How to Allergy Test for Tattoos

Tattooing, a popular trend in modern culture, is no longer the taboo practice it used to be. There is still some risk involved even in the cleanest of conditions. People with allergies run the greatest risk for developing adverse effects from tattoos by developing an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink, but a simple allergy test can prevent more serious problems after the fact. Read on to learn how to allergy test for tattoos.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask the tattoo parlor for a breakdown of the ingredients in their ink. Write them down so you can investigate them further if you're at a high risk for an allergic reaction to the ink. Ask the tattoo parlor for a breakdown of the ingredients in their ink, or contact the ink manufacturer for their ingredients.

• 2

  Talk to your doctor about the effects that the metals in the ink might have on your body. If you have a high sensitivity to allergens, and are prone to hives or other such allergic reactions, it is a good idea to ask your doctor about what the potential risks are by putting the inks in your skin. Different colors provoke different reactions depending on the ingredients.

• 3

  Decide on a design that involves the inks that you feel will prove the least likely to give you an allergic reaction. If you still want to get a tattoo and feel as though you will be of low risk, based on your conversation with your doctor and from researching the ingredients of the ink, choose your colors.

• 4

  Get a test patch done from the artist you have in mind a month in advance. If you don't develop a reaction, you should be able to handle the tattoo. However, in some cases reactions occur months and even years after the tattoo is completed.

• 5

  Proceed with caution. Keep a close eye on the skin around your tattoo as well as what is going on underneath the skin. Note any redness, irritation, cysts or discoloration. If you notice any changes, see a doctor right away.