Less contact dermatitis, please
October 16, 2010 9:43 AM Subscribe
I've always wanted a tattoo or at least a second ear piercing, but I have oily, acne-prone skin all over, plus it may be still be sensitive to products. Should I let go of the ideas?
When I was a little girl, I could only use a couple of brands of soap without burning or itching skin, like Cashmere Bouquet and Johnson's No More Tears. I got my ears pierced (by gun/stud at a beautician's) at age 9, and the pain and infections were pretty rough afterwards, although to be fair I was an impatient kid, wanted to go on to big French hook earrings, and probably didn't treat the piercings very well. Eventually they healed correctly and I had no ongoing trouble.
I have always wanted a second, higher earhole piercing, maybe more, and wanted at least one tattoo. But I have oily, clogged "combination" skin on most of my back and keratosis pilaris on a lot of my body. I need to wash frequently with certain products and use salicyclic acid or tea tree oil just to prevent breakouts.
The ear piercing would be only slightly affected by that, if at all, but maybe more by the sensitive skin issue. Mostly I use whatever soaps I want now, but they're gentle. I know that if I use something highly perfumed, or even a very scented laundry detergent or fabric softener in my clothes, I may get irritated and itchy. I don't know how badly this would turn out if the substance was inside my skin.
Do I need to give up on the idea of further body modification?
When I was a little girl, I could only use a couple of brands of soap without burning or itching skin, like Cashmere Bouquet and Johnson's No More Tears. I got my ears pierced (by gun/stud at a beautician's) at age 9, and the pain and infections were pretty rough afterwards, although to be fair I was an impatient kid, wanted to go on to big French hook earrings, and probably didn't treat the piercings very well. Eventually they healed correctly and I had no ongoing trouble.
I have always wanted a second, higher earhole piercing, maybe more, and wanted at least one tattoo. But I have oily, clogged "combination" skin on most of my back and keratosis pilaris on a lot of my body. I need to wash frequently with certain products and use salicyclic acid or tea tree oil just to prevent breakouts.
The ear piercing would be only slightly affected by that, if at all, but maybe more by the sensitive skin issue. Mostly I use whatever soaps I want now, but they're gentle. I know that if I use something highly perfumed, or even a very scented laundry detergent or fabric softener in my clothes, I may get irritated and itchy. I don't know how badly this would turn out if the substance was inside my skin.
Do I need to give up on the idea of further body modification?
I seem to be sensitive to tattoo ink, though my skin is not sensitive generally. The worst this means is that a new tattoo artist assumes that previous tattoo artists have overworked my tattoos (and they swear that theirs will be better. Pshaw). They look fine generally, but are very mildly raised, and sometimes get slightly itchy during hot weather. And I don't regret getting them for a second.
My sister's skin is much more sensitive than mine, and she (a tattoo artist) doesn't react to tattoo inks at all, except for red. Red sensitivities are fairly common, and if that's a color you're thinking about getting done, you might want to have a small spot on your hairline or someplace similar tattooed first to see how you'll react.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:26 AM on October 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
My sister's skin is much more sensitive than mine, and she (a tattoo artist) doesn't react to tattoo inks at all, except for red. Red sensitivities are fairly common, and if that's a color you're thinking about getting done, you might want to have a small spot on your hairline or someplace similar tattooed first to see how you'll react.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:26 AM on October 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Regarding piercings:
When you got your ears pierced as a kid, it's quite possible that the stud wasn't particularly hypoallergenic (it might have been an alloy containing nickel, for example, which a lot of people are sensitive to - sensitivity to highly perfumed things is probably not going to dictate your reactions to piercings.) The beautician may also not have been particularly skilled, and guns are not a great way to get pierced. Plus, as you say, you were 9 years old and might not have really taken good care of it. In other words, the pain and infections might have been the result of the conditions under which you got your ears pierced, not your skin sensitivity. Go to a real piercing place - one with a good reputation, an autoclave, etc. - and talk to the piercer there about your previous experience and the things your skin is sensitive to, and see if they think that you'll be able to handle healing with hypoallergenic jewelry and good aftercare. My personal guess is that you'll be able to do it, but a professional can give you a better answer.
