Why Is My Tattoo Raised After 2 Weeks?

Why Is My Tattoo Raised After 2 Weeks

The Tattoo Is Simply Healing – If you’re dealing with a new tattoo and wondering about raising and itching, chances are your tattoo is simply going through a  healing process. Because a new tattoo is actually an open wound, it is perfectly normal for the skin to raise and swell a bit.

As the swelling subsides, your tattoo will start to dry out as a part of the healing process. During the drying stage, it will start to itch and peel. This is a sign that the new skin layer is forming and the body is getting rid of the old, damaged skin layer.

If this is your case, then you must resist the urge to touch, scratch, and peel the tattoo. If you do, you may prolong the healing process, introduce bacteria and germs to the tattoo and unintentionally cause a tattoo infection. You can simply try to keep the tattoo clean and hydrated.

  1. Moisturize it up to twice a day to relieve the itchiness and peeling;
  2. If the swelling and itching persist for more than a few days, then talk to a medical professional and have your tattoo medically assessed;

Chances are you’re dealing with an infection, which can be dealt with pretty easily via antibiotic treatment.

Is it normal to raise a tattoo after 2 weeks?

– It’s important to know the signs that your tattoo isn’t healing properly or has become infected. Symptoms of improper healing include:

  • Fever or chills. A fever may indicate that your tattoo has become infected, and you should see a doctor right away.
  • Prolonged redness. All tattoos will be somewhat red for a few days after the procedure, but if the redness doesn’t subside , it’s a sign that your tattoo isn’t healing well.
  • Oozing fluid. If fluid or pus is still coming out from your tattoo after 2 or 3 days, it may be infected. See a doctor.
  • Swollen, puffy skin. It’s normal for the tattoo to be raised for a few days, but the surrounding skin shouldn’t be puffy. This may indicate that you’re allergic to the ink.
  • Severe itching or hives. Itchy tattoos can also be a sign that your body is allergic to the ink. The allergic reaction to a tattoo can happen right after, or as much as several years after getting the tattoo.
  • Scarring. Your tattoo will scab over because it’s a wound, but a properly healed tattoo shouldn’t scar. Signs of scarring include raised, puffy skin, redness that doesn’t fade, distorted colors within the tattoo, or pitted skin.

Is it normal to get a tattoo raised after 3 weeks?

The Formation of Scabs and Crust – As you may know, getting a tattoo means getting an open wound on the skin. During the tattooing process , your skin is being poked thousands of times, which makes the body respond as if it would respond to an actual injury.

  1. The immune system fights to heal the ‘wound’ as soon as possible, which in this case, takes time, or a few days;
  2. That is why your tattoo in the first few days doesn’t appear raised;
  3. The body is still getting rid of the excess ink, blood, and plasma resulting from the tattooing process;
You might be interested:  How To Shower After Getting A Tattoo?

After it is done oozing and once it is cleansed and left to dry, your tattoo starts forming a new skin layer. As a result, you will notice your tattoo appearing raised, as well as forming a crust or scabs. This is a completely normal process when accompanied by other symptoms like itching and scabs falling off.

  • What To Do?

In this case, patience will be your strongest virtue. The formation of scabs and their own falling off is a waiting game that you can’t really do much about. Actually, there are a few things you can or can’t do. For example;

  • You should NOT touch or peel off the scabs; this will prolong the healing process and possibly lead to an infection
  • You can apply a thin layer of mild, gentle, and fragrance-free ointment or lotion to rehydrate the skin and relieve the itching
  • You should NOT scratch the tattoo at all costs

Why does my healed tattoo feel raised?

Fellow tattooed folks, I’ve got a question for you. Do ever get very itchy, seemingly for no reason at all? When you scratch, do you feel like your tattoos are raised — like they’re trying to jump out of your skin? It happens to me all the time, and it’s a sensation that’s difficult to explain to people who don’t have tattoos (or, as I like to call them, blank canvases).

Thankfully for us, we’re not losing our minds or doing anything wrong — for the most part, itchy tattoos are normal. Tattoos can be classified as a skin injury, even though they might not look like what you picture a skin injury to be (like a deep cut or burn or scrape).

