khubilai

I had always heard to never use Neosporin on a fresh tattoo. I recently had some work done on my thigh, and am having some kind of reaction as well. It's happened twice before to me as well. My theory is I am allergic to the ink of the marker when my artist free hands anything on me as I've never had a problem when something has been stenciled, or if I'm sitting just for a shading session Fluocinonide is what my doctor prescribed for me. It's a steroid cream, and will bring down the raised areas and redness while I use it (2 weeks at a time), but I know the tattoo will raise back up once I stop using it. Your body just has to get used to whatever is irritating it. This once took over 5 months for me, but the tattoo finally settled in. It sucks and is annoying. Hope you heal up soon.

How would you guys use epsom salt baths? I take them normally, but specifically stay away from them for 2-3 weeks after I get tattooed.

Thanks everyone. I found a thread where Ironchef mentioned having a similar reaction sometimes, and a pharmacist called it contact dermititis. I'll be seeing a dermatologist for a regular check up next week and see what they say. In the meantime, I'll try some Benadryl cream on it for now. One more question if I may? I know this site isn't supposed to discuss tattooing itself, but is there a difference between lining and shading, as far as trauma to the skin goes? Or, does lining push ink deeper into the skin versus shading? Like I said, I'm just trying to figure out why this happens sometimes and not others.

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure I'm the guy who started the raised lines thread a few years ago. All in all, I've been tattooed 17 times, all by the same artist, and had this happen 3 or 4 times. I just don't know why this happens. I hate these kind of threads, but I figured who better to ask then a bunch of peopled who tattoo or are heavily tattooed.

Are the pens or markers you guys and gals using hypo allergenic? Are they made specifically for tattooing? The reason I ask, is whenever my artist free hands on me, my tattoo stays raised for quite some time, sometimes up to 5 months if I recall. I just recently had some new work on the inside of my thigh, and the tattoo is red all around the border, the outline is raised, and my skin is very irritated. 2 months ago, we worked on the outer thigh and the outline was stenciled. I healed up beautifully and quickly. I've never had a problem when the outline has been stenciled, and never a problem with shading. The common denominator as far as I can tell, is the ink from the marker being pressed into my skin during the outline. This irritation also happened a few years ago during the free handing of the waves on my forearm, and several years ago while doing the background elements on my other sleeve. I've brought up this issue before in the tattoo healing thread, but I don't think it has anything to do with how I am healing my tattoo. I also know this isn't an infection. I feel fine otherwise, no fever. It's just frustrating trying to figure this out, because it prevents me from getting more work when I want it. My tattooer is well known, and well regarded. I've brought this up in the past to him but he doesn't really have any answers for me. I don't want it to seem like I am 'blaming' him, so I haven't brought it up. Right now I am taking some benadryl at night, and trying the cabbage leaf thing I read about in another thread. Any insights into this issue I have would be greatly appreciated.

Bump

I did a quick search on this site and nothing came up. I was just wondering if anyone is familiar with his work, and what anyone thought of it? He did a black and grey, realistic, portrait style lion on me back in 1996 at Peter Tat2 in West Hempstead NY. I am not really into that style of work anymore, but thought he really was an excellent tattoo artist. Here is a link to his site. Custom Tattooing & Fine Art Like I said, I'm just curious as to what some of the more knowledgeable people thought of his work.

Thanks, I'll try that.

I don't know where he is working now. I think that is pretty much the going rate in New York for an established artist.

I kind of thought the same thing, but I think I will shoot him an email anyway. I did stop by Kings Ave on Long Island last week. The manager had me look at a few portfolios, and I am considering Shaun Nel. Bio kingsavetattoo.com/artists/shaun-nel-0/ She helped clarify what I was looking for. A more 'stylized' version of a traditional tattoo. I told her I was thinking of either a panther with some roses, or fighting an eagle. I still plan on visiting Three Kings, and Invisible NYC in the next few weeks. Shaun is only booked out 3-4 weeks which is nice as well

I'll try and put some up. What shop colored guy?

Kev, I do not have a reference pic yet, and I know my description wasn't very precise, but those pics are kind of what I am referring to, because the shading gives it a little more depth, rather than the flat black of most traditional panther's I've seen. But I do know that I want it to be a black panther. This one also looks very proportional which is another thing I like about it, so I may use this to start the discussion, even though that is a leopard or a cheetah (I think). Thanks.

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I will check out some of those websites and blogs, plus try to walk in to a few of the shops that were mentioned. It's funny, I still feel very intimidated when I walk into any tattoo shop, like I am always the un-coolest person in the place. I know I definitely am, but I just felt like checking a different shop. He did a dragon/tiger/peony sleeve for me. I started with a dragon on my inner forearm, than the following year I covered up an old black and grey eagle with the tiger. The following year I decided to just sleeve up the whole arm, which took another 4 sessions I believe. The peony is on the inner bicep. The last two years he did a koi on my right lower arm. I have a black and grey lion portrait on my right upper arm, so I am not quite sure what to do with the rest of it.

