Breaking out

Hey, I just got my first tattoo last week on my lower back. It is a pretty big one. It goes all the way across my back. Well, my problem is now that it has started to heal good all the sudden I have broke out really bad all over my tattoo. It's like I am having a reaction to it. What could it be and is this comman?

Did you have hair back there that was shaved? If so, then it could be the hair growing back out, causing multiple ingrown spots. I had the same thing happen on my arm.

Yes I did. I didnt even think about that. That could be what it is because they are right in the area I got shaved.Thanks!

It could also be a reaction to overapplying anoitment (what were you using to heal it?) or to the lotion (did you switch to lotion after it peeled?). Honestly, without knowing how you healed it or what it looks like, no one on the internet can really tell you in a timely manner. You should take the tattoo back to the artist who did it, hopefully you trust their experiance.

Hey, the only thing I have been using is Luberderm Lotion. My artist said using anything else could fade the tattoo but now I am force to put Neosporene on it. It is really sore and itchy and I dont mean the tattoo. I guess I better call them first thing this week and see what they think. Thanks!

my artist only uses A&D and gives a sample for follow up then its up to me to buy more if need be

Luberderm Lotion makes me break out too. Neosporin isnt a good alternative for the lotion part of the healing process (in my opinion). I tried a few different brands of lotion and most work ok. Im using jergens ultra healing right now.... But you really need to discuss with your artist, hopefully they have some alternative for you.

This is for me the most frustrating part about getting tattoos. There's no agreement from artist to artist on what exactly the skin needs to heal with maximum ink retention. I've read several different professionally written documents on the healing process, and all sound very intelligent, yet not a one of them jive with eachother on what the skin is actually "doing" when it heals. While I understand that everyone's skin is "different" in terms of what lotions work for each person, but the basic facts on how skin heals still seems to be some sort of controversy for tattoo artists.

well i also been breaking out on my arm and back, i have been told to wash teh area as many times as possible and appy a tiny bit of lotion. i use a&d and curel just switched to lubiderm to see if that helped. well nope it didn't.. I personally think for me i am having a reaction to the aloe vera in the a&d or something.. But i been getting tattooed ever few weeks since may so maybe my skin got sensitive.. best of luck to you..hope it heals nice

Hey, Well I tried to stick it out as long as I could before going to the Doctor. The Final Diagnosis.......... I have a skin infection and it began when he shaved my back. She said all the bacteria that was in my skin moved out when the needle penatrated my skin and then they moved into the pores where I was shaved. I could have possibly stoped it from happening by simply washing my back with antibacterial soap instead of my regular body wash. So ALWAYS wash with Antibacterial soap after getting a tatt! Anyways thanks for everyones input. Believe it or not it did help by giving me somewhere to start!

First of all, you might be using the wrong kind of lotion on your tatt. Look for non-scented only, and as little or no oils in it. Try tattoo goo, or a&d ointment (you can find it in the baby section at wal-mart). Secondly, you may be using too much lotion. You're gonna want to apply lotion every four to six hrs, but when you do this smear it in enough to were nothing sticks to it, a good test is to take a peice of tissue and "drop" it on there, if it doesnt stick your good!

I got a bit tat about 4 days ago that is nearly a full back tattoo...around the 3rd day and 4th day (today) my whole back around the tattoo is broken out with tiny little bumbs everywhere. Ive only been useing alchohol free baby wipes and A&D ointment. Im not sure if its some kind of infection in my skin or mabey im applying too much A&D (cause my shirt does stick to my back afterwards). So today I went out and bought a few bars of Dial antibactirial soap and ive been takeing it lighter on the ointment to see if any of this helps. If it is bactiria makeing me breakout will useing antibactirial soap now clear it away or do I have to go see a doc? Any other advice is welcomed also.... P.S I dont have a hairy back so I didnt have to shave it, so im sure its not ingrown hairs or bactiria in the shaved places. Thanks everyone Jay

oh, just wanted to add one more thing. My tattoo dosint hurt at all really anymore...mabey just a light sunburn feeling in a few small spots but it itches really bad and is a little redish where the bumps are broke out around it. Its not swollen either...just the itching bumps are annoying me like crazy. Well, ive washed my back a few times already today with that antibactirial soap so im hopeing that may eventually help clear that up...as before, any oppinions and advice is appriciated. Thanks Jay