And, as San Diego board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm explains, a tattoo can result in a ” hypertrophic scar or keloid” as it heals. And that’s one of a few reasons tattoos can be perpetually itchy. Just take it from New York City board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein : “When the skin heals [from a tattoo] and scars, a particular inflammatory cell called a mast cell becomes more prominent in this area of the skin, and these cells can release histamine, the same substance which causes allergies, hives, and subsequent itchiness,” she says.

“This helps to explain why scars and areas of skin injury in general become itchy. ”  And while tattoos can be itchy all on their own, they can also make us extra sensitive to other stuff. “Tattoos are a break in the skin barrier,” Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara says.

“Little ink particles set up residence between the usual bricks (skin cells) and mortar (nutritional lipids and proteins) that make up the barrier keeping irritants out and moisture in; this makes the skin in this area a smidge more reactive and vulnerable.

” Gohara and Marchbein both recommend that people with tattoos avoid putting products with common irritants or allergens — namely fragrance and alcohol — on their skin to prevent further inflammation. Tattoos are also extra sensitive to sun exposure (which also causes tattoos to fade ), so it’s important to frequently cover them with an SPF 30 or higher, like CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Body Lotion.

Staying moisturized, Gohara adds, is also key to keeping a tattooed skin barrier happy (my personal favorite for fresh-looking tattoos is Nécessaire’s unscented The Body Lotion ).

How long until my tattoo stops being raised?

Summary – Lumpy, bumpy and raised tattoos are all common during (and sometimes slightly after) the tattoo healing process. They can also even appear on much older tattoos. Generally, when an older tattoo becomes bumpy and raised, it usually doesn’t turn out to be anything serious.

If after 5-7 days the lumps and bumps haven’t gone down, or are getting worse, it may be worth speaking to a doctor for their advice. However, it’s very likely that these symptoms will go away on their own over the course of a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

You might be interested:  What Happens If You Get A Cut On A Tattoo?

Remember, though, that if you do become concerned about any raised bumps on your tattoo, and if they don’t disappear after a couple of weeks, then seek advice just to be safe. Enjoy your ink..

Is it possible to over moisturize a tattoo?

What Are The Risks of Over Moisturizing a Tattoo? – By applying thicker layers of lotion or ointment, several times a day (or every hour or two as some people do), you’re risking over-moisturizing a tattoo. By over-moisturizing a tattoo, you can cause the following problems;

  • Due to excess moisture, the tattoo won’t be able to dry and heal
  • Excess moisture can create a perfect environment for bacteria and germ growth
  • Over moisturizing can lead to tattoo inflammation and infection
  • Excess moisture can cause clogged pores since the moisturizer prevents the skin from breathing
  • Excess moisture can cause the tattooed skin to break out

To avoid these issues, make sure to follow the moisturizing rules we mentioned before. However, make sure to not under moisturizing your tattoo as well. Some people are afraid they might over-moisturize their tattoo, so they leave it dehydrated, which results in heavy scabbing and tattoo dryness. So, make sure to stay in the middle and simply apply a thin layer of lotion/ointment twice a day.

How do you tell if your tattoo is infected?

Why is my tattoo suddenly raised and itchy?

Allergic reaction to pigment – Some people have an allergic reaction to the actual ink used in tattooing. Tattoo pigments may be made from dyes that are made from plastic materials. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) , an allergic reaction can occur right away or even several years after getting your tattoo.

Why does my tattoo swell up sometimes?

There are several risks to consider before subjecting your skin to a tattoo needle, not the least of which is the possibility of infection from viruses like hepatitis and HIV. But even if you choose a safe tattoo studio and the tattoo artist uses a sterile needle, you’re not out of the woods.

The tattoo ink can potentially cause an allergic reaction. A tattoo allergy can result in swelling, irritation, a rash , or some other skin abnormality at or around the site of the tattoo. What Causes a Tattoo Allergy? Tattoo ink contains several ingredients and chemicals, and you may be allergic to any one of them.

