot, the red ink in my tattoos, usually my arm or back, will very often do exactly what you described. some of these tattoos are 10 years old and it's absolutely not an allergy. it's a mild annoyance, but nothing to be terribly fretful of. some mild itch cream and you're good to go.

[Yurusumaji]

The tat on my leg swells like that and gets itchy when the weather starts to dry out my skin.

I use Vaseline Vitamin E lotion on it and it goes back to normal.

[Aednatia]

Wonder why artist wouldn' tell the client this would happen. I almost always have really super ice cold feet and it is when they get hot this happens.

The only instructions I got from the tattoo artist was not to lick it, or peel the dry skin.

[Phekzhen]

Artists normally just give you basic after-care instructions. And this doesn't seem to happen to everyone, and it doesn't seem to be so bad that it needs to be made into an issue or need warnings.

Tattoos should stay out of the sun, anyways, so they don't get damaged. I worked one summer in an amusement park, and it's so sad seeing once-beautiful tattoos destroyed because UV damage destroyed the skin and the art. Sunscreen is your friend!

[Maniah]

Huh. I have two tattoos and this has never happened to me. How odd.

[Eviecorn]

Thats not an allergic reaction, is it? Is that even possible on an old tattoo?

Allergic reactions can crop up from a tattoo whether it's 5 days or 5 years old.  It's weird like that.

[BlackCurtains]

Mine has done that a few times over the years. The first time it happened it really freaked me out! It always goes back to normal though. I just try not to scratch it since that seems to make it worse.

[kaoskat]

*can't help has no tattoos*..... but......

The only instructions I got from the tattoo artist was not to lick it, or peel the dry skin.

Not to lick it??? Is it a common occurrence for people to lick tattoos???

[Maniah]

When I have had itches on my arms.. I would not lick them.. But you can't scratch.. So I would apply suction. This helped to alleviate the itching. Maybe this is what the guy is referring to? Maybe something in saliva helps to ease itching? It just seems so very odd!

[Yurusumaji]

Not to lick it??? Is it a common occurrence for people to lick tattoos???

They probably mean licking your finger and rubbing it on the tattoo when it starts to dry out. I bet people have done this thinking it won't do any harm, but their mouths are FULL of bacteria and they've just been stabbed with a crapton of needles a crapton of times. So, yeah, no getting spittle in your wounds.

[kaoskat]

Hmmm..... I suppose that makes sense. Still, I think if the tattoo artist had said that to me, I'd have looked at him like he'd lost his mind!