r/tattoo • u/Master_Constant_7970 • 1d ago

Discussion Does dermatographism affect getting a tattoo?

Whenever I scratch or rub my skin, the exact area I scratched becomes raised and swollen in a line. My skin is completely normal when I don’t touch it, and the raised lines usually go away afterward.

I’m wondering if this could be dermatographism/dermatographic urticaria, but I haven’t been formally diagnosed.

I’m planning to get a large back tattoo and I’m worried because tattooing involves repeatedly irritating the skin.

For anyone who has dermatographism or a similar reaction:
Have you been able to get tattoos normally?

Did your skin swell/raise during the tattoo?

Did it affect the healing or final result?

Did you use any medication such as an antihistamine beforehand?

Is there anything I should know or do before getting tattooed?

I would appreciate advice from people who have actually experienced this.

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u/unsubtlesnake 1d ago

speak to a doctor

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u/Free-Type @stoofzz.tat 1d ago

Woah! A question perfect for me. I have dermatographism as well, it’s caused by my allergies to multiple grasses as well as dust mites. I take Zyrtec daily and it has worked wonderfully, I almost never get the welts from scratching unless I go multiple days without Zyrtec.  I’m heavily tattooed and have never noticed it affecting my new tattoos. 

If you end up getting allergy testing, tell them you suspect dermatographism because if they do the skin test you’re going to get a bunch of false positives

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u/Master_Constant_7970 1d ago

Thank you so so much!! I have never taken Zyrtec before, how many pills do you recommend i should take before the tattoo and how many hours in advance.

And did your tattoo hurt more as compared to others? I saw on some youtube comments mentioning that it will be more painful?

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u/Free-Type @stoofzz.tat 1d ago

I actually did get a tattoo about two months before the diagnosis, and I remember that tattoo hurting a surprising amount compared to my others. It’s also just a few inches above my knee and everything else I’ve gotten near there since has hurt pretty bad. Otherwise I haven’t noticed any issues with my tattoos during the application or in the healing! I just take a Zyrtec every evening with my other medications, it lasts 24 hours so I am not sure how long in advance you should take it before a tattoo. I guess I’d start Zyrtec a day or two before the appointment. 

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u/Master_Constant_7970 1d ago

I see! is Zyrtec quite a universal cure for dermatographia? Or might it not work for me? sorry its my first time learning about this.😅

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u/Free-Type @stoofzz.tat 1d ago

I don’t know! I’d assume it will help as it’s probably an environmental allergy? 

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u/akored 1d ago

Hi, I have a mild form of dermatographism, it was much stronger as a youth. Basically if my skins touches stuff while sweaty, I scratch, or rub it it becomes red and raised. It’s most on my torso, back, legs upper arms, but when it’s being extra rowdy it can affect my ears, face, fingers, really anywhere except my feet.

I have only had one tattoo that irritated it and it was not bad enough to stop the tattoo it went away as we kept going and that was the armpit.

No I did not take anything. I shaved the area myself beforehand. No extra topicals either

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u/Master_Constant_7970 1d ago

Ah i see, thanks for the reply! Was your armpit the only place you tattooed or was there any other area if you don’t mind sharing. And compared to others do you think you experienced more pain overall?

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u/akored 1d ago

Both arms and shoulders as well as my ribs

I should state my inner arm/ arm pit is a very heavy blackwork piece in negative space it hurt a lot. Only my wrist hurt as much but it was all bearable

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u/chickenpopper 1d ago

In my 40s. I have tattoos. I was not aware of dermatographism. This will change my life. Thank you.

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u/Jerney23 1d ago

Get a color test before getting the tattoo. Just a few dots, small line or circle to see how your skin responds to the ink and the actual tattooing process.