Just wondering, who would you guys and girls seek out in the New York City area for a panther tattoo. I'm not quite sure how to explain this, but I would like it to look a bit more like a graphic novel cartoon, rather than a traditional design like they do at Smith Street. Or is that just not cool to ask for? I've been getting work done by Chris O'Donnell the past few years, and I know he would do an amazing job, but I feel like I want to get something from some another artist and a different shop this year, just for the experience of it and to begin to become a tattoo collector I guess. I usually only sit for a few sessions a year, and would have it done on my lower leg. Thanks for any suggestions.

Agreed. It definitely benefits from 1 ice cube. Agree big time on this as well. The Michters is really good too, but if you can get your hands on Sazerac Rye, I think that might be my tops. I was able to get it a few years ago, but limited distribution means it tends not to be sold to retail stores much.

I know there are a lot of suggestions in this thread, but I want to post this to hopefully help someone else and for my own future reference. I borrowed from a lot of previous ideas in this thread and had the best healing I have ever had. I tend not to heal line work so well, and this last session had a little line work plus shading/coloring. I took the bandage off about 2 hours after I got home. I washed the tattoo well with warm water and Dove soap. I then ran cold water over the tattoo to help close the pores quickly and let it air dry. I did not put anything on it at all for the first 24 hours. I washed it again 3 times per day with warm water, Dove soap, and ran cold water over it, patted it dry with a clean paper towel, and used Aquaphor for about the next 3-4 days, or until it began to flake a lot. I used Aquaphor for that first day with a lot of flaking, making sure to dab it on lightly, not rubbing it in. I then switched to green top Aveeno, until the flaking was gone which was about another 3-4 days. After 1 week or so, I would switch between putting Aveeno, Aquaphor, and nothing on the tattoo. I also made sure not to get it wet until the end of the shower. I had very little itching with this process, and like I said, it was probably the best healing I have had so far. The things I did different this time were 1. put nothing on at all the first 24 hrs. I just let my body begin the healing process on it's own. 2. run cold water over the tattoo after washing to close up the pores. 3. I used Aquaphor. This stuff is good shit. I also took some tips from the nutrition thread pre tattoo. I ate a big PB and J sandwich before, and I took a Snickers bar and some Gatorade with me. I didn't need the snickers, the session was only 2 hours, but I drank the Gatorade half way through. I should note this tattoo was on my forearm, so it was not really a difficult spot, but all in all this was probably the best tattoo experience I have had.

I don't know when or if I'll get around to it, but I want to do an old fashioned pirate ship on my ribs.

How about this. Fucking awesome IMO. http://chrisodonnelltattoo.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bp21.jpg

5-3-1 is a great routine, but the last set which has you repping out tends to burn me out if I use it with all the lifts. I actually had my best training success using 5-3-1 for my lower body (squats and DL's) and I used a Hepburn routine for my upper body ( MP, bench, and chins) which responds better to a higher volume approach. I recently found a facility that teaches the Olympic lifts, so I am shifting my training in that direction for the time being.

Thanks for the responses guys. The tattoo is on my right forearm, so I was thinking of simply wearing a long sleeve t-shirt. It will only be my third day of learning these lifts, so the weights are submaximal anyway, but the fact that they are new means they are challenging in a different way, thus the excessive sweating and my concern. Infection was a concern as well, so I guess a shower before, wear a long sleeve shirt, and shower after should be OK.

I've had some issues healing new work. It tends to mostly be line work on me that stays raised for up to 6 months. Anyway, I just got some new work and was wondering if I got sweaty for a few hours this Monday ( the work would be 48 hrs old by that point) if that would affect my healing. I recently joined an Olympic weightlifting club, and really would rather not miss the practice. I was thinking shower before, and as soon as I got home. Just thought I'd through this question out there for the hell of it.

Great responses everyone, thanks. Percocets were the drug I was considering, but I think I'll try Shawns muscle relaxer and anti-histamine idea. I always try and get a good nights sleep, and eat a decent meal a few hours before, but I have never tried taking a sugary snack/drink with me, always just a bottle of water. I wonder if the anti-histamine might help me with the healing as well. I tend to have problems healing my work lately, especially line work. Now, I just have to work up the courage to do it. I have two appointments scheduled to color the Koi on my arm, but am considering doing the rib piece instead.

I'm seriously considering getting my ribs tattooed, but I have to admit I am more than a little worried about the pain. I have never used anything to help with the pain before, and although I feel somewhat 'ashamed' of even considering it now, I'm afraid using them may be the only way I ever attempt my ribs. Anyway, I was just wondering what some of the options might be, based on others experience with them.

Chris O'Donnell - Art Talk | VBS.TV

They did one on Chris a few years ago I believe. I am not the most tech savvy person, but I'll see if I can find it.