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Tattoo Q&A After
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Tattoo Q&A -- After

Can I get a tan?

Bright sunlight is the enemy of your tattoo, whether it is newly healing or years old. Stay out of the sun while your new tattoo heals and make sure that you use plenty of high factor sun block thereafter.

Sometimes my tattoo feels weird, what's going on?

Many people will tell you that their tattoo gets itchy when the weather's really warm. This is due to the heat and humidity making the tattoo swell. Cool, clean water is a quick and cheap solution to the mild discomfort this causes Changes in your body like raised blood pressure or an adrenaline rush might also cause the same reaction.

More seriously, an allergic reaction to the pigments in the ink might cause discomfort and even pain. This won't necessarily be an immediate reaction; it can take some time for your skin to react to the ink. If this is very uncomfortable and particularly if it lasts over a long period, it may be necessary to have the tattoo removed. It's more likely that a topical cream will treat the problem with no lasting effects.

You might find that you develop an unrelated skin condition after you've had the tattoo and that it causes more discomfort in the tattooed area. Make sure that your doctor knows about the tattoo when s/he treats the condition itself.

If you have to have an MRI, be aware that some people have complained that it causes discomfort around their tattoo. An MRI -- Magnetic Resonance Imaging -- uses a very strong magnetic field that can cause a reaction with the metal salts in the tattoo ink. This is particularly true of black ink which largely consists of iron. The MRI causes the area to heat up and is usually treated with a cold compress. There doesn't appear to be any degradation in the image that the MRI produces and the discomfort is mild.

Will pregnancy affect my stomach tattoo?

Possibly, depending on exactly where your tattoo is. How much stretching and distortion there could be depends on how large your bump gets. Keeping the tattoo and surrounding area well moisturised will help. Use a lotion that contains vitamin E as it's particularly good for the skin.

Will a lower back tattoo stop me having an epidural?

There doesn't appear to be any medical reason why it should. The needle used to administer the epidural will puncture tattooed skin just the same as it punctures untouched skin.

How can I stop my tattoo from fading?

Some fading is inevitable as you and your tattoo age but you can do a lot to keep the fading to a minimum.

First of all: stay out of the sun. Bright sunlight fades all colours and your tattoo is no exception. Always cover the area with a high factor sun block whenever you go out in the sun. Even if you have a shirt on over the tattoo, you should still protect the area.

Keep your tattoo clean and well moisturised. As above, a lotion that contains vitamin E is best as your body needs vitamin E to maintain healthy skin. Moisturise the area everyday and always after you've bathed/showered.

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