Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 6-23-17

Health
Tattoos have been around for thousands of years, but they’ve really gone mainstream in the last decade or so. Still, no matter how advanced the technology gets, a tattoo amounts to a punc- ture wound filled with ink. And for some people, that can cause
problems, from allergic reactions to infections and more.
rethink your ink
Some tattoo dyes, especially red and yellow, can cause an allergic re- action, especially when exposed to sunlight. The area around your tattoo might itch or swell, or you could get a
rash. It can happen right after you get the tattoo, or years later. If it’s mild -- itchy skin and a few bumps -- treat it with a steroid cream. If your reaction is worse or if does- n’t go away in a couple of weeks, call your doctor.
allergic reactions
Some ink reacts to light, especially sun- light. So if you don’t keep a new tattoo covered for a couple of
weeks, your skin can swell or turn red. This is most com- mon with yellow inks, but it can happen with red, too. Again, a mild case should get better with time and antihistamines or steroid
creams, but if not, check with your doctor.
Sometimes your immune system thinks the pigment in tattoo ink is a threat and sends cells to the area to fight it. These cells clump together around the tattoo
and create nodules which are called granulomas. If you see them, talk to your doctor. He might run tests to rule out other causes. He’ll treat them with steroids -- taken by mouth or as a shot.
Reactions to Light
granulomas
If your tattoo artist doesn’t prop- erly clean his equipment or uses it on more than one person, you could get an infection. If your skin swells, turns red, or feels tender, or you notice a pus-like drainage from the tattoo, call the doctor. You may need
antibiotics to clear it up.
Keloids are areas of scar tissue that are raised from the skin. They can start under the tattoo and spread out. Keloids run in families and are
more likely to affect people with dark skin. Treatment starts with steroids, but it can get involved after that, and the keloid could come back. If you have them already or someone in your family does,
you might want to avoid tattoos.
Tattoo nee- dles get bloody. If yours wasn’t cleaned well be- tween uses, you could be ex-
posed to diseases
spread by blood, like hepatitis B or C, tetanus, or HIV. Choose your tattoo artist wisely. Make sure needles and other instruments are sterilized and that your
artist wears gloves.
skin infections
blood-borne diseases
Getting a permanent tat- too requires breaking the skin and having contact with blood and body fluids. Above
all, make sure the studio is as clean as a doctor's office. (Hint: Check the bathroom.) Make sure the artist's busi- ness license is up to date. Tattooing should be done in a separate area. It should have a clean, hard surface and no random items that add un-
wanted germs to the work area.
Safe Tattooing: Choosing a Studio
keloids
PAGE 6-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017