Substances like iron oxide, mercury sulfide, ferric hydrate, aluminum, and manganese are only a few of the ingredients that may be included in the ink, depending on the color. An allergy to any of these substances can cause an allergic reaction once the ink gets into your skin. Types of Tattoo Allergic Reaction A tattoo allergy can take a number of different forms:

  • Acute inflammatory allergic reaction. Many people who get tattoos experience what’s called an acute inflammatory reaction — the skin becomes red, slightly swollen, and irritated at the site of the tattoo. This occurs because of the irritation caused by the tattoo needle and the tattoo ink. It’s not serious, and generally subsides within about two or three weeks.
  • Photosensitivity. Tattoos that are exposed to the sun may result in an allergic reaction, particularly those that contain yellow tattoo ink. Yellow and some red pigments contain cadmium sulfide, which can cause an allergic reaction when exposed to the sun.
  • Dermatitis. Some of the most common tattoo allergies include types of dermatitis — photoallergic and allergic contact dermatitis. Most often, these types of allergic reactions are caused by mercury sulfide, which is found in red tattoo ink.
  • Lichenoid allergic reaction. This is rare, but is typically related to red tattoo ink, and characterized by small bumps that appear around the red ink areas.
  • Pseudolymphomatous allergic reaction. Caused by sensitivity to a substance in the tattoo ink, this is a delayed reaction — it doesn’t occur right after getting the tattoo. Red tattoo ink is usually to blame, but it can result from blue and green as well.
  • Granulomas. These are small bumps that can appear as a result of an allergic reaction. Red tattoo ink is most often the culprit, but purple, green, or blue tattoo ink may also cause these bumps to form around the site of the tattoo.
You might be interested:  What To Use On Healing Tattoo?

Why do tattoos puff up?

– Taking care of a healing tattoo is tricky. In the beginning, your tattoo may feel wet and gooey but it will dry out as time passes. As your tattooed skin heals, it will begin to scab. This is totally normal. It’s important not to pick at or scratch off the scabs, as this can ruin your tattoo.

  1. That’s easier said than done, as scabbing tattoos can get itchy as they dry out;
  2. Keeping your tattoo moist — but not too moist — can cut down on itchiness;
  3. Tattoo bubbling is what happens when scabs become too wet;

This begins when you don’t fully dry off your tattoo after showering, and scabs become saturated with water. Then you apply too much ointment or lotion. Tattoo bubbling increases your risks of damaging your tattoo and getting an infection. The more surface area your tattoo covers, the more likely your risk of tattoo bubbling.

How do you know when your tattoo is fully healed?

You will know that your tattoo is completely healed when there are no scabs, the texture of your skin where the tattoo was placed is the same as a similar surface of skin, and the colors on your tattoo are no longer faded.

How do you treat a bumpy tattoo?

How do I know if my tattoo is healing properly?

Why do old tattoos raise up and itch?

Allergic reaction to pigment – Some people have an allergic reaction to the actual ink used in tattooing. Tattoo pigments may be made from dyes that are made from plastic materials. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) , an allergic reaction can occur right away or even several years after getting your tattoo.

Why do my tattoos swell up?

Researchers have found that inks used to create tattoos and permanent makeup can spread inside your body, causing long-term swelling in nearby lymph nodes. When it’s likely to appear: Ink usually spreads to the lymph nodes as your skin heals from getting the tattoo.

Why does my tattoo feel raised and itchy?

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and its job is to protect the body from invaders. When a person has a tattoo, the needle breaks the skin’s barrier. In response, the skin begins its healing process. This healing process can result in itching, redness, swelling, and other symptoms as the skin repairs itself around the tattoo.

Why is my tattoo bumpy?

– Getting a tattoo can exacerbate underlying skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis , even if you’ve never displayed symptoms before. Tattoos cause an immune reaction as your body heals and attacks substances in the ink that it perceives as foreign matter.

Many skin conditions result from immune reactions that can cause itchy rashes, hives, or bumps while your body fights against foreign invaders. Getting a tattoo in unsanitary conditions can also introduce bacteria or viruses into your skin.

If your immune system is already weak, your body’s attempts to fight off bacteria or viruses may make you more susceptible to complications. In addition to red bumps or rash, you may develop:

  • white bumps
  • scaly, tough, or peeling skin
  • dry, cracked skin
  • sores or lesions
  • discolored areas of skin
  • bumps, warts, or other growths