The signs of an allergic reaction to a tattoo are often similar to those a person may get with a contact skin allergy. For example, you might notice redness and swelling, a rash, and itching, all of which may get worse when exposed to light or heat. Sometimes blisters develop as well. Typically, the rashes are caused by the coloring used for applying the body art, but the signs may not develop right away. You could develop symptoms weeks, months, or years after the body art is applied, or in some cases, not until a subsequent application.
Inflammation, redness, and rashes are among the most common signs of an allergic reaction to a tattoo. Such a reaction is not common, but when it does develop, it is often the result of an allergy to one or more of the pigments used to create the tattoo. This type of allergy may also cause itching that lasts beyond the initial healing of the body art. It is important to note that signs of an allergic reaction to a tattoo do not always show up right after you receive it. Instead, you may not develop signs of an allergy for weeks or even months or years afterward.
Sometimes an allergic reaction to a tattoo is fairly mild and amounts to small bumps and redness that fade over time and leave the body art intact. This is not always the case, however. Some people have reactions so severe that there is a good deal of redness and swelling. The body may even react so strongly to the body art that it manages to push the dye out of the tattoo, leaving the body art without its intended color. This often occurs with body art that uses red dye, but it can develop with other colors as well.
An allergic reaction to a tattoo can sometimes be aggravated by sunlight. For example, you may suffer significant worsening of symptoms such as swelling and redness when sunlight hits the tattooed area. In fact, some people first notice the reaction after they have spent some time outdoors in the sun with the affected area exposed. Additionally, you may notice that your allergies to body art dye become worse in the presence of heat. Swelling can become more prominent, and itching may develop as well.
The fact that you didn't have an allergic reaction to your first tattoo, doesn't mean you are definitely not allergic. This is true even if years have passed since your first body art was applied. Some people do not develop any signs of allergic reactions until their second or even third tattoos are applied. Others may develop slight redness and itching but not have a severe reaction until receiving subsequent body art. If this happens to you, you might suffer such symptoms as severe redness, itching, and blistering of all your tattoos, including the oldest one.