posted by ubersturm at 11:32 AM on October 16, 2010
When you got your ears pierced as a kid, it's quite possible that the stud wasn't particularly hypoallergenic (it might have been an alloy containing nickel, for example, which a lot of people are sensitive to - sensitivity to highly perfumed things is probably not going to dictate your reactions to piercings.) The beautician may also not have been particularly skilled, and guns are not a great way to get pierced. Plus, as you say, you were 9 years old and might not have really taken good care of it. In other words, the pain and infections might have been the result of the conditions under which you got your ears pierced, not your skin sensitivity. Go to a real piercing place - one with a good reputation, an autoclave, etc. - and talk to the piercer there about your previous experience and the things your skin is sensitive to, and see if they think that you'll be able to handle healing with hypoallergenic jewelry and good aftercare. My personal guess is that you'll be able to do it, but a professional can give you a better answer.
posted by ubersturm at 11:32 AM on October 16, 2010
I have sensitive skin and have not had issues with earrings or tattoo ink. Whatever it is that makes some soaps give me a rash doesn't seem to matter with the ink below the surface of the skin. Like PBWK describes, tattoos on my skin end up a bit like braille -- very slightly raised, and more so in hot weather or if I am having an allergic reaction during pollen season.
posted by Forktine at 11:55 AM on October 16, 2010
posted by Forktine at 11:55 AM on October 16, 2010
Seconding that if you get your ears pierced at a place that does it with a needle rather than a piercing gun it should be easier to heal, and you can get hypoallergenic titanium jewelry. Additionally, everywhere that I've been pierced the only cleaning they recommended for aftercare was a daily soak in hot salt water. So no need to worry too much about sensitivities there.
posted by JiBB at 2:49 PM on October 16, 2010
posted by JiBB at 2:49 PM on October 16, 2010
My skin reacts to just about EVERYTHING. I get rashes/eczema when I get sick; I get rashes/eczema from spending too much time in the sun; from soaps and laundry detergents to stress, oh boy the rashes and eczema when I'm under stress... but I digress.
I have several tattoos and I've only had a minor reaction to red, which is the most common to react to. I'm told that it's possibly due to it being one of the thicker inks. A couple of touch-ups, but eventually it stayed. Other than that, my tattoos will occasionally have that slightly raised thing going on but no bad reactions.
I've also had no problem with body piercings (navel) or my ears, which I had re-pierced recently because the ones my parents got when I was a baby were noticeably uneven. Definitely go to a real piercing place that uses the needle rather than the gun. It will make a world of difference. As for healing, if you notice it start to keloid try some tea tree oil. Otherwise, most piercers will recommend a hot salt water routine.
posted by MuChao at 9:45 AM on October 17, 2010
I have several tattoos and I've only had a minor reaction to red, which is the most common to react to. I'm told that it's possibly due to it being one of the thicker inks. A couple of touch-ups, but eventually it stayed. Other than that, my tattoos will occasionally have that slightly raised thing going on but no bad reactions.
I've also had no problem with body piercings (navel) or my ears, which I had re-pierced recently because the ones my parents got when I was a baby were noticeably uneven. Definitely go to a real piercing place that uses the needle rather than the gun. It will make a world of difference. As for healing, if you notice it start to keloid try some tea tree oil. Otherwise, most piercers will recommend a hot salt water routine.
posted by MuChao at 9:45 AM on October 17, 2010
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Some people ARE sensitive specifically to tattoo ink. eHow is generally a total shit show, but this seems to be some common sense information on how to figure out if you'll be allergic go tattoo ink.
Personally, I would set up a consultation with an artist, explain my concerns, and ask about the ingredients used not only in the inks, but in the wash they use to wipe off the blood/ink during the process and the goop they smear on it afterwards and any other products they might use.
Personally? I wouldn't freak out about it too much. It sounds like we have similarly sensitive skin and I just dove in there without a second thought.
Do make sure any aftercare products you use on your own is hypoallergenic as well, of course. I've heard A&D recommended so many times for healing tattoos that I didn't think to check out the ingredient list until after I bought it. 15% lanolin, holy moly!
posted by Juliet Banana at 10:11 AM on October 16, 2010 [1 favorite]