Tattoos

[Dave_christiano]

I want to get a tattoo but my mom freaked me out. She said since I had crohn's my immune system was weak(I already knew that) andi could get hepatitis or something like that. I also am worried about long/short term complications. I would get the tattoo on my back somewhere.

 

[Raleigh]

I'd be willing to bet your mom is just mortified about the idea of you getting a tattoo. The only way you would get hepatitis is if the tattooing needles were contaminated. As long as you go to a clean, reputable tattoo shop, you have nothing to worry about.

Short term complications are basically just infection. If you keep the area clean and follow the proper after-care procedures, such as using ointment and allowing the site to breathe, you should be fine.

Long term complications, in my opinion, are really just limited to regret. Once it is healed up, you really have nothing to worry about.

Back to regret...make sure that you get something that you're 100% happy with, and will be happy with for the rest of your life. I have 3 tattoos, one on each forearm and one on my wrist, which I got in my early 20's. I'm now 28, and I regret getting 2 out of the 3. Now I'm looking into getting laser tattoo removal, which is very painful and expensive. If I had it to do over again, I may not have ever chosen to get any tattoos at all. Just something to think about.

Brian

 

[Dave_christiano]

Thanks. Yeah my mom was very worried. She asked my GI doctor about it and he said he doesnt think it's a good idea. But lately everything he said turned out to be causing me pain. I have thought about this tattoo for a long time and I'm certain I want it. I just don't want to go behind my parents back and get it.

 

[EthanPSU]

Hey, I say go for it, I really want one myself and will get one when I save up enoungh money. Don't worry about the crohn's aspect of it, just do it for you. An infection is very very minimal. Here is a topic on this site about tatooes and a lot of people with crohn's already have tatoos...

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=1372

 

[PsychoJane]

She asked my GI doctor about it and he said he doesnt think it's a good idea. But lately everything he said turned out to be causing me pain

It really depends what medications you are on. I suppose that if you are taking anti-tnf or AZA/6-MP, the doctor minds want to keep to a bare minimum the risk of any complications that could be related to the fact that these medications have impaired to a certain level your immune system. Basically, he can't really fully agree with it is what I am saying. Mine also let me know it was not the greatest of all idea, but all in all, he also told me that I could remain on these medication and go through surgery with them. I think that what I am saying here is that we need to be weighing everything here.

So yeah, the problem you might be facing is a compromised healing of the tattoo. It is a possibility that if your skin does not heal as it should (due to the medication) that the tattoo could be altered in its appearance a little. As Raleigh said, its not the hepatitis, "general" infection you have to worry about. If the studio you go to is clean, then, it should be fine. And as Ethan said, lot's of us have tattoos. So far, I have not heard of any terrible tattoo story on here.

Also, I don't know how big of a tattoo you are planning but it might be wise to start with a smaller section. Then you will know how your skin reacts to the whole process and then move on with the rest of it if the healing was fine. That is probably what I will do for my next one just to make sure my skin is healing fine still (I had some ink a few years ago but I was not taking any medication at the time).

 

[Begotten]

I've had two rather large tattoos done both of them whilst being on Aza for the treatment of my Crohns and had no problems at all . Still got a good 3 hours or so to do to complete my chest.

 

[Ihurt]

I have a small tatoo that I got when I was 24 years old. Your mom is just worried because she is a mom. My son when he turned 19 went out and got a tatoo. He wanted one when he was 16, I said no. I figured when he was of age he could make that decision himself. So he got one when he was 19.

Bottom line is, you have to go to a reputible place that is clean. There is always risk of infection, but that is quite low as long as you are careful, clean and take care afterwards like they tell you in terms of keeping in clean and such.

Not sure how old you are, but sounds like you are young like my son. Make sure you get something you will be happy with years down the line. My son got a tatoo of a girls name on his wrist! Yeah, they broke up two months later! But again, it was his choice and he has to live with it.

Good luck and like I said, dont beat your mom up too much, she is just being a mom . The two important things are 1) reputible clean place, and 2) make sure you follow aftercare instructions. Oh and again one more thing: make sure you pick something you will love for life( dont get a persons name:ywow

 

[Dave_christiano]

Thanks you guys and ill be 18 tomorrow so I think I'm going to talk to my mom this week and try and reason with her. I was on remicade but now I'm switching to humera on the 20th so I just hope all goes well.

 

[Jennifer]

I was 18 when I got my tattoo and on 6MP at the time. Didn't have any complications.

 

[NicoleKS]

Hi there. I've gotten two tattoos since being on immunosuppressants. I also got my nose pierced a month ago. No complications with either. When you fill out the paperwork, they only really want to know if you're on any blood thinners (because you'd bleed more)... After you get your tattoo, take a vitamin with extra immune support (Vitamin C and Zinc) if you aren't already!

 

[1224]

Our skin protects you from many infections. Both tattooing and body piercing procedures involve piercing the skin with a needle or other sharp insturments. Unless the needles are new, sterilized for each treatment and properly handled by the person (do you really know they are), instruments can be contaminated with the infected blood or bodily fluids of another person. It is possible to transmit viral infectins such as Hepatits b, Hepatitis C HIV/AIDS and herpes thru tattooing and piercing as well as bacterial skin infectins such as strep and staph (and they all come with a gamut of other problems on top of your crohns). When you are on immunosuppressants, your defense system is very low an you are at higher risk. Although there is a hep b vaccine that protects you from hep b, there is no vaccine for hep c or hiv. The choice is yours but you must be well aware of all the risks. Your right to sit down with your mom and talk it thru. There are ways to minimize your risk,make sure you are well aware of them, esp asking them if they follow the infection control guidelines for tattooing as well as going to a very reputable shop. Offer mom to go with! GOOD LUCK

 

[silvermander]

I spoke to my GI about tattoos a while ago, before I went on Humira. He told me absolutely not, no way! Being on Humira makes you much more prone to infection.

I already have two tattoos that I got in my early 20's, and I had no troubles with them, but I also wasn't on any meds for Crohn's, and I wasn't having many issues.

I had my nose pierced a couple years after my tattoos, and I ended up with a rather nasty infection. All of these were done at reputable parlors.

While I understand why you want to get a tattoo, I really want to get more, but now might not be the best time. I love my tattoos, and have my next four designed and ready to go, but I know that I need to wait until my health is as perfect as it gets before I can do it.

I'm not happy that I have to wait, but I know that where my health is concerned, I can't play games.