Red dye is notorious for causing problems, whether injected into our skin or eaten in our food. So it's no surprise, then, that red dye can lead to itchy tattoos. If you've ever gotten a red tattoo, you may have encountered bumps, rashes, slow healing speed, and general itchiness in the red—and only in the red—parts of your body art.
In an effort to determine why red dye causes itchiness—and what to do about it—we turned to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Marcus.
Meet the Expert
- Rebecca Marcus, MD,is a board-certified dermatologist at North Dallas Dermatology Associates.
Why Does Red Tattoo Ink Cause Itchiness?
There’s no evidence that tattooing methods have anything to do with skin reactions, or that the specific placement on your body matters, either, so there’s no simple explanation for why some red body art pieces get itchy while others don’t.
But red dye leading to itchiness makes sense, if you know where it comes from. Red food dye can be entirely lab created, which is usually the format of artificial food color Red Dye #40, or less artificially made from the cochineal bug and called carmine. Both are highly allergenic, with carmine being so particularly problematic for some people that it must be labeled as such, and not just as red dye, on packaging.
Not a fan of body art? You still may have cause for concern: red pigment in permanent makeup is also more likely to be a problem than other permanent makeup tattoo ink colors. Because red is included in more common colors like brown, it may be difficult to completely avoid red ink in your permanent makeup.
Heavy metals in red ink are often believed to be the reason it’s so difficult on our bodies. A mercury-based metal called cinnabar used to be common in red ink, but that is no longer commonly used. According to the same 2018 study, “more recently, mercury-free organic pigments (eg, azo dyes) have been used in polychromatic tattoos due to their ability to retain color over long periods of time,” which makes it seem like metals should no longer be an issue. They go on to state, however, that “the composition of these new organic red tattoo pigments varies, but chemical analysis has revealed a mixture of aromatic azo compounds (eg, quinacridone), heavy metals (eg, aluminum, lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, iron, titanium), and intermediate reactive compounds (eg, naphthalene, 2-naphthol, chlorobenzene, benzene).”
Can Red Tattoo Ink Cause an Allergic Reaction?
The allergenic potential for red ink in tattoos is also considered more severe than for other tattoo ink colors (though any color of tattoo ink may possibly cause allergic reaction, just like any food dye can). Because red pigment has great staying power (think of how red hair dye is harder to fully remove than other colors), it tends to be used heavily in tattoo work. Not only are tattoos with red ink more likely to be itchy long term, allergies to red ink are typically more severe than allergies to other colors. A 2018 study notes that “allergic contact dermatitis is the most common hypersensitivity reaction to tattoo ink, with red pigments representing the most common cause of tattoo-related allergic contact dermatitis.”
Red tattoo ink is troublesome enough science has studied the dermatological problems from red ink and their potential medical intervention solutions. The problems go beyond just skin reactions, though, with actual cancer entering this cautionary tale. Doctors have seen patients exhibit skin cancer tumors (aka carcinoma) in only the red parts of their tattoos, which may be made worse by ultraviolet light. Reactions to red tattoo ink aren’t necessarily immediate, but rather, can occur at any time. The American Academy of Dermatology, in addition to its mention that red ink is the most likely color to be allergenic, states allergic reactions can occur "immediately, weeks or years later" or even "decades afterward." There are even internet tales of red ink reactions that occurred over a decade after a person got a tattoo.
How to Avoid Itchiness in a Tattoo
Beyond the obvious suggestions of avoiding red colors in your future body art pieces and making sure to keep your tattoos meticulously clean and moist throughout the healing process.
Moisturize
"Moisturizing should start when the tattoo is first cleansed, typically 24 hours after application," says Dr. Marcus. "Moisturizing is a very important part of the healing process, as keeping the skin hydrated will help to maintain and fortify the skin barrier, promoting healing and decreasing risk of infection.
"Curél Ultra Healing Lotion is an ideal choice for keeping your healing skin hydrated," says Marcus.
Avoid Wool
Scratchy fabrics can aggravate your tattoos. Few people are truly allergic to wool, but that’s a small possibility as well. If you do have a wool allergy, you probably are also sensitive to lanolin, a sheep derivative found in lotions, so it’d be wise to not use those at all, let alone on your tattoos (which otherwise benefit from moisturizing).
Use Bentonite Clay Masks
Bentonite clay has been shown to aid in skin healing. When used on tattoos, you might experience a noticeable brightening of them after, especially if they’re older. Use a simple mix of clay with enough apple cider vinegar to create a paste, and leave it on until hardened the same way you would with a clay face mask. While this of course should never be done on a new tattoo that’s still healing, it should be safe for any body art that has long since healed.
Turn to OTC Creams and Balms
Hydrocortisone is an effective agent against itchiness, and may help alleviate the discomfort caused by red tattoo ink. If you’re experiencing a contact dermatitis reaction to the red ink, an over the counter cortisone cream may help to soothe the rash from it.
When to See A Doctor
If the itchiness in your red tattoos persists despite home treatments or if it worsens—and especially if it grows any sort of nodule—you’ll need to visit a dermatologist for more intensive treatment.
"If your tattoo is warm, painful and red, or if there is pus draining, seek medical advice as you may have an infection," says Marcus.
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