COVID-19 vaccine rollouts are in full swing in many places around the world, with millions of people already vaccinated and countless more getting their shots each and every day. There are lots of questions that people have about vaccines, and one common question that comes up time and time again is “Is it safe to get a tattoo after having the vaccine?” This guide will go over the current situation regarding tattoos and COVID-19 vaccines to help you find out more.
Tattoos after COVID-19 vaccine
So what’s the issue with COVID-19 vaccines and tattoos in the first place? Well, in order to understand why this subject is being discussed, it’s important to know how tattoos and vaccines work.
When you get a tattoo from a reliable tattoo shop in your area, the process involves injecting ink into your skin. Your body sees this ink as a foreign body or invader, so it triggers an immune response, which can lead to various post-tattoo side effects like pain, redness, and swelling.
Vaccines work in a very similar way, as they involve the injection of foreign material into the bloodstream, also triggering an immune response that can also generate pain, redness, and swelling.
Both COVID-19 vaccines and tattoos may also generate other effects in people, like light fevers, headaches, and so on. So the question naturally arises: if you get a tattoo and a vaccine around the same time, will the immune response be affected in any way? And will the effectiveness of the vaccine be diminished at all if a tattoo occurs soon after getting it?
Well, the simple answer to this is that we don’t really know. COVID-19 vaccines are very new, and it will require more time and additional research to figure out how they respond in different situations and whether they are affected by tattoos in any way.
However, the science that is available at the moment suggests that there isn’t much to worry about, and many medical experts agree that getting a tattoo after a vaccine shouldn’t interfere with the vaccine’s functionality in any way. But there are still some risks to take into account:
Risks
- COVID-19 Infection – Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you can still get infected with the virus and suffer some symptoms. This is more likely to happen in public places, so going out and getting a tattoo could put you at risk.
- Confusion – The main issue with getting tattoos and vaccines at the same time is that you might get confused about the cause of any side effects. If you feel pain or notice redness in your arm after getting an arm tattoo, you might think that it’s only a side effect of the virus, but it might actually be the first signs of an infection.
- Excessive Side Effects – Tattoos can cause side effects, and so can vaccines. If you get both on the same day, you might experience twice as many side effects as a result, like excessive pain and swelling in your arm.
Overall, to avoid these risks, find a reliable tattoo shop and the best artists to avoid infection. Also, always make sure to follow the necessary COVID-19 guidelines when visiting your vaccine center.
Precautions
- Wait it out – There’s no official wait time between getting vaccinated and having a tattoo, but it’s recommended to wait at least a couple of days for the symptoms of your vaccine to die down.
- Aftercare – Talk to your tattoo artist about proper aftercare for your tattoo and make sure to apply ointments and follow their advice.
How long do I need to wait after vaccination?
Unfortunately, there isn’t yet a clear answer on this subject. A lot of tattoo artists are being asked this question, but aren’t able to give their clients any kind of definitive response, and many doctors and medical experts are being asked the same question but aren’t sure how to respond. Some people have heard that it’s best to wait a couple of days, while others may have read that a couple of weeks of waiting time is necessary.
So what’s the true answer? Well, as of the time of writing, there actually aren’t any official limits or specific wait times for people to worry about in terms of getting a tattoo after their COVID-19 vaccination. Michael Chang, a Houston-based infectious diseases professor, states that “There isn’t any reason to think getting a tattoo would influence how well the vaccines work”.
In general, a lot of medical experts recommend waiting a couple of days after your vaccination before getting a tattoo, and there’s a clear reason for this: tattoos and vaccinations can have similar side effects like arm pain and redness. If you got the vaccine and tattoo on the same day, it would be hard to determine the cause of any side effects you experience, and you might not be able to take the appropriate action to deal with those effects. Waiting a couple of days helps to remove this risk.
Tattoo care during traveling
- Ask your artist – Your tattoo artist will be able to provide advice on how to care for your tattoo while traveling.
- Cleaning supplies – Make sure to pack all of the necessary cleaning supplies and creams before you travel.
- Stay out of the sun – Direct sunlight can cause additional soreness and redness to tattooed areas of your body, so try to stay out of the sun.
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