Tattoos can cause cancer
There is no evidence to support this claim.
Tattoos can cause skin infections or transmit HIV
Getting a tattoo involves opening the skin up where bacteria and pathogens can enter. Once a tattoo is complete, we consider it an open wound. Contaminated equipment and inks can cause infections. As tattoo studios are more regulated today, there is a significantly decreased possibility of an infection. Additionally, your tattoo artist will use new, sterilized needles to ink your skin. Strict hygiene measures are taken in studios and the industry is regulated.
You can’t have an MRI if you have a tattoo
In the past, ink pigments contained certain levels of metals. These metals would cause an unwanted reaction during an MRI. Ink pigments have improved considerably and you no longer have to worry about this happening. Pigments have improved and now contain no traces of metals in them.
Tattoos will wrinkle
Tattoos don’t wrinkle but our skin does as the tattoo is on our skin it may look different over the years but this is due to our skin losing elastin and collagen. The ability to regenerate and repair itself slows down over the years. More wrinkles and creases may be visible in our skin as a result of skin ageing.
A tattoo fades away when you get old
While tattoos do fade and you more than likely will have to get a few touch-ups done over the years, this has to do with the quality of the ink used when you received your tattoo rather than your age.
Faded tattoos are also determined by how well you take care of the tattoo you have and whether or not you spend a lot of time outside in the sun without covering the skin or applying sunscreen. If you properly care for your tattoo, you should not have to go for many touch-ups to keep up the aesthetic and look of the tattoo!
As ageing is impossible to stop, we may be able to slow it down by how we look after ourselves. In time as our skin loses elasticity and the collagen process slows down or even stops altogether the tattoo may look different as a result because our skin has changed.
Older tattoos fade to green or blue
Tattoos completed over 50 years ago may fade to a blue or green shade. The fading is because of the quality of ink used back then.
However, inks have improved greatly over recent years. If you have gotten a tattoo recently or in the last decade, your ink will resist colour change much better than before.
Tattoos are unharmed by scratching or peeling
Tattoos require you to practice good self-care when you first receive your tattoo. Do not pick the skin or any scabs that form even if they look like they are about to fall off. Let them fall off naturally when they are ready. If you peel skin on or around the tattoo, you could alter the appearance of your tattoo. Peeling and picking can cause permanent scarring and even keloid scarring as a result. If you feel the itching is excessive on extremely rare occasions you may be experiencing an allergy and your GP could prescribe you some oral antibiotics and antihistamines. It is important that you do not apply topical antibiotic creams or steroid based creams as this will affect how the tattoo heals.
A tattoo will heal fast if you apply excessive ointment
You need to keep a fresh tattoo hydrated and nourished while it heals. What is important to note is that too much ointment can actually suffocate the skin, therefore disrupting the healing process. Follow the aftercare advise given by the studio for the best outcome. If you have any questions or doubts about the healing process it is best to get in touch, we can tell you what is normal and what is not.
Chlorine fades tattoos
Once your tattoo has healed (usually within 6 weeks), it is completely safe to take a dip in the pool. Chlorine can change the appearance of colours in an unhealed tattoo because it is an open wound, though older tattoos are completely protected from the elements.
It is always important to follow the aftercare advice whilst your tattoo is healing for the best possible outcome and result.
Taking aspirin or drinking alcohol before a tattoo decreases the pain
You should absolutely not use alcohol or aspirin because they are blood thinning, which can cause excessive bleeding.
Excess bleeding can cause visibility issues for the tattoo artist and thin the ink. Not to mention, it’s not safe for you either.
You can’t donate blood if you have a tattoo
It was once thought that if you have a tattoo, you could never donate blood because of the chemicals in ink. If you have tattoos, you can still give blood. It is worth checking with the blood bank on how long you have to wait before donating blood.
A longer wait time may exist if you have been tattooed over a vein needed to draw blood from, it is best to wait until the tattoo is fully healed if this is the case to minimise the risk of infection.