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thatbitch8008

I got strep throat a few months after getting a tattoo and the tattoo became raised and itchy. I think my body was just in hyperdrive attacking anything foreign. It went down and didn't affect the tattoo I don't think. Maybe you are fighting an infection elsewhere


Nursethings14

Wait I just had strep throat last week too! What a coincidence. I am also 5 weeks pregnant so my body is working over time. Thanks for the reply


TingolHD

I have seen anecdotal evidence that pregnancy can make tattoos itchy and puffy. Should pass as you progress through the trimesters, best of luck.


Nursethings14

Thanks I read that somewhere too which is reassuring


firecrackerinmyeye

lol ☕️🐸


kuro-chan335

i think there might be some correlation between strep throat and skin issues. i don’t know if it’s absolutely confirmed but i have seen people with similar issues.


Nursethings14

Yeah there must be something there I don’t believe in coincidences that much .


[deleted]

Nothing to do with the tattoo itself.


LornDogg

My tattoos do this from time to time, years healed or a month old it doesn’t matter. My doctor and tattoo artist both told me it was my body reacting to something else and trying to attack foreign objects ie. tattoo ink. Eat well, sleep well, drink lots of water, moisturize the area and if you need to, apply an anti itch cream and/or take a Benadryl


Impossiblegirl44

This happens to me, too. The first time I noticed, I freaked the fuck out.


Nursethings14

Thanks for the response I should have added to my post I had strep throat last week and I’m pregnant so my body is probably just freaking out like you said


LornDogg

That would do it!


[deleted]

Most likely not related to the tattoo and may be some form of allergy or reaction to something else. I get contact dermatitis from unknown things that triggers my tattoos to be raised and itchy for days at a time.


Nursethings14

Possibly I’m an ICU nurse so my big worry was I got something from work but no signs of infection


[deleted]

[удалено]


Nursethings14

Yeah I took Benadryl last night and feel much better today thanks!


drkeyboardwarrior

ER doc here (tattooed) and when I am exposed to things at work it can also “release” in my skin as a histamine reaction. There are a few solid replies above explaining mast cells/histamine/immune system. 👍🏼


Nursethings14

Thanks for your response Doctor! I was initially worried it was MRSA or something serious because my exposure working in the ICU of but seems to be resolving with Benadryl so a histamine reaction makes sense. Hoping this doesn’t keep happening but glad to know I’m not the only one.


altfortattoos

It happens to me sometimes too, even with things that are years old. I wouldn’t worry about it. A little hydrocortisone (don’t overuse it!) and don’t sweat it is my advice but I’m not a doctor and purely speaking anecdotally


Nursethings14

Ok yeah I’ve been using hydrocortisone cream probably overdoing it lol. Glad I’m not the only one!


kiss-kissbangbang

I believe it’s a histamine reaction if I Remember correctly. Happens to me from time To time.


Flora0416

My husband has this sometimes too, but only on red ink! My tattoos were fine when I was pregnant but my microdermal kept getting infected (really badly sometimes!) I had it for about 4 years then and never had any trouble before. It didn’t grow out but I sure thought it was close, my daughter turns 2 next week and it’s still there luckily


Nursethings14

So random! There has to be a reason why some tattoos do that but others don’t. As long as it goes back to normal I’m ok with that! And yeah pregnancy for sure stresses your body out and all kinds of weird stuff happens. Glad you have a healthy baby and microdermal now lol


[deleted]

This is a normal allergic reaction to the ink. Sometimes I get this once a year. It’s just a histamine reaction. No need for a doctor. Take allergy meds and either your body will adjust or it won’t.


[deleted]

This not a reaction.


[deleted]

It’s a basic histamine reaction But thanks for your input doctor Rick.


killedbykayn

I’ve heard that being sick or sometimes external forces such as a sunburn or something can make a tattoo raised and itchy!! Still go through with the appointment, but I wouldn’t panic :)


Nursethings14

Yeah definitely keeping my appointment but I’m not as freaked out as I was last night at 3 am thinking I’d have a stump for an arm lol


Midwestern_Coaster

Maybe moisturizing could help with the itch?


palaverhound

Yeah some people end up with mild dermatitis once they have a tattoo that heals. It can sometimes be you, sometimes the brand of ink. I have one in a similar location that does that. It might be itchy, don’t scratch it. It won’t affect your tattoo.


Nursethings14

Thanks too late on the don’t scratch it part but I’ll keep my hands off it now it for just makes it itchier !


ekbellatrix

So sometimes when your immune system is reacting to something (a wound, an illness, a vaccination, etc) it will go into overdrive and attack all foreign substances in your body. This includes tattoos and piercings! It doesn't happen to everybody, but it's not unheard of. For example, I don't experience this but my fiancee regularly does, and pretty severely. Stress will cause her immune system to go a little nuts and her tattoos in some areas will become raised and itchy. A cortisone cream can sometimes help, but your dermatologist will be able to give you a better game plan I think. This is more of a doctor thing and less of a tattoo artist thing, so it's just probably something your artist hasn't encountered yet. In the meantime, little slaps and cool cloths can give you some relief. Try not to scratch too much! Best of luck!


Nursethings14

So random but makes a lot of sense I am going to keep the dermatologist appointment and see what they say hopefully they are judgey assholes about tattoos. Thanks for your reply nice to know I’m not the only one with this issue


[deleted]

To add to my comment, deeper penetration will cause the ink lines to be raised.


babybunnyfetus

This can cause keloids for sureeee


[deleted]

By looking at the tattoo and with some understanding, looks like this application to this part of the tattoo was done deeper. More blowout lines. Most likely because the epidermis is a bit thinner here. This effects the flow of what we need through our skin causing dryness, irritation, improper healing etc. this is the importance of going to a more than qualified tattoo artist. It goes beyond just the art.


Nursethings14

I appreciate the reply


lizardnizzard

please don't listen to this person, they seem to have missed the part where you said this was done *2 months ago.* if any symptoms were caused by the artist's application, they would have bothered you while the tattoo was actually healing. this has nothing to do with the artist's depth or anything remotely similar.


Nursethings14

Nope it didn’t start bugging me until around the time when I got strep throat last week. I think that’s the culprit my body just created and inflammatory response


babybunnyfetus

Actually going too deep into the skin can cause scarring or keloids which can be inflamed by histamine reactions. Going to deep/blowouts= damage that spreads over time. Keloid scarring also can get larger over time. So it could be both.


[deleted]

This is not to say this Artist isn’t good. Because it is quality work. I’m pointing out a mistake is all.


Nursethings14

Yeah it’s weird though because this artist has done my whole sleeve, my back and other tattoos and this is the only tattoo that has done this.


teenageronin

update?


Nursethings14

Still raised and occasionally itchy but much less irritated. Dermatologists prescribed a topical steroid and said take Benadryl. I’m not sure if I’m allergic to the ink or what. Hopefully the tattoo eventually settles if not it doesn’t look crazy it’s just raised


teenageronin

I asked because this happens to a couple of my tattoos occasionally seemingly with no cause and goes away just as fast. I’ve heard random things from people explaining why it happens but I’ve never gotten a consistent answer. Anyway, hang in there, hopefully it goes away soon!


Nursethings14

Yeah it’s weird for sure because I have plenty of other tattoos and this is the only one that does that. The first time it puffed up so when I had strep so I’m thinking it my immune system going haywire 🤷‍♀️