Risks Involved With Tattoos

Risks Involved With Tattoos

You can’t assume that everything involved in getting a tattoo will go perfectly. There can be complications. There is risk involved with tattooing so you need to consider the following before agreeing to be tattooed:

Infection
You could contract an infectious disease such as hepatitis. This could be transmitted when using tattooing equipment and needles that are not sterile. It is of prime importance that all the tattooing equipment is sterilized properly. Proper sterilization will always be your first concern when choosing a professional tattoo parlor. In addition, it is imperative that you take proper care of the tattooed area for the first two weeks to avoid any kind of complications.

Allergic Reactions
It is possible, although rare to be allergic to the tattoo ink and tattoo pigments. If this should happen to you, it could be especially problematic because the pigments cannot be removed easily. Even if you were to undergo laser surgery, you could still have them for months. The reason why this takes so long is the immune system, which “flushes” the rest of the pigments out of the body after the laser surgery, can take several months to finish the job.

Removal Problems
Even though laser technology has been well refined, tattoo removal is still a timely and painstaking process. It usually takes several treatments and involves considerable expense. Still, complete removal is possible and without leaving any scars. This is due to the always enhancing laser techniques.

Keloid Formation
Keloids are scars that grow beyond any normal boundaries. If you are prone to developing keloids you are at risk of developing keloids when getting a tattoo. Keloids can form anytime you injure or traumatize your skin. According to the Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC), tattooing or micropigmentation is a form of trauma, but in recent studies dermatologists state that keloids are more prone to occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal than tattoo application.

Granulomas
Granulomas are nodules that form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment. This type of complication can really mess up your tattoo.

MRI Complications
Some of those with tattoos and permanent makeup have reported having problems involving swelling or burning in the tattooed areas when undergoing MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). This only occurs very rarely and without any kind of lasting effects.

The cause of these type of complications are still largely uncertain but some dermatologists say this could be the result of an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments. Even so, the risk of avoiding a much needed MRI is much higher than the possible risk of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Inform the radiologist or technician of the fact that you have a tattoo in order to avoid complications, and this should assure the best results.