A tattoo can become raised for a number of reasons. The most common factors that can cause tattoo raising are allergies, tissue damage, certain weather conditions, poor healing and rough tattoo artist work.
Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by swelling and itching that can occur in a tattoo decades after the procedure can involve other organs, such as the lungs or eyes. This type of reaction is not directly caused by the original tattoo, but pops up within the tattoo.
Because tattoos breach the protective layer of the skin, skin irritation or a full-blown condition can develop months, years, even decades after the initial tattooing process.
You've heard horror stories of peoples' ink getting infected and warping the appearance of the design. But while this typically occurs during the initial healing process, an infection is still possible even months later, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
"Many people may first notice a redness to their skin – itching, a bumpy or scaly rash may also occur. Severe forms of contact allergy can develop blisters and pain at the site of contact," she said.
Granulomas. Sometimes your immune system thinks the pigment in tattoo ink is a threat and sends cells to the area to fight it. These cells clump together around the tattoo and create nodules which are called granulomas. If you see them, talk to your doctor.
Signs of a tattoo infection may appear across the entire tattoo or only within specific colors. They can include: Bumps on your skin (papules) that sometimes contain pus (pustules). Nodules, bumps on or below your skin that are larger than papules.
It's just healing
If the ink's fresh, here's the deal: Your tattoo is a wound. Yep, just like an itchy scab or dry skin, sometimes tattoos itch while they heal. Your new body art should heal up within a week or two. While it's healing, use only gentle moisturizers recommended by your tattoo artist.
However, tattoo complications can occur, such as allergic tattoo reactions, infections, and manifestations of autoimmune dermatoses.
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.
The tattoo should peel like a sunburn and will begin to itch as the skin repairs itself. If you experience severe itching you can use hydrocortisone 1% anti-itch cream (available at any drug store or supermarket) to help control the itch.
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.
This “tattoo flu” is pretty common and should fade into memory in a few days (unlike your new tattoo). Your body's immune system is making you feel wiped out while it attacks potential threats to your bod. Be on the lookout for a mild fever, chills, fatigue, and some tummy discomfort.
The best way to find out if you're allergic to tattoo ink is to get allergy tested. An allergy specialist can usually diagnose tattoo ink allergies with a patch test. Patch testing is used to test allergic reactions on your skin.
Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.
Tattoo pimples can develop when a hair follicle becomes clogged with oil, dirt, or skin cells. Most tattoo pimples will clear up without causing permanent damage or color loss. However, picking or popping a pimple can lead to skin infections and patches of faded ink.
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.
Extreme redness of the skin: Most tattoos are inflamed and red right after they've been done, but if the redness intensifies rather than resolving within a week of the procedure, you may have an infection.