Tips for getting tattooed with chronic illness
I am a disabled and chronically ill person, so I understand that getting tattooed can be overwhelming, triggering, and can even lead to health crashes. Below are some things I have personally found helpful when getting tattooed. I am, of course, not a medical professional, and all of these tricks I have learned through personal experience. You know your body best and if you have concerns please speak to your medical team, specialists, and/or family doctor, as well as your tattoo artist, before getting tattooed!
Tylenol is a pain reliever that does not thin blood and is very helpful for many people when getting tattooed. Ibuprofen DOES thin blood, so please do not take this before getting tattooed!
Live with chronic tension, Fibro, or struggle with VERY twitchy limbs? A muscle relaxant could help! If you have not taken one before, try it in the days or weeks before your tattoo session to see how your body responds. Side effects can be severe, so keep a close eye on these if you have not taken a muscle relaxant before.
Numbing cream can help with the sensation of getting tattooed. All numbing creams are different, so make sure to test out your brand well before your session so that you know you will not have an allergic reaction.
Heating pads can help our bodies relax and feel safer when getting tattooed. Try bringing a heating pad or hot water bottle to your next session to see if it helps!
IMPORTANT NOTES relating to medications:
Never try a new medication just before a tattoo session! Please, please don’t do this! I don’t want to have to call 911 if you have an allergic reaction to something during our session!
ALWAYS tell your artist what medications you are currently taking
ALWAYS tell your artist if you plan on taking any medications before your tattoo appointment!
To help with pain:
Other self-care practices to consider:
Have bad allergies or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)? Try taking an allergy med with loratadine during your first week of healing. Tattoos are wounds and our bodies respond accordingly to this tissue damage with inflammation. Allergy meds can help some people heal more quickly. <3
If you are someone who lives with joint pain, chronic inflammation, or hypermobility, taking an anti-inflammatory or drinking some anti-inflammatory tea (think turmeric lattes) after your tattoo can help! I do this post tattoo session, and in the weeks following a tattoo appointment, and it has helped me avoid and/or manage painful flares.
Things to consider if you have Long Covid, ME/CFS, or if you are neurodivergent:
Getting a smaller tattoo is a great way to see how your body responds to being tattooed. It’s also a great way to see if you like a tattoo artist’s practice before you commit to a large piece from them.
Asking for a ‘quiet session’ can help preserve valuable energy. There will still be some necessary talking, but the music will be quiet or off, you can wear earplugs or listen to your own media on headphones, and I won’t chat with you so that you can save your ‘spoons’!
I find making a pre and post tattoo plan very helpful, so that I don’t have to think about making food, transportation, or asking for help/care in the moment. I can experience intense decision fatigue post-tattoo and planning accordingly can help me have a cozy restful evening!
I sometimes find it helpful to plan on experiencing a bit of a crash after getting tattooed. When I do this and then crash I am not as disappointed as I otherwise would be and I am prepared to engage in ‘aggressive rest’!
