Tattoos on the hands and their health risks

Before you decide to get a tattoo on your hand,there are some things that need inconsider first. Besides risky on health, there many other things that cause tattoos on hands need to be considered by maripe.

Making tattoos on hands has long been carried out by certain nations or tribes, such as people in India or the Dayak tribe in Indonesia. Nowadays, making tattoos on hands is increasingly widespread and is no longer related to culture, but part of art and lifestyle.

However, before you decide to get a tattoo on your hand, either on the back of your hand or on your wrist, there are a few things you need to consider carefully. One of them is pain. Getting a tattoo on the hand will be more painful than in other areas, considering the skin on the hand is thinner and has a lot of nerve endings.

Not only that, because tattoos on the hands cannot be covered by clothing, getting a tattoo in this area can be a problem for people who have certain professions, such as teachers or doctors. Some companies may also think twice about accepting employees with tattoos on their hands.

Plus, you may be dissatisfied or even embarrassed by the result of the tattoo on your hand. Since this area will be difficult to cover, you may have to remove the tattoo, for example with a laser. But keep in mind, the laser tattoo removal method must also be gradual.

The Impact of Tattoos on Hands on Health

Basically, the health impact of tattoos on the hands is the same as tattoos anywhere else. However, because of its location on the hands that are often exposed to dirt, water, and soap, the newly tattooed area will be more prone to problems.

The following are some of the health risks of getting a tattoo on the hand:

skin infection

Skin infections are the main risk that may occur when you have a tattoo on your hand. This can occur due to the use of non-sterile tattoo tools or tattoo ink, or improper care after making a tattoo on the hand.

There are 2 types of skin infections that can appear when you have a tattoo on your hand, namely bacterial infection Staphylococcus which can lead to cellulitis and bacterial infections Mycobacterium which can cause skin tuberculosis.

Allergic reaction

People who have tattoos on their hands can also experience an allergic skin reaction, which is usually characterized by an itchy red rash. Some of these allergic reactions only last for a moment, but some last for years.

A study states that allergic skin reactions due to tattoos, both on the hands and in other areas of the body, are generally triggered by red, yellow, green, and blue tattoo inks.

In addition to skin infections and allergic reactions, tattooing is also at risk of transmitting diseases, such as tetanus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Transmission of this disease can occur if the tattoo needle used is not sterile.

Treatment After Making Tattoo on Hand

If you are ready to make a tattoo on your hand, you need to understand how to properly care for it after a tattoo. This is important to do so that the tattoo wound on the hand does not become infected and the tattoo results are still good.

The following are the steps of care after making a tattoo on the hand:

  • Avoid removing the tattoo cover on the hand until the time specified by the tattoo artist. Usually around 6-7 hours, some even all day.
  • After the tattoo cover is removed, clean the tattoo with warm water and unscented soap or antiseptic soap, to prevent infection of the skin.
  • Avoid washing your hands too often and protect your newly tattooed hands from dirt or dust.
  • Apply a thin layer of moisturizing lotion or cream to the newly tattooed area, 1-2 times a day. You can also apply coconut oil which is believed to lighten the color of the tattoo, moisturize the skin longer, and prevent skin infections.
  • As long as the tattoo wound has not healed, avoid overexposure to the sun, because it can damage and fade the tattoo ink.

Getting a tattoo on your hand isn't just about determining what image fits your hand. Also make sure that the manufacturing procedure is safe, carried out by a competent or certified tattoo artist, and in a place where cleanliness is guaranteed.

You also have to take care of the tattoo on the hand in the right way, so that there is no infection or irritation of the skin.

If an itchy red rash, swelling, or pus comes out of the tattoo wound on your hand, or if you have a fever after getting the tattoo done, see a doctor immediately so he can be treated.