I recently got a tattoo covering my left forearm, and have just noticed today that there are pimple-like bumps that have formed on my skin underneath my entire tattoo. I am concerned because I am not sure if this is normal during the healing process, the tattoo is only 5 days old and started peeling a couple days ago. I have been using lubriderm as recommended. Are these goose-bumps forming underneath my tattoo anything I should be concerned about?

You seem to be having a slight allergic reaction to the lotion it is not uncommon.Just give the tattoo a good cleaning making sure to get all the lotion off the skin and let it dry up for a few days it will not hurt the tattoo.After a day or two you can reapply a small amount of lotion maybe once or twice a day if needed.In the future make sure you clean your tattoo thoroughly between lotion treatments or you could use other products for healing.I reccomend Aquaphor to all my clients it is a great product you can find at any drugstore,pharmacy,grocery store etc.. Usually it will be with the hand lotions,I have had great results with it,but with any product you use 3 times a day for 4-5 consecutive days it is a lot for the skin to handle and cleaning between treatments is the best thing for it.Hope this helps and good luck..

P.S You should also check with your tattooer for help with any problems that arise, that is what they are there for..

I also have bumps under my tattoo lately. However...I have had my tattoo for over 6 months and they are just now forming. They seem to be gettting a little bigger and it itches. Any thoughts on what I should do/ What it could be?

hey guys I have had my tattoo for 3 weeks now and also have the bumps... I have not had them with anyother tattoos ... i am thinking that they might be keilods under the skin.... also way thinking that when they shave your skin befor a tattoo that it may be the hair growing back?? anyways I am not to sure..

I have been researching this myself. I just got some new ink and there were slight bumps over parts of the tattoo. Mine was also on the forearm.

I am inclined to believe that my reaction might be due to a slight allergic reaction to the ink itself. The reason I think this is becaue I have other tattoo's that have had no adverse affect at all. The difference is the artist and more than likely the ink itself.

here are two links that can help you out a little
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-204.html

which describe sympoms similar to those described here and
http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa121602a.htm

which give some background into the exactly what is in many of the commerical inks available today, although the exact content of the inks is a trade secret guarded by each ink comany respectfully.

From what I understand there are also many tattoo artists that mix their own inks.

If you continue your search you will find that there are specific adverse reactions associated with most every color.

There are some companies working on tattoo inks that have more natural incredients than the one's currently available but it will be a while before they are available.

I'm in the process of getting in contact with my old tattoo artist to see exactly what type of ink he used. I might end up taveling to tattoo artists with my own in, to make sure there are no adverse reactions, but I could also be terrible wrong.

hope this helps a little
Guy

I have a large amount of tattoos and have also had this problem.

small bumps, sometimes clustered, sometimes spread out, underneath my tattoo. This can occur in both new and old ink, although i dont know exactly what it is i have had it on some of my tattoos, and some of my freinds who are also tattoists get it also, i recommend NOT using any creams if the tattoo is old, and NOT itching it! IT WILL GO in most cases within 2-4 weeks, sometimes less. If it is a new tattoo, in some cases this may be a more severe problem, reaction to the ink, infection etc so please go and see a doctor then your tattooist (in that order)

**please keep in mind that this is only a general example, and in anycase you should always see a doctor to avoid a more serious infection developing**

I have ink on my right side just next to my breast and it has started to form these little bumps after about 5 months of no issues with healing or anything. They haven't gone AWAY that I've noticed, but there may be a few more. Is this normal, or should I ask an artist? The one who did this work is back stateside, and I'm abroad for the next two months (Italy). Any thoughts?

I just scratched off a bump on my tattoo and where the bump was is now a little circle that looks really black, almost like really really dark black ink i'm wondering will this go away once it heals or will it remain like this?

I just scratched off a bump on my tattoo and where the bump was is now a little circle that looks really black, almost like really really dark black ink i'm wondering will this go away once it heals or will it remain like this?

Russ, sounds as if you have completely removed the layers of skin in that spot and uncovered the raw pigment. Yes it will eventually heal but you will be lucky if it doesn't scar.

i have had my tattoo for about a week and i today i woke up and i had one bump that looked like a pimple but it was larger. i popped it and it felt like A and D ointment came out. but afterward it bled a little. it looks like there is a hole in my tattoo now. should i be worried.

Try applying a very small amount of cortisone cream to the afftected area.

Sigh, I never thought I'd be posting in the "trouble with tattoo" forum, but my tattoo has also developed these. Also a forearm tattoo. Are anyone else's green tattoos? I only ask because my friend had this problem once, and his was primarily green. Mine is a dead fish with an olive on the ribcage, and guess what....It's primarily green. I've been using Benedryl, but to no avail. The bumps are becoming more prevalent, and widespread. I've got other tats that are green. Although, now that I'm typing this, I just realized that most of the other green based work I have is from artists other than my regular guy (Jerry Owen-Kool Tattoo). Damn those inks!! Well, hopefully it'll all heal up well.

miked

Green Ink on the forearm + a touch up 3 months after the original, (i bled a little, so some bled out) and now bumps. Funny thing, everyone's symptoms match mine -- Although the bumps have gone down in size since they appeared (about a week ago) they are getting a bit more numerous since they first appeared. I just recently got put on an antibiotic for a small nipple ring infection, and since I've been on it, the bumps have gotten smaller -- I've got about 2/3 of the medication left to take, (doxycycline by the way) and an update to come upon finishing the medication -- Any body who'd had them, and then had them go away, any other advice would be wonderful!

I'm having the same problem on my forearm. Seems like it's only on peices of work (parts of my sleeve) done the same day. Got it done almost a year ago. Very weird. Mad itchy. Hydrocortizone is doing nothing for me. Anybody have any answers, please email, alan.wine@yahoo.com THANKS

Alas, I have the bumps too. Mostly on my shoulder, but then again, my knew tattoo covers half of my upper back and my shoulder (seven hours worth). My ink is pink, purple, and blue primarily. When I popped a bump, I got just blood, and no hair. Probably going to call my artist tomorrow. Mines about a week old, and all my peeling is almost done.

I've got some bumps on one of my tattoos, it's on my cover-up, and only the part that was covered up, the bumps have been there for a really long time now, they look like tiny blisters and they don't hurt or anything. I had the tattoo for about a year or so before i noticed the bumps. Does anyone know what it could be and why it only happens on the covered part?

Hi all. I'm a lawyer and I just settled a case for a client of mine where his skin became raised and irritated under his tattoo - exactly as you all talk about. My client has communicated with people on this site about what he went through (his skin reaction has lasted a couple of years) and he told me I should take a look here, so here I am. If anyone would like some legal advice, feel free to ask - I'm happy to advise for free. And who knows, you may have a case.

David Zevin, Esq.
Law@ZevinLaw.com

I just got the bumps as well. I noticed them yesterday. I just got done with the 2nd session of my coverup tattoo. It does itch, I am going to go and see my artist tomorrow. I will post back what she has to say about it. I hope it is nothing major, that would suck!

Mine is on my upper left hand arm. It is a large koi fish and only some of the head is along with the tail and a few of the scales. I really don't understand what they are. But they are small bumps and the skin there feels tight to me.

hey i have the same problem my tattoo is on my forearm and there all loads of little bumps which itch like hell