Medical Implications or Risk of Tattoos for those with lupus As mentioned earlier, for those living with lupus or other autoimmune conditions, tattooing has the possibility of triggering an immune response and could possibly lead to a lupus flare or other reactions.
However, tattoo complications can occur, such as allergic tattoo reactions, infections, and manifestations of autoimmune dermatoses.
Infections are rare with tattoos—at most, they happen 5 or 6 percent of the time—and when they do occur, they're most commonly bacterial. But in very, very rare cases, body-art aficionados can end up with dangerous viruses, including hepatitis C.
If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne diseases — including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
However, evidence does show that some tattoo inks contain carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) – chemicals that have been classified as known or possible carcinogens by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin problems like eczema or psoriasis, a weak immune system, or a bleeding problem, talk to your doctor before getting a tattoo. Also, if you get keloids (an overgrowth of scar tissue) you probably should not get a tattoo.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) may coexist, and they are chronic complex disorders, with an autoimmune background, multifactorial etiology, multiple circulating autoantibodies, and variable prognosis.
The cause of lupus is unknown, and researchers are still trying to learn what may trigger or lead to the disease. Doctors know that it is a complex autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the person's tissues and organs.
It's unknown exactly how long it takes for all of the ink particles to be removed from the body, but it is thought to be a process that could take years. In the meantime, the ink particles that do circulate through the body are believed to be harmless.
Surgeons doing biopsies have noted that nearby lymph nodes are sometimes stained with tattoo ink that has been absorbed and then carried off by immune cells. It's possible that, if ferrous particles are present, the migrated ink can affect the appearance of a lymph node in an X-ray.
Tatoos do not affect blood tests. However, blood tests might show some inflammation or signs of infections.
Tattoo pigment can precipitate many inflammatory states. The skin is the most common site of inflammation, but tattoo ink can become disseminated and cause systemic inflammation. Granulomatous reactions are a rare type of tattoo reaction, often caused by black tattoo ink, and are challenging to manage.
Most often, tattoo infections are bacterial skin infections like staphylococcus. You pick them up from unsterile conditions or contaminated inks or water. It's uncommon, but you could also get a serious infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Q: Are tattoos bad for your liver? A: Tattoo ink may get accumulated in the liver and kidneys over a prolonged period of time but as such does not directly affect the liver. Indirectly, tattoos may cause severe liver damage due to hepatitis infection.
Who is at risk for SLE? SLE can affect people of all ages, including children. However, women of childbearing ages—15 to 44 years—are at greatest risk of developing SLE. Women of all ages are affected far more than men (estimates range from 4 to 12 women for every 1 man).
The symptoms may also appear suddenly or gradually. Many people with lupus do not receive a diagnosis straight away because it can mimic other conditions, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and various others that affect the same organ systems.
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
Patients who have fewer symptoms than required to meet classification criteria are said to have “pre-lupus,” “incomplete lupus,” “evolving lupus,” forme fruste lupus (a French term that translates as “incomplete or unfinished form”), or undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD).
Diagnostic Criteria. Systemic lupus erythematosus can be difficult to diagnose: no single blood or imaging test can definitively identify it, and its symptoms can be vague, progress slowly, change, or mimic other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. As a result, it's important to consult a rheumatologist.
Risk of Infection
Infection is the most significant risk of getting a tattoo before plastic surgery since tattoos are made by depositing ink into the skin via needles. An active skin infection can create complications leading to more severe conditions and needing revision surgery.
Older tattoos may be raised due to scar tissue
Thicker lines, and more pressure applied during tattooing, can cause some scarring. It's nothing to be concerned about, but it can sometimes raise up, and this is generally caused by changes in body temperature or weather conditions, as well as general health.
Conclusion. You can get a tattoo at any age, and there is no stigma attached to getting a tattoo as you get older. The only person who can decide if you're too old to get a tattoo is you. We would recommend that you choose a reputable tattoo artist and work with them to find a suitable design for your skin.