No, having a tattoo that's already healed shouldn't cause any problems for you or your baby during pregnancy. You may find that your tattoo changes while you're pregnant, though. Chloasma (brown pigmentation that happens during pregnancy) can affect the color of a tattoo, for example.
Possible infection
“If the tattoo artist uses non-sterile or contaminated needles, a woman may risk exposing herself and her fetus to infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. All of these infections can be passed from the pregnant person to the fetus and can have lifelong effects,” adds Purdie.
Toxic tattoo inks.
These ingredients can pose a threat to your developing baby, particularly in the first trimester when the main organs are developing. Exposure to heavy metals can affect your baby's brain development. It can also increase your chances of having a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Is it safe to get a tattoo while TTC or breastfeeding? "Because of the many potential risks for mother and fetus, my advice is to avoid tattooing for women trying to conceive, throughout pregnancy, and until completion of breastfeeding," noted Dr. Tsur. Transmission of disease and infection are the primary concerns.
While no organization overtly recommends against getting a tattoo while pregnant, Dr. Nazarian advised against it. You may run a small risk of developing an infection or allergic reaction. Both of those outcomes are potentially harmful or can unnecessarily complicate your pregnancy.
Overall, the health of your growing baby should be of the upmost importance to you. And for that reason, we strongly discourage anyone from getting tattooed while they're pregnant or breastfeeding. Even though the risks of complications are small, why take any chance at all?
Your skin can be much more sensitive to touch (and pain) during pregnancy, which could mean that getting a tattoo will be more painful than usual. Keep this in mind when making your decision. Keeping the tattoo clean after the procedure is also important in order to avoid infection.
Existing tattoos, whether pregnant or not, do have a tendency to fade and their rate of discolouration does depend on each woman's skin condition as it ages. Colour tattoos usually fade sooner than tattoos with purely black ink, and may need re-inking after a few months.
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.
Although the risk is small, it is recommended that you wait to get a tattoo until after your baby is born. Little information is available about the safety of skin dyes used for tattooing during pregnancy. It is possible that the chemicals in the dye may affect the development of the baby during the first 12 weeks.
Most research, although limited, shows it's safe to colour your hair while pregnant. Some studies have found that very high doses of the chemicals in hair dyes may cause harm. However, these doses are massive compared with the very low amount of chemicals you may be exposed to when colouring your hair.
Drunken behaviour could ruin your new tattoo
You need to be aware of keeping your tattoo clean and dry while it is fresh, so a night out might not be the best option. It's generally recommended that you wait at least 48 hours after your new tattoo before you start drinking alcohol again.
Yes, tattoo ink can enter your bloodstream. This is one of the reasons why it is important to choose an artist who uses sanitized equipment and safe inks.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemicals which are known carcinogens, was found in a fifth of the samples tested and in 83% of the black inks tested by NICNAS. Other hazardous components included barium, copper, mercury, amines and various colourants.
"While there is currently no scientific evidence that suggests that the ink used in tattoos can cross the placenta, there are still some risks associated with this procedure," says Dr. Nisarg Patel, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynecology) at ClinicSpots.
You should have no concern whatsoever in placing a needle through a tattoo and into the spinal or epidural space, as the pigment particles are “fixed” and stationary within the dermis, and cannot be mobilized by the needle or migrate along the needle track.
It is totally safe for a nursing mom to get a tattoo. Tattoo ink is too large a molecule to make it into breast milk, so your baby has no way of being exposed to it.
Tattooing can be done before embryo transfer, better to avoid thereafter. Bleaching creams are to be avoided as are ointments for pimple and acne. Waxing is fine and permitted.
Cover-up tattoos are the most common tattoos people get inked over existing tattoos and birthmarks. This type of tattoo is generally used to cover up very distasteful tattoos that are unbecoming. For some people, getting a tattoo over a birthmark is a great way to create a unique design for your body.
Legit tattoo shops wont even tattoo you if you admit to being pregnant. And if you lie to them you put them at risk. Your deposit isn't going anywhere, just explain to the shop you are pregnant and ask to postpone finishing it until after the baby is born.
Infections can harm your unborn or nursing child, so it's important to wait to receive a tattoo. Additionally, your body must have time to heal after a tattoo, and you should put it under the stress of pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Avoid sleeping directly on your tattoo and using any slept-on sheets. Previously-used bath or face towels should also never touch or go near a fresh tattoo. Don't drink any alcohol for at least 48-72 after (and before) getting a tattoo. Alcohol thins your blood, which can lead to excess bleeding.
If you want your tattoo to heal, the best thing to do is not drink 24 hours before and 24 hours after getting tattooed. The recommended waiting time is 48 hours after, but sometimes you catch yourself needing a glass of wine to unwind, so 24 hours should be efficient.
If you're serious about getting an amazing tattoo, then we'd advise not to drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours beforehand. Then afterwards we'd ask that you avoid it for 48 hours more.