Don't get a tattoo when you're not feeling well, why?

If you are planning to get a tattoo in the near future, make sure your body is in its prime condition on the D-Day. Research shows that getting your body tattooed while you are sick may have unwanted side effects after returning from the tattoo site.

Don't get a tattoo when you're sick if you don't want to experience this

According to a report from a study from the Department of Trauma & Orthopedics at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, UK, tattooing when the body's resistance is moderate drop can increase your risk of developing mycobacterium infections of the skin. This warning is reported in the journal BMJ Case Reports.

This risk is especially strongly suspected of having the potential to arise in people who already have certain allergies or who have long-term immune disorders such as diabetes, HIV, and cancer. People who are prescribed certain medications while they are still recovering from having an organ transplant are also at high risk of experiencing these side effects if they try to get a tattoo.

The study above took a case example of a 31-year-old woman who decided to get a tattoo on her thigh while still continuing to prescribe immunosuppressive drugs (immune suppressants) after receiving a lung transplant in 2009. Initially, she only reported a mild skin rash. is indeed a normal and common side effect of tattooing. But nine days later, the woman experienced chronic pain in her left hip, knee and thigh that interfered with sleep that lasted for months.

Ten months later, he was diagnosed with chronic muscle inflammation characterized by severe muscle pain and weakness. After being examined, the doctor concluded that this condition was caused by his negligence in getting a tattoo when his body's immune system was not strong enough. After 3 years of treatment, he was finally free from the pain.

How come?

Making a tattoo can be likened to a stressor. Your cortisol levels tend to increase sharply when you are being tattooed because your body is basically "protesting" against getting the tattoo ink, which is foreign, into your skin. However, because from the start you are not fit due to the conditions you have at that time, your immune system is not strong enough to increase your immune system so that the risk of tattoo side effects can increase.

In addition, health experts also suspect that the color of the tattoo ink used may have something to do with the risk of these complications. Especially inks containing heavy metals. Moreover, the distribution, safety, and use of tattoo inks are not strictly regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States and the POM RI. The FDA has even recalled a large number of permanent tattoo ink products on the market due to reports of many consumers experiencing severe allergic reactions or infections after getting a tattoo.

Consult with your doctor before tattooing the body

Remember that even in a healthy state, getting a tattoo may still pose a risk of side effects such as skin inflammation or infection. Especially if it is not done by tattoo artist who are certified and do not use sterile equipment.

So, you should still carefully consider your decision to tattoo your body, especially if your body is not properly fit or is still undergoing certain medical treatments. Consult your doctor further before carelessly decorating the body permanently.