Infection, inflammation, allergies and lymph nodes are all part of the equation. We look at whether tattoos can be detrimental to the immune system and how to go about aftercare in a safer way.
The short answer is no, a tattoo will not as a rule undermine the immune system of someone in good health, even if it does put your immune response into temporary action. Where the risks lie is with unsafe ink or equipment, broken skin, poor wound healing and the possibility of infection or an allergy.
I am Callum Wright. I have little patience for the sort of health advice that makes for a nice brochure; I would rather know what has the potential to go wrong. Put simply, a tattoo is a controlled injury to the skin, one made by needle punctures and the introduction of pigment. Your body will respond in kind, deploying white blood cells and initiating some inflammation to see to the repair of the skin barrier. More often than not there is no trouble from this. On occasion the immune response lingers or an infection gets a foothold.
What Tattoos Do To Immunity
There is nothing mysterious about the relationship between the two. You might think getting a tattoo “uses up” your defences but the body is merely putting its resources where they are needed to heal the skin. For a healthy adult the matter is local and brief. One is better served to ask if the studio, the ink or one’s own medical record present an avoidable hazard.
Temporary Immune Activation
The moment the needle penetrates the skin the body registers damage. Inflammation sets in, blood flow and immune cells increase in the area. A bit of redness, tenderness and warmth in the first days is to be expected in the course of wound healing.
It is not a sign the whole of your immune system has been compromised so much as evidence it is at work. Consider it akin to a small roadside crew making repairs, not an emergency on a statewide scale.
Why Ink Remains In Skin
Ink is put down in the dermis. Some of it stays put but particles may be carried off by immune cells via the lymphatic system hence you will find tattoo pigment in the lymph nodes from time to time.
That is not in itself an indication of illness, though it shows the ink is not forever confined to a neat patch of skin. Should a lymph node prove to be enlarged or painful, do not put it down to the tattoo without a doctor’s opinion.
Inflammation And Allergic Reactions
Inflammation from a tattoo can be chronic, delayed or quite normal. Distinguishing between them spares you the error of either overreacting to ordinary healing or writing off a real issue as something you have to put up with. An allergy to the tattoo can make itself known in weeks or years, sometimes the colour is a factor, but a medical assessment is required to be sure.
Normal Healing Versus Trouble
With normal healing the redness and any peeling or itch will subside and the skin is left feeling tight, like a well tended graze. If the inflammation is of concern it will not abate. Pus, fever, foul odour, red streaks or mounting pain point to an infection. A firm lump that will not go away could be a granuloma, the body’s way of reacting to material it cannot get rid of.
Delayed Ink Reactions
An old tattoo can become a nuisance long after it has healed in the form of scaly skin, bumps or an itchy rash around a particular colour. A case of illness or sun exposure can be enough of a trigger.
Resist the urge to slather on home remedies or strong steroid creams to make it go away; you may be irritating the skin or masking what needs to be seen. Let a doctor or pharmacist determine if a referral to a dermatologist is in order.
Health Risks Worth Knowing
From a minor irritation to a serious infection, the risks vary according to the size and placement of the piece, the client’s health, the artist and his training, the ink and hygiene. You will not find a percentage figure you can rely on for every country or studio. Many a mild reaction is dealt with and never reported and regulations differ, so the statistics are not always a true guide.
| Risk | What It Can Look Like | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Normal inflammation | Some redness, swelling, tenderness or peeling is to be expected; provided it is mild and on the mend, simply adhere to the aftercare regimen and keep an eye on it. | Adhere to the aftercare regimen and monitor it |
| Bacterial infection | Should you experience heat, fever, pus or pain that is getting worse with the redness spreading | Obtain medical advice without delay |
| Allergic reaction | Itchiness, a rash, bumps or swelling in the vicinity of the tattooed area | Have a medical professional make an assessment if it does not go away |
| Granuloma or chronic inflammation | Persistent irritation or hard, raised lumps | See a dermatologist or your doctor |
| Bloodborne infection | There might be no telltale skin symptoms at first, or it could manifest as a systemic illness | Put in for medical advice and put testing on the table |
| MRI reaction | Scanning can on occasion produce some burning, stinging or swelling | Put the MRI team in the picture about any tattoos in advance |
Infection And Bloodborne Illness
Of all the complications from a tattoo, infection is among the most you can do to avoid. Bacteria will find their way into broken skin if hands are not clean, aftercare is substandard or the equipment is anything but sterile. A dirty needle or ink is also a vector for bloodborne infections like hepatitis.
For those in Australia, the Department of Health and Aged Care has official information on bloodborne viruses worth perusing. The bottom line is that the size or style of the tattoo is of less consequence than proper infection control and using sterile gear.
MRI And Other Surprises
Tattoo pigments have come a long way though some still have metallic compounds in them, so there is the odd instance of a tattoo stinging or swelling under an MRI. Make sure the technician is aware of all permanent makeup and tattoos before you are scanned.
Most will have no trouble with it but then again rare is not impossible; a ten second heads up is better than an unpleasant shock.
