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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Remedy For Itchy Rash After Getting A Tattoo

I ve had a tattoo for about 5 weeks already and have developed a rash (sort of like hives) over an area on it. It itches tremendous and the more I scratch the bigger the larger the rash area gets. Can I treat this at home with typical allergy reaction medication? Ointment or oral?
Thu, 12 Feb 2015
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thank you for writing to us st healthcaremagic

I suggest a possibility of allergic contact dermatitis to tattoo ink.
Redness, itching and swelling being part of dermatitis and localization to the site of tattoo is also supportive of this diagnosis.
This delayed response is because the body when first exposed to an allergen for the first time is naive to it and develops gets sensitized to it over the next 2-4 weeks.
Once sensitized, body will mount an allergic reaction to next exposure to contact allergen or if the allergen is already present in the body e.g a tattoo ink.
If I was the treating doctor I would have asked you to use a topical potent steroid cream, twice daily for a few days.
An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching.
A short course of an oral steroid may also be warranted if it is too symptomatic and topical steroids alone are not able to take complete control of dermatitis.
I suggest that you visit a dermatologist in your vicinity for the needful.

Regards
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Suggest Remedy For Itchy Rash After Getting A Tattoo

Hello. Thank you for writing to us st healthcaremagic I suggest a possibility of allergic contact dermatitis to tattoo ink. Redness, itching and swelling being part of dermatitis and localization to the site of tattoo is also supportive of this diagnosis. This delayed response is because the body when first exposed to an allergen for the first time is naive to it and develops gets sensitized to it over the next 2-4 weeks. Once sensitized, body will mount an allergic reaction to next exposure to contact allergen or if the allergen is already present in the body e.g a tattoo ink. If I was the treating doctor I would have asked you to use a topical potent steroid cream, twice daily for a few days. An OTC oral antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10 mg once daily will provide you symptomatic relief from itching. A short course of an oral steroid may also be warranted if it is too symptomatic and topical steroids alone are not able to take complete control of dermatitis. I suggest that you visit a dermatologist in your vicinity for the needful. Regards