Star Cluster Tattoo

Question:
I am really interested in finally getting a tatto on my upper arm. How much does it REALLY hurt. My husband said that it could be really bad. What chance of infection is there. I am a diabetic soon waiting for a transplant...do you think that might have any bearing on getting a tatt? I would be interested in receiving any advice.

Answer:
I am really interested in finally getting a tatto on my upper arm. How much does it REALLY hurt. My husband said that it could be really bad. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part2/section-1.html DOES IT HURT? -I just got my first on my upper arm 6 days ago. Barely hurts at all. Cat scratches bother me more. Then again, everybody has a different threshold of pain. This is just my experience. This is the first question in this FAQ because it's usually the first question that people ask. The answer is yes. Having needles pierce your skin *does* hurt. But what you *really* want to know is, "How MUCH does it hurt, and can I handle it?" The pain will also vary according to where on your body you get worked on. Skin right above bones (collarbone, anklebone, etc.) tend to be more painful than other areas. In addition, certain types of needles seem to hurt more than others. I personally think the needles used for outlining produce a sharper, more noticeable pain, while the needles used for shading seem to be much more like an electrical buzz (nearly painless). It's not nearly as bad as what you might imagine. The pain comes from the cluster of needles on the tattooing machine piercing your skin very rapidly. This sensation, however, doesn't feel like the poking pain of an injection--it's more of a constant vibration. You will be amazed at how quickly your body releases endorphins, (pain killers), which dullens the pain significantly. Remember, you are volunteering for the experience. The amount of pain will depend on your psychological attitude. NOTE: Do not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs for pain relief purposes prior to your tattoo sessions. Both aspirin and alcohol thin your blood and promote excessive bleeding. Aspirin also decreases the clotting of blood, which will slow down your healing as well. In addition, artists do not appreciate dealing with drunks and is illegal in many states. What chance of infection is there. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part3/section-2.html CAN MY TATTOOS GET INFECTED? Not as long as you take care of your new tat. There is a section in the FAQ that covers healing methods in depth. Some people have trouble healing tattoos with colors they are allergic to. If it gets infected and refuses to heal after a few days of using a topical antibiotic, you may want to check with a doctor. Keep in mind this assumes you are a healthy individual without any condition that suppresses your immune system. Read this too: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part3/section-1.html I am a diabetic soon waiting for a transplant...do you think that might have any bearing on getting a tatt? http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/tattoo-faq/part3/section-3.html ARE THERE ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WILL PRECLUDE ME FROM GETTING A TATTOO? If you have hemophilia. There is even a case of a man who was HIV positive who got a tattoo--if you are HIV+ however, you will want to inform the artist, since it's the artist that is at more risk than you. [In the case of the HIV+ man, he was John Baldetta, a former nursing assistant at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, who got a tat on his forearm that said "HIV Positive." He was suspended for three days without pay and told he could return if he covered up the tat. He refused and was subsequently fired, although he was not an RN and was not doing anything that would put patients at risk.] If you have multiple allergies, you can always have the artist do a "patch test" on you with the colors you want prior to returning for a regular tattoo. This is similar to patch tests done for perms and hair coloring, and will help you determine if your body will react to some of the pigments. However, it is best to let the artist know if you have ANY medical condition, such as diabetes or epilepsy, in case of an emergency. Also, it is generally not considered a good idea to tattoo pregnant women.