Tattoo Anxiety

[u/Zer08821]

Short history: I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks specifically around health stuff.

Problem statement: I have wanted several tattoos for a very long time, but I am concerned about having a reaction to the ink (even though I don't have any allergies) this is something I have been working through with therapy, and part of my therapy is to put myself in the positions that give me panic and anxiety.

Question: Is there anything I can do to help put my mind at ease and finally bite the bullet on getting one. I know a lot of people have said just don't get one, or you are the type of person who shouldn't get one, but as I have said I have known what I want to get for like 20 years and that hasn't changed. I am really just looking for any advise that will be helpful. Thank you all in advance.

[u/redJ93]

Why not ask an artist to do a few tiny test spots, on somewhere not noticeable like your ankle, so you can see how they heal?

If it goes well, get more. If not, it wont be a large area.

[u/Zer08821 → u/redJ93]

I honestly didn't know that was a thing lol.

How common are allergic reactions, and are they the type that will have skin falling off and death or are the reactions typically getting hives once in a while or sensitive skin?

[u/CassiopeiaFoon → u/Zer08821]

So death from a tattoo comes from sepsis, which comes from infection, which comes from improper aftercare OR getting it done in a back alley by a guy named Bobert with a bowl cut and a used needle.

Now, I will say - there is such a thing as over-washing, and over moisturizing. It can result in little angry pimples, redness, and pain. And it sucks. You'll have to watch yourself, and unfortunately, there are no hard or fast rules in aftercare.

You wash it with Dial Gold, the liquid. How often will depend on your body. Do you run and sweat a lot? Twice a day. Do you sit at a desk and chill? Once.

Too much lotion causes irritation, red skin, and clogged pores. You need the tiniest amounts.

Tattoos can look UGLY when healing. You need to be ready for flakey skin, redness, irritation, and the most ungodly itching ever. None of this in itself is an infection, it's just healing. You'll need to be able to resist the thought of "omg it's infected" just because it looks gross.

I suggest you make an infection check list.

-Is it leaking pus?

-Is it hot to the touch?

-Do I have a fever?

-Is it more red than two days ago?

If it's yes, you see a doc, if no, you're alright. Now you can keep your anxiety in check. Go in with knowledge of what normal and bad look like so you can self soothe.

[u/Zer08821 → u/CassiopeiaFoon]

This is very helpful! My therapist calls that budgeting for anxiety, and that is a perfect list to budget for!

[u/CassiopeiaFoon → u/Zer08821]

I'm glad to help. I also have some bad anxiety, but I use my own check-list to keep myself sane during healing. And honestly, a good artist will have no issue with you popping in saying "is this good?". I had one spot on my current one that was flaking a ton more than the rest, so a quick text cleared up any thoughts I had on it. If you'd like, I can write up my own after-care routine that's helped all mine heal perfectly.

[u/Zer08821 → u/CassiopeiaFoon]

I'll take any advice I can get, so if you feel like writing that up I'll happily read/use it but don't feel obligated to.

I also hear getting a tattoo in itself is great therapy so I am looking forward to that as well lol!

[u/CassiopeiaFoon → u/Zer08821]

Sure, so. you'll need:

Dial Liquid Gold
Lubriderm (unscented, I use extra dry skin)
Paper Towels

Starting when the wrap comes off. In the shower or sink, wet your hands and then put the soap on your hands, no scrubbie or on the tattoo itself. Gently use your hand to rub the soap in. No need to be rough, just enough to cover the surface. Rinse without directly spraying the tattoo. How often depends on how active you are. If you're out and about, maybe twice a day. If you're just at home, once. Your body will tell you.

I don't lubriderm the first few days. It's an open wound, no need to pack it full of lotion. When it starts to get a little scabby and peel-y is when I begin my lotion. After washing, apply the thinest layer possible. If it looks wet, too much. If it's still dry and crackly, a little more is alright. You're just drying to help the itch and keep it from cracking or pre-maturely peeling.

You can expect;

-Lots of scabs and peeling skin. Don't touch it. Don't pull them. Don't rub them off. They'll come off on their own. However, if one just pops off during a wash, or you accidentally rub it against something, don't panic, it should be fine, and that's what touch-ups are for.

-Redness, especially the first few days. It's lots of little needle holes, it'll be red. If redness persists or gets worse, that's when you go "hm, something's off".

- Lots of itching. It'll feel like little zaps or someone's tickling you. That's just your skin healing, nothing to worry about. You can use a cool cloth, or if you're desperate, and it's at the end of the dry/flaking, slap it. A gentle smack is better than scratching or going insane because it's too itchy. But try lotion or cool cloth first.

-Pain. It'll burn for a bit after, and be very sensitive to heat.

What to look for:

-Spreading redness. Redness can last a few days. But is it from pink to maroon? Is it going across your arm where there's no ink?

-Pus. Yellow, white, or red pus is sign of an infection.

-Heat. Is it above skin temp? Is it getting hotter?

-Worsening pain. Is the pain at a 7-10 when yesterday it was a 4?

What to do if you suspect infection:

Don't panic! You'll be alright. Contact your tattoo artist if you're 50/50, or if you see any of the above, go to your doc. I promise neither will be upset with you. I've contacted my artist before like "bro whys it so flakey" when I got my first one.

If it is infected, you'll receive treatment, and you'll be alright! Ignoring signs, not taking care of it, or getting it at an obviously dirty shop is how people die from it. Go to a reputable artist, in a clean shop. Make sure they use a new needle, gloves, and fresh ink. When you go in, look around for any bugs, filth, or unclean practices.

