Tattoo allergic reaction? Help:(

[chellexx]

So I got the most beautiful tattoo 6 days ago today, black ink with a tad bit of white in it. 3 days ago I noticed a hive like rash on the left side of my tattoo, bearing in mind this rash is not touching the tattoo at all, and the tattoo is healing wonderfully, it looks healthy and not red at all. This rash has continued to look a bit more hivey each day until 12am this morning I noticed the hives have now gone to the right side of the tattoo, again, not touching the tattoo just surrounding it, so I messaged the tattooist who said it looks like an allergic reaction and to discard the aftercare products she gave me and purchase a sudocrem type cream for the rash with anti histamines aswell. Thing is, I actually suspected it could be that, so I stopped that two days ago already, so my next thought is it must be the ink… I went to the pharmacy today and they said it’s so strange because it’s surrounding the tattoo but the tattoo itself does not look infected in any form of way, it looks like it’s healing well, but they agreed the rash is looking rather nasty. So as my tattooist advised I did purchase anti histamines and I actually purchased aveeno baby lotion as I read online it’s super gentle for inflamed skin. It’s now 10:44pm and I took the anti histamine at 4pm. The rash is BURNING. And itching like crazy… way worse than it was this afternoon in terms of burn and itch. It was already burning mind you but this is keeping me up I can’t even sleep, so I just had a look and again no redness except obviously the rash but it isn’t severely red, just a normal rash kind of red. But the hives look worse. I’m really starting to panic as someone who does have a bit of health anxiety, I believe it is probably an ink allergy so what would happen from here? Will it just get used to it and calm down on its own? Should I book a doctors appointment? I’m not really sure what to do. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Thank you so much if you reply!!

Doctors appt -
something is upsetting your skin
it needs medical eyes on

What did you put on it after? I found out recently that I’m allergic to the second skin stuff they put on after my last one. Went back to traditional plastic wrap after that and had no issues.

But yes - if it’s getting worse and keeping you up you should be seen by someone properly

I’d call 111 with the aim of a doctors appointment ASAP. It’s clearly very uncomfortable / painful and no clear explanation or treatment plan. Definitely needs a doctor.

They didn’t give me a second skin nor did they wrap it. They left it uncovered and advised to wash it with soap mildly when I got home and leave it starting aftercare next day. I’m so confused because the tattoo looks completely fine and it’s causing me so much anxiety on why the rash is just getting worse but the tattoo looks healthy and normal 😔 I will contact my doctor in the morning

I’m heavily tattooed and had a reaction once to a red ink, despite having had red previously. It healed poorly and scabbed heavily, I had to have it redone after it finally healed. Continue with the antihistamines and book a doctors appointment first thing. You may need some stronger antihistamines or antibiotics if there is an infection.

Thank you, if it was infected wouldn’t be tattoo also be suffering to some extent? The rash is not touching the tattoo at all just surrounding it and the tat looks normal as anything. I will definitely book a doctors appointment, guess I was just looking for a bit of reassurance as a worrier 😭

Never known an artist leave a tattoo completely uncovered. Not even some kitchen roll held on with tape? If you’re struggling to sleep because of the pain maybe call 111?

Does it sound urgent enough to not wait till morning do you think? I’ve had a very small tattoo before, very small but it never reacted like this, it healed super quick I never even really went through a peeling phase I guess because it was a very very small tattoo. I’m concerned because there’s some white in it that it is an ink allergy happening.

I’m not sure, with mine the red areas really scabbed and were so itchy, it was torture not scratching it. I always have second skin on for a few days and then wash and I only use palmers cocoa butter lotion to heal. Could it be the latex if the gloves where the artist was touching you or something? Have you ever had a reaction to latex before?

Like PP, I have tattoos and I have never heard of any tattoo artist leaving what is essentially an open wound uncovered. I'd not do the Aveeno and stick with Sudocream or bepanthen nappy cream. If you can, go to the tattoo shop and get them to look at it. Failing that a different tattoo shop may give you advice but they won't touch another artist's work, and doctor.

Its really important to make sure new tattoos stay clean until healed. Could you wrap it in some cling film for now? Just to keep it from rubbing against clothes and bedding, then anti histamines, bed and action first thing.

I'd ring 111 even just for reassurance that its ok to wait until the morning for a GP appt. The last thing you need is an infection.

Really? I’m really confused now, she never told me to keep it wrapped and she was a very experienced and well recommended artist. She told me about the aftercare but that’s all am I supposed to keep it wrapped? It’s day 6. When I got my small tiny tat I never had it wrapped or covered but I never reacted or had a rash with that one.

When did you put the aveeno on? Aveeno often stings broken skin. So the burning could be made much worse by the aveeno.

She left it uncovered, she was going to cover it but she said because I’m going to meet my friend in a walk in injury clinic (broken hand) she said she won’t bother covering it as she only would advise leaving it on for 30 mins to an hour. I haven’t covered it since I’m a bit confused if I was supposed to have it covered now? I never covered my other tat and it was ok and never reacted.

Today I used the aveeno on the rash only not tat, the rash is not on the tat at all it’s surrounding it

Have you marked the edge of the rash with a pen so you can clearly see if it's spreading? It sounds like an infection. Have you taken antihistamines in case it is an allergic reaction?

No I haven’t marked the edges, but the tattooist and pharmacist agreed it doesn’t look infected at all and does look consistent with an allergy, although I am going to call my doctor in the morning. There’s no typical infection signs like redness scabs pus or pain from the tattoo, just this hivey rash around it

And I did take an anti histamine.

Why didnt you get sudocrem? You put on something that would make it worse.
Sudocrem is antiseptic and great for a rash , minor burns and so on.

I did get sudocrem I just didn’t write it in the post. I even have it on the rash currently

Another thats surprised it wasn't covered. Most of mine were wrapped and left for 24-36 hours before rinsing and creaming depending on size.

I'm wondering if its worth just running cool water over it for a moment. Not submerged, bit like a cool rinse like you'd have been advised with aftercare for washing to try and lift some of the sting in the rash. I've only ever used bepanthen and Palmers cocoa butter on my tattoos.

@chellexx what does the rash look like ? Is it raised or just red ?

my tattoos were covered in cling film too for a good 4 days…

could be infection , I would not try to assess what an infection looks like , I’d call 111 now (personally I’d go to urgent care if it was burning , especially if I suspect infection !), 111 can advise

If it’s on the outside of the tattoo, it could make sense that it’s a reaction to the latex gloves, as the tattooist would be touching your arm whilst tattooing. Can you take another antihistamine? What have you already taken?

I have washed it under cool water a good few times now, I’m day 6, but I want to just profess it is not the tattoo here that’s stinging, it’s the rash, the tattoo is normal looking

It really doesn’t look like an infection to me, but I’ve been told my pharmacist it also doesn’t. I’ve attached a picture of the rash it has gone slightly more spotty since and on the other side but looks exactly like that