Keloid scarring from a tattoo?

May 5, 2008 11:15 AM

I know a half-Chinese, half-Filipino male with a tendency toward keloid formation who's interested in getting a first tattoo. What tattoo experience and advice do you have for him regarding the likelihood of developing a keloid at the tattoo site?
posted by doriangray to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

I have keloids and a tattoo. My tattoo did not scar at all and is looking great 5 years after getting it. I suspect that the deeper the tissue damage the more likely a keloid will form. For example, my surgeries all resulted in keloids. However, minor cuts or scratches rarely form a keloid for me. I decided to take a chance and don't regret it one bit.
posted by onhazier at 11:31 AM on May 5, 2008

I have mild tendency towards keloiding and I have tattoos. On a large-ish back piece I have noticed small bumps and when I asked the artist about it he said that those were probably places he pressed a little harder than others.

My suggestion is to find someone who is recommended to have a light touch - the less traumatic the event, the less likely you'll keloid.
posted by oreonax at 11:40 AM on May 5, 2008

Hi. I get keloids (part Chinese, Czech, Hawaiian), and I have tattoos. My pieces that are heavy blackwork have a sort of raised quality to them, sort of, but it's not noticeable unless you touch them. My lighter-weight greywork/shading piece has no issues like that at all. I have a surgery scar from when I was a kid that is a significant keloid, but even the "bumpy" tattoos are nothing like that at all. HMMV, of course. He should also talk to his tattoists/potential tattoists about this.
posted by rtha at 12:07 PM on May 5, 2008

I am full Flip and have a keloid or two from deep cuts.

I have a piece across the majority of my back that did not scar whatsoever. Heavy blackwork, like rtha mentioned. They have that same kinda raised quality to it. It's not visible, but you can feel the lines with your fingers. The artist was really good (Sky at One Shot Tattoo, and Rob at Goldfield's Tattoo, both in SF). They both mentioned to me my skin was really thick and had to tattoo deeply so the color would hold, but no scarring resulted whatsoever. I think he should speak with the tattoo artists first, also like rtha said, but he should be fine.
posted by crunch buttsteak at 1:55 PM on May 5, 2008

I'm part Filipina and also have a tendency towards keloids. When I got my tattoo (large piece on my back, all black, thick/heavy lines), I warned my artist beforehand that I was prone to keloid scarring, and asked him to go as lightly as possible. He did a wonderful job and the tattoo turned out beautifully, with no keloids.

So it's not just that your friend needs to find an artist with a light touch, it's that he needs to communicate with his artist. I'm sure it's something the artist would want to know up front anyway, to give your friend the best tattoo possible.
posted by tugena13 at 7:23 PM on May 5, 2008