Accutane Rx and its effects on tattoos???

Hey all! so I have been on this intense acne medication called accutane. Long and the short of it, it sortof shuts down 70% of your oil glands. And I with as many annoying side effects (ie chapped lips, bloody noses) and all the hoops I have to jump through to be on it, I will recommend it to anyone who has a serious problem with acne. I had the real nasty stuff that nothing could get under control. While I was on it I had cover-girl model skin. I've been off of it for three months and am still enjoying the lack of headlight in the middle of my forehead. Anyway. When I turned 17, I decided I wanted to take my sister up on the promise she made to me when I was 5. I wanted to get my first tattoo. I had done alot of research over the preceding year, and was getting ready to go in to the local parlors to look at designs when I ingeniously remembered to check the warning labels on the meds. The fact that it advised not to get any waxing done due to potential scaring raised flags. I got on their website and found nothing about peircings or tattoos. Then I had an epiphany: Google--accutane+tattoo. What I got was mass amounts of horror stories from tattoo parlors who worked on people who had taken accutane. So my question. How long should I be off of the accutane before I get my tattoo? It suggested a month before getting a wax and that was bull. I got my brows done two and a half months after my last dose and the lady stopped after doing the lower arches saying my skin was too fragile. I was red for two days! Therefore, I do not want to go by just what my doc or the company says. As experienced proffessionals (who do cover-ups lol) how long do you require your clients to be off of similar medications? and while I'm at it, do anidepressants have any effect? (yes I'm that naive) ----Kim

BTW I'm 18 now and am currently trying out hena tattoos to test drive different designs and locations and see how quickly my mind changes. :)

dont even think of breaking your skin for at least 6 months after being off with this product in your system.i was able to talk to a derm doc over this years ago wait 6 months before tattoo,after you have been off it.this med is nasty and can and probably & will keloid up within that time frame. as far as henna ive been reading of some serious skin reactions there causing burns so be careful there very careful.might want to get some temporary tattoos to start off with.best of luck

How the hell can hena cause burns???? I'm under the impression that its just an mushed/pureed herb that tranfers it's pigment into skin? It looks and feels like steamed spinach to me. Is there some chemical in it that reacts with all that vitamin A or something? And thanks for the time frame. I asked one of the local artists here and she said six months too, but she'd never worked with it before, so...

pure henna does no harm but do a search on *black henna* black henna contains a toxic chemical dye that causes severe burns, blisters and scars...popular in tourist areas to create those black tribal tattoos we're all so fond of ;)

well i have been on accutane for 3 months and just got a tattoo on my arm. a week ago. kinda freking out. it all looks good nothing from the unusal. will keep you posted on what happens.

I had a client come in to get some ink done on his back and he had some obvious acne scarring in the area. I didn't think much of it until I started the tattoo and could not get the ink to go in properly I even changed needles twice and checked my machine adjustment. Then I remembered an article I had read on Accutane and tattoos and asked the guy if he had ever been on acne medicine. Yup, accutane. He'd been off it for a year but had taken it for so long I guess it has done some permanent stuff to his epodermis. All of his tats whether by me or someone else have had to have major touch ups because of this.

if getting a tattoo when on the medication can cause scars, then howcome when i cut myself badly no scars form?? i also got my ears pierced whilst on the meds and they healed perfectly. im in my last month of reacatan.. and my side effects are almost non existant, meaning the meds have basically done what they need too. my tattoo is booked for 5 days time. im going to contact my derm tomorrow to get a definate answer. hopefully ill be able to get it.. what do you reckon??

I am 34 and am days away from finishing my second round of Accutane. Have been getting tattoo's since 19. No tattoos during first round of accutane but did get tattooed this round. BAD IDEA. Take a year off tattooing. 6 months for the Accutane then 6 months after. I was able to heal thin black lines well, but not large colored areas. I now have one new tat that is a disaster and can't be fixed (if it even can be) for about a year.

I have been on Accutane for about two months now I got a giant peice on my side while on the Accutane and it has healed beautifully and is not showing any signs of problems. Don't believe the hype of what people say on the internet.

also good to remember not everyone heals the same way.do research and in the final judgement call it is up to the person.

just because something increases the odds of a reaction occuring or the severity of possible reactions, doesn't mean it always will. if a drug is known to have this effect, don't gamble with yourself based on someone else having done so without harm coming to them... this applies to all sorts of drugs, combinations, everyday life, etc. quote: "RE:Accutane Rx and its effects on tattoos??? Posted by [email removed] from IP: 74.241.73.192 on 03/07/10 Louisiana I have been on Accutane for about two months now I got a giant peice on my side while on the Accutane and it has healed beautifully and is not showing any signs of problems. Don't believe the hype of what people say on the internet. "

I have been on accutane for 5 months now. My skin was not that bad, but I had annoying breakouts for years. I decided to get a tattoo the other day on my ribs. I had no problem with the tattoo and its a week old and has already healed. I have not had many side effects from the medication though, my lips have not been overly dry, and really nothing else as far as side effects. Anyway I just wanted to tell my story about getting tattos, because it can be done safely on the medication.

i took accutane for almost 2 months. i had really bad side effects to it. i've wanted to get one of my tats fixed but i'm scared to death to do it. for me i'd rather wait as long as possible just to be on the safe side.

I've been on accutane for 3 months. My derm said there would be no problem at all. I got a huge piece on my side which healed perfectly. Had it about a month now and it looks just as good as the day I got it. check it out...http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=383536&l=870f180c3d&id=100000038566587 [email removed]

I got something on my chest (below the collarbone). Just script. It healed in record time. That was my first. I'm thinking about getting another script one on my arm this weekend due to the success of the first. I am on month 5, 60mg per day. Still hesitant, though.

I have been on accurate over half a year on 60 mgs a day and still to go up more. My meds got stopped a month ago when a hot taken into hospital. On Sunday It was my birthday I got a tattoo, one I had always wanted. I have 9 beautiful tatts already This one absolute DISASTER!!! I thought it was falling to pieces and looked terrible because a kept scratching and banging it. Please please follow the advice DONT DO IT!