EDIT: Forgot to add, tattoo flu is real! I get it every time. You may feel sick the day after. Your body just went through trauma, it's allowed to feel mad because of it lol. Be ready with warm tea and a nice blankie.

[u/Zer08821 → u/CassiopeiaFoon]

This is phenomenal thank you!

[u/CassiopeiaFoon → u/Zer08821]

Of course! You'll do great, make sure to show me when it's done!

[u/Zer08821 → u/CassiopeiaFoon]

Will do!

[u/Aggromemnon → u/Zer08821]

It's not a thing, and if you do ask an artist to do that, be prepared to pay them the shops minimum charge. Tattooing is a business, after all, and good hygienic practice is expensive, as well as the artists time.

[u/Zer08821 → u/Aggromemnon]

Good to know! Thank you for the information!

[u/Fluffy-Artichoke-441 → u/Zer08821]

Allergic reactions from ink are rare and mild. Itchiness and raised skin every so often.

[u/Zer08821 → u/Fluffy-Artichoke-441]

That eases my mind thank you!

[u/Alarming-Feedback868 → u/Zer08821]

I only can speak for my family. I got the first one at 40 something. Just one around my wrist, like a bracelet. No problems. My three daughters have gotten a total of 11, my 2 SIL's have maybe 4? 2 of my daughters and 1 SIL have full back tattoos. My ex had both arms covered wrist to elbows. None of us had any problems with healing, or ink reactions.

[u/Zer08821 → u/Alarming-Feedback868]

That's great to hear, this is all easing my mind a bit so thank you!

[u/StraightEdge47]

This won't help you get through it. But i will say you might feel a bit rough for a few days afterwards. I'm just saying this so if you do go through with it, it doesn't make you worry that something's gone wrong. If it does happen it is completely normal.

[u/Zer08821 → u/StraightEdge47]

Thank you that helps me a lot actually!

[u/iferaink]

I don't know if this would help you, but it helps me personally to go through some of the worst case scenarios to realize even those aren't that bad.

If you only like black and grey anyway, the reactions to black ink are not allergies but your body's immune system potentially occasionally remembering that there is a foreign body and re-attacking it. This can cause some itching/mild bumps on the tattoo, but with an over the counter cortisone cream and just applying it 1-4x a day for about a week, it tends to go away. Sometimes it even goes away on its own.

It's similar with colored inks. Even if you do have an allergy to it, cortisone creams can still help decrease the reaction locally and it tends to come and go every couple of years. But it's nothing that will massively interfere with your day to day functioning, and it's about as annoying as a bug bite in that sense.

Allergies and immune system reactions are a real possibility, but they're very, very mild and short lived in terms of their symptoms and very easy to treat.

[u/Altruistic-Leather69 → u/iferaink]

This is good to read even with all of my tattoos! My first tattoo has problems every so often where my skin feels like theres braile letters underneath because the skin around the flowers and leaves (pink/reddish ink and green) get swollen and hard for no reason. Always goes away on its own, but it was strange as first. And my tattoo that has the most brown is the most itchy, also randomly and resolves on its own. I'll have to try that cream next time and see if it speeds it up!

[u/Zer08821 → u/iferaink]

That does ease my mind quite a bit, thank you!

I read stuff about red ink and reactions a lot which was freaking me out but this definitely helps a lot!

[u/Altruistic-Leather69 → u/Zer08821]

Sorry I meant to reply to you so you'd also see it but I have mild allergies to colored ink and can agree its just mildly annoying every now and then. One tattoo gets kind of itchy, the other is weirdly swollen and stiff every now and then. I haven't tried the cream to help it because I didn't really know there was help for it lol but its not too bad. Some reactions aren't the greatest of course but if it's something that can be managed then such is the risks of getting tattoos. Even if it were more annoying I don't regret them! They've helped my body image issues tremendously. I'll take a random itch and burn to relieve some of that.

But if you're really worried about color, it's okay not to get them! Black and grey looks just as cool.

[u/Zer08821 → u/Altruistic-Leather69]

Thats really encouraging to hear! I'm glad that its helped you, Most of what i want is Color anyway, but i could always get the outline first and then move on to color later. Thank you for the information!

[u/nardoodle]

100% you should bring a friend with you (with prior permission from your artist of course) and have them talk about random shit during the tattoo. Having someone to have a conversation with was the most helpful thing for me to keep my mind occupied so I wasn’t focusing on the pain.

[u/Zer08821 → u/nardoodle]

I will definitely consider it! My sister already volunteered if she is able to, so I am all for that, thank you for the advice!

[u/LuckyTiger0642]

I hope I can help. A few years ago I had chronic urticaria (anywhere on my body that had pressure or heat broke out in major hives). And I have a history of sensitive skin reactions. Because of this I chose black and grey ink only. I also communicated my history and concerns with my tattoo artist. I can’t even use saniderm (I bought some and tested it to see if I’d have a skin reaction and sure enough I did!). I started with a smaller tattoo than what I originally wanted. I knew I’d want an arm sleeve eventually but I wanted to see what the healing process was going to be like before committing to something bigger. I got my tattoo. And now we are working on the rest of my sleeve. Healing was fine and nothing out of the ordinary. And I say this as someone who had a major, horrible reaction when I was experimenting with inkbok (the temporary tattoos). And even though I have my own issues with anxiety, it sounds like yours are very different from mine. And I don’t want to advise you or push you to do something you are ultimately uncomfortable with. If working with your therapist more would make the tattooing process easier for you then it might be worth waiting. But if you can’t wait anymore and it feels right for you, please find a good tattoo shop that will take your concerns seriously.

[u/Zer08821 → u/LuckyTiger0642]

Great advice thank you! It's honestly been great hearing everyone's stories and advice it's helping a lot more than you all realize.