Autoimmune Conditions And Tattoos
An autoimmune condition does not preclude having a tattoo. It is a matter of what your diagnosis and medicines are, how active the disease is, your risk of infection and healing capacity.
Those on immune-suppressants run a greater chance of infection or slow wound closure. One need not give up on the notion but a word with the treating doctor would be prudent.
Who Should Wait
If the disease is in a flare up, you are under the weather, have an active skin infection or your doctor has made a recent change to your treatment, put off the tattoo. Uncontrolled diabetes, a propensity for poor healing or a blood clotting issue call for the same restraint.
And do not forgo your prescribed medicine for the sake of a tattoo. A bad bargain and the kind of rebellion nobody requires.
Get Medical Advice Before You Book
Your doctor can advise if your medication or condition alters the risk. They might put you off until things are stable, or recommend something smaller and away from eczema or psoriasis, or set up some extra monitoring.
Put the tattoo artist in the know of any allergies or medical matters. There is no need to recite your family history but withholding facts means both of you are left to wonder if the healing process does not go to plan.
Making Safer Choices
A little more outlay for hygiene and unambiguous aftercare is well worth it when the alternative is the cost of antibiotics or removal. Do not be seduced by the price of an appointment. Look for a licensed, reputable artist who abides by public health rules and can put you at ease as to how he or she deals with the ink and equipment.
A Studio Safety Checklist
- Opt for a professional studio and a licensed artist.
- Make sure the single-use needle is opened from its seal to your face.
- Find out the sterilisation and cleaning procedures for anything that is reused.
- The ink should be in a disposable container, not put back in the communal bottle.
- If the place is untidy or the artist is short with you over hygiene questions or seems poorly, do not go ahead with it.
Aftercare
Stick to what the studio has put in writing. With clean hands wash the spot, use the product as directed and resist the urge to pick at it. Let it heal without undue friction or exposure to filth and unclean water.
Direct sun, a hot spa or a good sweat will do nothing for a new tattoo. If you are around animals, grease or dust for work, book in for a few days of respite. A backpack strap rubbing on it for the afternoon is not something a tattoo wants.
When To Call In A Doctor
Do not let a skin problem get to the point where it is dramatic before you act. Worsening or unimproving symptoms are enough to contact a doctor. For anything severe such as faintness, trouble breathing or facial swelling indicative of an allergic reaction, urgent help is called for.
Warning Signs To Act On
- Redness that is hot and painful and makes its way past the confines of the tattoo.
- A fever, red streaks, a foul odour or discharge of a yellow or green hue.
- Lumps that will not go away, an unrelenting rash, ulcers and bleeding.
- You may find your lymph nodes are swollen, have chills, are inordinately tired or just feel under the weather.
- Then there is the matter of hives all over, trouble with your breathing or the lips and tongue swelling up.
It is good practice to put down the date and take a clear photo as soon as you see any of this, along with a record of the tattoo colour, what products were put on it and any medicine taken. Your doctor will have the information he needs and you can spare him some of the leg work.
What People Are Prone to Get Wrong
There is a notion that any redness about a tattoo is indicative of infection; in fact mild inflammation that is on the mend is to be expected. The question to ask is if the symptoms are getting better or worse.
Or one might think the ink is safe simply because the studio has a professional air to it. But sterile equipment and the training to handle it properly cannot be had with clean floors and good lighting alone. In terms of process over presentation, reality can be a letdown.
A One-Day Plan for Practicality
If an event, a day at the beach or a long flight is in your near future and you are thinking of a new tattoo, give it some thought first. You will have to contend with aftercare and friction from your clothes when you are out and about; a fresh piece of art and a dusty road trip don’t always mix.
Should you be put off by needles or the sight of blood, do not make plans to drive home afterwards. Have something to eat and a glass of water and let the artist know if you are not feeling well. It is only a matter of logistics but it keeps you from an undignified encounter with the floor and the tattoo chair.
Some Questions Asked
Do they weaken the immune system?
Not as a rule. A healthy person’s immune system is not normally compromised, though there is a local response while the skin mends. An allergic reaction or infection is another story.
Does the ink have an effect?
Ink can rouse immune cells and some pigment will make its way to the lymph nodes. Harmful it is not, but if you have lumps or odd changes to the skin you ought to have them looked at.
Is an autoimmune problem a possibility?
Hard to say across the board. A tattoo can bring on inflammation or stir up a pre-existing skin issue but that is no proof of an autoimmune disease. Those so afflicted would do well to run it by their doctor.
Are they bad for your health?
No more than they need be. There are risks of granuloma, an allergy, an infection or the odd MRI reaction. Go with a licensed artist and sensible aftercare and you mitigate most of that.
Long-term inflammation?
For some it can be persistent, owing to an allergy or other condition. Do not keep swapping creams if there is pain or itching; get some medical opinion.
The Bottom Line on Safer Ink
To answer whether a tattoo is harmful to the immune system: it elicits a localised, passing response, nothing more. Any real risk comes from unsafe practices, an individual’s medical history or an infection.
See a doctor if things do not improve. Pick a studio that is licensed and clean, put in the aftercare and you will be giving your immune system every opportunity to do its job without making a fuss of it.
