Getting a tattoo has its risks, and about 10 percent of people experience short-term complications with their tattoos (Source: Contact Dermatitis). Discover common tattoo complications: infections, allergic reactions & more. You are getting tiny abrasions in your skin, after all.
Whether it is the fault of the artist or the client, most mistakes are avoidable.
Blowouts
Blowouts may occur if the artist puts the ink too deep and it spreads out through the layers of the skin. Blowouts are most commonly noticed right after a tattoo is finished, but sometimes they show up after a few days or even weeks.
If the blowout is tiny, the artist could make minor adjustments to fix the tattoo. The only solution for fixing a big enough blowout is a coverup.
White ink turning yellow
White ink, specifically tattoos that entirely consist of white ink, is still largely taboo in the tattoo industry. And here’s why.
White ink eventually turns yellow, due to prolonged sun exposure. The best way to keep your white ink tattoo from yellowing is by covering it up with clothing if you know you’re going to be under direct sunlight.
Crooked ink
Sometimes nice tattoos become crooked and asymmetrical. Placement is a key component to tattooing and there’s no excuse for having a design that is noticeably off-center. The fact that human bodies are never perfectly symmetrical is not an excuse.
To avoid a crooked tattoo, double-check the stencilled design before the needle hits your skin. Additionally, the artist should place the stencil when you’re standing upright and your body is centred.
Bad translations
This is what happens if you do not research what your tattoo in a foreign language really means. Relying on Google Translate is generally a bad idea, (in kanji, for example, it’s very easy to make major mistakes). Proofread your tattoo with someone who is fluent in that language.
Misspelled Tattoos
Misspellings occur when text is not thoroughly proofed by multiple eyes. The fact is, it is your responsibility to ensure that your tattoo is spelled correctly, not the artist’s.
If you discover that you have a misspelled tattoo, as your artist if they can make an adjustment. If you’re lucky, the problem will be easily solved, but sometimes a coverup is the only viable option.
Tattoo infections
Infections are an unfortunate side effect of improper aftercare. In general, to avoid infection and other serious health consequences, clients should stay away from water (like pools or an ocean) until the healing is over. But if this happens to you, visit your doctor immediately.
Learn more about different types of tattoos in our article on House of Coco: 3 Types of Tattoos You Need to Know About.
Fast fading
It is one of the most common problems that tattoo clients get. All tattoos will fade eventually, however, sometimes it’s the fault of an inexperienced artist (if an artist does not go deep enough with their needles) or body parts (certain areas of the body, such as the fingers or the palms of the hand will fade quicker no matter if the tattoo is put in properly).
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