Tattoos with Eczema: What You Need to Know
Considering getting a tattoo while dealing with eczema? It's a decision that requires careful thought, a supportive tattoo artist, and expert advice. Eczema, with its inflammation, itching, and flaking, isn't exactly the ideal canvas for ink. But let's break it down step by step.
Consult a Skin Pro
Start with your skin expert, aka your dermatologist, if you have one. They're the ones who know how skin might respond to tattoos and the best ways to provide aftercare. They'll assess your eczema situation and give you an idea on whether a tattoo is a go right now. Sometimes, they might suggest waiting until your skin's feeling more serene. In general, you want to be sure that you’re not going to flare-up during or after the healing process of a tattoo, which takes two to three weeks for the visible top layers, and three to four months for the deeper layers.
Choose a Safe Spot Consider the location of the tattoo carefully. Some skin spots are easy and non-reactive, while others others might be regular spots where eczema flares up. Even better, do a test run with a smaller artwork or break the artwork down into parts that would look good, no matter what stage you’re at. If you have to stop the process, you don’t want to have a half-finished design. Breaking the work down both helps you manage any flare-ups, and gives the tattoo artist plenty of time to get to know your skin. Tattooing the wrong spot can cause your skin to rash, flare-up, scab or scar.
Find the Right Artist Fit
Next, ensure your tattoo artist knows about your skin condition. If possible, seek a pro who is well-versed in sensitive skin. Getting a tattoo when you have a skin condition adds an additional layer of complexity to the process. It may be nerve-wracking to have to put down a deposit, look at mock-ups, figure out how many sessions it will take for a larger artwork, and worry about your skin condition. Let the tattoo artist know that your skin is not always going to operate on a schedule, and find out if they’re able to be flexible about that. Take into account whether your skin tends to get irritated in heat or cold and opt for the time of year when your skin is feeling its best.
Prepare your skin and body Hydrate and prep your skin before the tattoo journey. Eat healthy, taking note of how your gut is feeling and how it’s affecting your skin. Take the time to calm down your stress. For the aftercare ritual, regular moisturization of the area is important. Stick to using fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products that already work for your eczema flare-ups. There's a slim chance—but it's there —that the tattoo process might kickstart an eczema encore. So keep taking care of yourself even after the artwork is done. Always follow the artists’ care plan, taking care to avoid water exposure as suggested.
Discover Our Collection for Tattooed Skin The products in our tattooed skin collection were curated with delicate skin in mind. All of them have been dermatologist tested, are fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin. We recommend grabbing a jar of Bond | Healing Body Salve as your post-tattoo aftercare. It’s filled with anti-inflammatory oat oil, heal-boosting calendula oil, and deeply moisturizing almond butter. Use Moi | All Over Body Balm over the tattooed area while you’re on the go and need a quick layer of skin barrier protection.
Every skin story is unique. Your skin is the biggest organ on your body. Let it also be a canvas for your personal expression.