PLEASE HELP ME. Tattoo question

arrrggggghhhhhh
I have had two tattoos before and I just recently got one added to on the top of my foot... It is driving me completely bananas...
I have NEVER has a tattoo itch so much in my LIFE. Im using bepanthen and cleaning it twice a day as I should...The tattoist suggested for four nights I that i wrap it in gladwrap to stop it from cracking and scabbing up really hard, cause the foot is really easy to crack and break the tat and ruin it forever....
sooooo what I need to know is WHY IS IT SO ITCHY? is it beacsue its healing? is it becasue of the stoopid glad wrap?
It didnt itch like this last time.... can you become illergic to ink when you havent been previously? guys, when I say itch I mean itch to the point that I am almost in tears cause Im so DAMN itchy...... *sob*

Oh dear Darl..my foot is itching in sympathy now....


Get Arsn to worship your body endlessly for a week as a distraction....

It might just be because of where it is, some parts of the body are more sensitive to others, when it comes it comes to tattoos.
If you are really worried about why it is so itchy just ask your tattooist, if he is a decent guy then he will have no problem answering your questions.
I have had many tattoos and none have got really itchy, you can expect a bit of itchyness while it is healing up.
I hope this helps you in some way, if you want more info just log on to one of the tattoo forums and iam sure you will get a good answer there.
but the best bet is to ask your tattooist.

What colors were used?

blues and greens and aquas....

It's very pretty!
.....you poor chicken....have you tried pawpaw balm? Mine only got a little itchy... but I found the pawpaw balm soothing

hmm, usually it's the reds or yellows that cause the worst allergic reaction among some ppl, if I remember correctly. Aqua or green would contain some yellow, no?? Symptoms sound like some sort of allergic reaction tho, howz the itchiness now? Any raised bumpies?

try a betadine or a&d ointment. some of them have a non-itching agent in it. otherwise, just use some non-perfumed lotion (i recommend baby lotion, or maybe aveeno). stop using the gladwrap and see if that makes a difference. the tat needs air to start healing. and don't wear socks or shoes as much as possible to keep it from getting irritated.

My guess is that it is placement on the body (unless accompanied by redness and swelling). For some reason feet itch like no tomorrow. My lower back did as well but my hips did not at all. I wanted to rub on a tree like a bear. I did slather (I mean bathe) that sucker in non-perfumed, non-colored lotion and it helped tremendously. But it was a constant process. The minute it dried out at all it itched again. It is part of the healing process. My suggestion, carry a big thing of lotion with you and just keep it going.

I also agree with the not covering it statement. That can act as a rubbing irritant and can make it worse.

Anti-itch lotions/ointments are not recommended by any tattist I know. There is a chemical in them that will draw the ink out, or effecting the end result of the tattoo.

So...now we have the colors...what did you get?????

Hope the itchies go away soon so that you can start to really enjoy your new artwork!
Pele

Quote:

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Originally posted by musashii
usually it's the reds or yellows that cause the worst allergic reaction

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Wow, I must have been one of the lucky ones, my tattoo is only black (For the outline and the kenji sign for fire) and red and yellow for the flame around it... I think there's also some orange, hang on... yes, there seems to also be a bit of orange... of and to jump back to the topic, her foot is still itchy...

well.... lets see.. its almost a week now and the tat still hasnt scabbed... but thats an awesome thing the tatooist said... he also said that by using the glad wrap it has minimised the damaged and the trauma so the colours will be heaps brighter and not so patchey... I have stopped using the gladwrap and I am still using the bepathen on it and dripping my foot in the stuff!!!
there are a few bumps right near the crease of my foot and thats cause they are so near the crease... ummm Its still as itchey as ever and im still going mental!!!
but thanks for your input I think stopping using the gladwrap has helped heaps

hope it stops itching soon.

When Justine had her ankle tatt done she said it itched like hell... she just used non-perfumed lotion.

I'm no expert on tattoos, but from using Bepanthen as a nappy rash ointment, I've found that using it, or any ointment too frequently, can dry the skin out.

It may be worth asking your tattooist or doctor about other ointments which may suit you better, or which you could alternate, such as Metanium, Drapolene, Sudocrem, or just plain old aqueous cream

This is kind of why a lot of places have "rules" of no inking beyond the wrists and ankles. Allergies aren't really that common, although they are when you start getting into oddball inks, like white, glow in the dark, blacklight, etc.

Best advice I could give you probably would just to be stop thinking about it, the more you focus on how much your foot is itching the more its going to itch. Of course the fastest way to get you to think of something is by telling you not to... So don't listen to anything I just said..

Active manuka honey, aka tea tree honey or oil. Magic stuff, natural anti biotics, and aloe vera works good 2.

I haven't tried the tatoo thing yet but I do know that itching sensations are closely related to pain sensations neurologically. So you might try something like advil. Ibuprophen also acts as an anti-inflammatory at high doses. Not that you should take a lot but it sounds like it would help to chill out any inflammation.

Speaking of chill - what about ice?

Feel better!!!

hope its a bit better now valura, new tats can be very itchy

I've heard recently that a few people keep the gladwrap on for the first few nights, not just the first 4 hours, and will be trying the same experiment when I get some more work done on my sleeve in a few week

good work on the no scab, here's a gold star for you -----> *

oh you guys rock!!!
it has finally stopped itchin... yaay yay yay yay
I dont feel like Im going mental anymore...
ade you have a sleeve? how pretty!!! have any spesh piccys?

no special pics valura, only ones of work in progress... pm me with your email and I'll send you one of those...

Olive Oil. Works like magic. (if it's not brand new)

Nice to see this thread again

I used the extended glad wrap method recently whilst getting the lower section of my sleeve completed:

gladwrap for first four hours, then wash

re wrap in glad wrap overnight

leave glad wrap off during the day

wrap for four nights

I think it sped up the healing process, and helped me sleep - which helps in the healing process (especially if you are being tattooed on a regular basis for a few hours at a time...)

i've been told Especially when getting your back tattooed that you should mousturize your back for a couple weeks before to prevent you skin from cracking? Is this a good idea? Should it be used before most tattooes??

i can help you i work at a tattoo shop it itches because your boddy is trying to reject it dont itch it and dont put any anti itch cream on it if you do it will swell and crack wich will destort the tattoo so any ?? give me a line
SLEEP WITH ANGLES MUCKIEHA

I know a guy... well actually I know of a guy who has a few tattoos, and he is an artist, so he usually designs his own.
I will write out the bit of his book where he talks about the dragon.
(it's only sections of it though)

I got my first tattoo back in 1999. It’s on my left calf, a dragon that I saw in one of Cary’s books. He changed it up a little bit for me, making the face and the claws a little more dramatic. My plain was to eventually get it coloured, but I’ve decided not to.
I got the Tiger done in 2000. After that I added some fire and a wave- all very elemental and powerful. The tigers almost hidden on the inside of my arm, with the claws coming around the outside. It all flows with my muscles and I think the effect is bad as hell.
That one took an extra long time to heal because the next night I decided to spray paint my studio. I wore a bandage all day, but then I took it off and the fumes from the spray paint got into my skin and it got all infected. It actually caused the colours to fade, which looks pretty cool.
So the lesson of this story... don't spray paint with a new tattoo.... is there any other things that shouldnt be done around new tattoo's?

I am also thinking of getting some Henna done when I am older... anyone got any pro's or con's about Henna?