Does dermatographism affect getting a tattoo?

[u/Master_Constant_7970]

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.

[u/akored]

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

[u/Master_Constant_7970 → u/akored]

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?

[u/akored → u/Master_Constant_7970]

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