I love my tattoo, but it is giving me an allergy, complains Roopa M, a teenager flashing her ink motif on the nape of her neck.
The simple bat-like design has been drawn with injecting ink into the deeper layer of skin by using needles.
Tattoos have been used since time immemorial for various reasons as a symbol standing for beauty, beliefs, memories etc. In today's world, a tattoo is sported commonly, especially by teenagers like Roopa. But, they should know the do’s and dont’s involved in it.
As a tattoo involves injecting the skin, it requires the right disposable sterile equipment and needles. Pre and post precautions should be taken, otherwise there is a risk of skin infections like fungal, viral and bacterial.
According to Dr Tina Ramachander, consultant dermatologist in Sahakar Nagar, north Bangalore, it is always advisable to get tattoos done by professionals in a hygienic environment. “Teenagers must be aware that post tattoo care, which includes antibiotics usage, is a good practice. The dye can cause allergic responses and this is found more with coloured tattoos. Nickel allergies that damage the area also have to be addressed immediately,” she says.
There are also problems some people have such as a keloidal tendency. Keloid is like a scar which develops after any injury or trauma and it persists – growing larger at times and is itchy. Unlike a regular scar which fades over time, this stays and can be painful. This can be a contradiction to getting a tattoo done. So, if a person suffers from a keloidal tendency, getting a tattoo should be deferred.
Ramesh Gururaj, who has been proudly sporting the word Ma in Devanagari script wants his tattoo removed as he wants to change it. Dr Tina advises that the removal of a tattoo can be done with procedures like ablative co2 laser, diamond tip dermabrasion , excision and suturing and q-switched pigment laser which gives the best aesthetic results within a few sessions. “It is always safer for a tattoo to be removed with professional help for example by using a q-switch laser,” advises Dr Tina.
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