I always wonder when people have an issue after their tattoo and people tell them to go back to their tattoo artist...My first thought is, once the tattoo has been applied and the proceedure is finished, we are no longer talking about a tattoo, we are now, technically speaking, talking about an open wound. Yes, by all means, follow the after-care instructions suggested by your artist, but, If anything starts happening in the healing process that raises a red flag on the part of the "wounded" then I say take it to a doctor. You don't go to a doctor for a tattoo, why would you go to a tattoo artist for medical advice about a wound...Just my take on things.

About the tattoo...Dial BAR SOAP??? NO NO NO NO NO!!!! that soap has high concentrations of artificial colors ,perfumes and deodorants and as such should NEVER be used on a tattoo...only very mild soaps such as Ivory or Neutragena should be used for a minimum of 4 days. And yes, your problem is probably caused by too much ointment. You said you did not have to shave? That is also wrong ....all areas whether there is visible hair or not should be shaved before any tattoo proceedure...your skin has micro fine hairs that are not visible to the naked eye that must be removed before tattooing....At a hospital sugery you are shaved no matter if there is hair or not right? Same reason you should have been shaved and that could be a contributing factor to your problem Caribou...yes its an open wound but it is still a tattoo!! We as professional artists should know more (much more) about the healing of a tattoo than most doctors...Its ludicrous to adopt the attitude of " Well there ya go if ya have any problems go see a doctor don't call me!" Tattoo artists should ALWAYS be accessible to clients and have enough knowledge of tattoo healing to be able to answer those questions in an effective manner.

I just had a tattoo done about 5 days ago and I used a neosporin antibiotic ointment and my skin had a reaction to it and caused it to get infected, if you need ointment use polysporin (doc recommended) because your skin may be rejecting the ingredients in the neosporin.

Polysporin is ok however the safest in my experience has been generic triple antibiotic...have had very few problems with it. Neosporin is a big no no...way too high a concentration of neomycin sulphate and some other harsh ingredients. I would also like to recommend a product called "Burts Badger Balm" sounds crazy don't it ...and as far as I know you can only get it at ...get this...Cracker Barrel restaurants!! But we have had GREAT results with it..give it a try...btw they also make a great lotion that just kicks ass!...TAz

Taz, Like I said, I think people should absolutely follow the artist's reccomended after care procedure, and ask the artist for help with issues such as dealing with itchiness or flakey skin as the scabs fall off naturally in properly healing tattoos... I just think if a problem arises such as an infection, this is now a medical problem and tattoo artists have enough possible liability issues to deal with without starting to practice medical care without a licence. Riddle: When does a tatto cease to be a tattoo? Answer: when it becomes an infection.

bag balm and pulvex are also excelent healing ointments also.

Caribou...Which is why I ALWAYS tell em to see a doctor!

Taz, It reassures me when I get confirmation from a pro such as yourself...means the right info is working it's way into becoming second nature to me...that's one of my goals

See I wrote above about may be trying polysporin because the neosporin made my tattoo practically puke on itself.... I used the generic triple antibiotic ointment but did not notice in very small print it says "compare active ingredients to NEOSPORIN"..... I am not going to keep going on about it but everyone needs to be aware that you have to be careful even picking up the generic brands because sometimes the tiny print goes un-noticed :)

Yes dear "comparable " but not the same...Triple antibiotic has much lower levels of neomycin sulphate which can cause major problems in use as a tattoo healing agent..TAz