3 ms·

I have a bunch of tattoos, and I don't care much about cancer risk, but I wish someone had warned me about the risks of being so damn itchy for the rest of my l

I have a bunch of tattoos, and I don't care much about cancer risk, but I wish someone had warned me about the risks of being so damn itchy for the rest of my life.

arisAlexis 2y ago
Why would someone not care about cancer risks ?
- jahsome 2y ago
  It's already essentially a guarantee. I figure I might as well enjoy my time while I'm here instead of extending a boring (to my tastes) life.
  - 9991 2y ago
    You made my point. Thanks.
    - jahsome 2y ago
      I wasn't necessarily intending to disagree, I just picked up on your usage of the word "inflammation," and figured I'd share my experience as chronically inflamed. I think though, I'd phrase your hypothesis as those with tattoos likely have a different risk to reward calculus.
arresin 2y ago
Do they cause a lot itching? This is the first time I’ve heard that.
- jahsome 2y ago
  I think my situation is pretty rare, but mine flare up periodically, maybe every other year, almost on a schedule. It usually starts in one of the reds, and spreads inch by inch over the course of a few weeks. It gets raised and itches like crazy, and lasts 2-3 days in a small area before spreading. It's a real struggle not to scratch. Unfortunately 1/4 of my body is essentially one giant tattoo, so it's got plenty of room to spread. The small patches of surrounding un-inked skin are completely unaffected, so I suspect it's definitely the ink. When the first red tattoo I got REALLY swelled up, the tattoer told me it's rare but he'd seem it before, and some people don't take red well. From what I understand the red ink 20 years ago was formulated differently than now. I'm not entirely convinced it's just that color, because all of mine itch.
  - AmINotARobot 2y ago
    Hey, I would definitely get that checked out with a dermatologist. Tattoos flaring up WITH swelling is a strong indication of a systemic allergic reaction to the ink. Tattoo ink migrates around the body and among other things deposits in lymph nodes; Which may then also exhibit the same allergic reaction overtime. Do not underestimate the severity of the potential fallout.
    - jahsome 2y ago
      Eh, it's been 25 years. Even if they did confirm an allergic reaction, what could be done?
tlavoie 2y ago
"For the rest of your life"? You shouldn't be feeling anything different once it's all healed up. For a couple weeks, sure. My current work-in-progress gets the "second skin" permeable dressing for several days, then it comes off. For a few days after that, moisturizer. Now it's just part of me, but darker.

I have a bunch of tattoos, and I don't care much about cancer risk, but I wish someone had warned me about the risks of being so damn itchy for the rest of my life.

arisAlexis 2y ago

Why would someone not care about cancer risks ?

jahsome 2y ago
It's already essentially a guarantee. I figure I might as well enjoy my time while I'm here instead of extending a boring (to my tastes) life.
- 9991 2y ago
  You made my point. Thanks.
  - jahsome 2y ago
    I wasn't necessarily intending to disagree, I just picked up on your usage of the word "inflammation," and figured I'd share my experience as chronically inflamed. I think though, I'd phrase your hypothesis as those with tattoos likely have a different risk to reward calculus.

arresin 2y ago

Do they cause a lot itching? This is the first time I’ve heard that.

jahsome 2y ago
I think my situation is pretty rare, but mine flare up periodically, maybe every other year, almost on a schedule. It usually starts in one of the reds, and spreads inch by inch over the course of a few weeks. It gets raised and itches like crazy, and lasts 2-3 days in a small area before spreading. It's a real struggle not to scratch. Unfortunately 1/4 of my body is essentially one giant tattoo, so it's got plenty of room to spread. The small patches of surrounding un-inked skin are completely unaffected, so I suspect it's definitely the ink. When the first red tattoo I got REALLY swelled up, the tattoer told me it's rare but he'd seem it before, and some people don't take red well. From what I understand the red ink 20 years ago was formulated differently than now. I'm not entirely convinced it's just that color, because all of mine itch.
- AmINotARobot 2y ago
  Hey, I would definitely get that checked out with a dermatologist. Tattoos flaring up WITH swelling is a strong indication of a systemic allergic reaction to the ink. Tattoo ink migrates around the body and among other things deposits in lymph nodes; Which may then also exhibit the same allergic reaction overtime. Do not underestimate the severity of the potential fallout.
  - jahsome 2y ago
    Eh, it's been 25 years. Even if they did confirm an allergic reaction, what could be done?

tlavoie 2y ago

"For the rest of your life"? You shouldn't be feeling anything different once it's all healed up. For a couple weeks, sure. My current work-in-progress gets the "second skin" permeable dressing for several days, then it comes off. For a few days after that, moisturizer. Now it's just part of me, but darker.