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How to treat itching and thickening on tattoos?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am concerned about my tattoo placed before two months back. I have five tattoos with different colors such as blue, yellow, red, green, and purple. I have itching on my yellow and green tattoos from time to time and it lasts for two weeks. It subsides eventually for five to eight days and then itching comes back again. The itchy tattoos are bumpy and hard. What is the cause?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Suvina Attavar

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvina Attavar is an expert in the field of Dermatology. She is experienced and well-versed in all the treatment modalities in Dermatology.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and can understand your concern.

Itchiness and thickening over tattoos indicate a couple of things. As these are occurring over coloured pigments, there is a high chance for you to have a tattoo granuloma. It means that the coloured pigments have caused a foreign body reaction in your skin. If topical steroids like hydrocortisone did not help, you may require intralesional steroid injection or dermabrasion or laser. Again, lasers for green and yellow pigments are separate, requiring Alexandrite and 532 pico. Secondly, you can have a mycobacterium infection called tuberculous verrucosa cutis, which requires oral medication. Lastly, you can have slight chances to have keloid. You need to do a biopsy to rule out the cause. Continue using hydrocortisone for two weeks, and if there is no improvement, you need to do a biopsy.

I hope this answers your query.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thanks for your quick response.

These hard bumpy tattoos becomes flat when the itching subsides. So I do not think it is keloidal. I got these tattoos on the same day. Yellow and green ones are the last ones to get healed.

Kindly assist.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Suvina Attavar

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvina Attavar is an expert in the field of Dermatology. She is experienced and well-versed in all the treatment modalities in Dermatology.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If it becomes flat, then it is not keloidal. You can take a higher level of topical steroids like Mometasone and see for improvement for two weeks. If it still recurs, then you need to do a biopsy to rule out the cause.

Please feel free to reach out if you need further assistance.

Thank you.

Answered by
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At April 21, 2020
Reviewed At February 4, 2025

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvina Attavar is an expert in the field of Dermatology. She is experienced and well-versed in all the treatment modalities in Dermatology.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Suvina Attavar

Dermatology

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Suvina Attavar is an expert in the field of Dermatology. She is experienced and well-versed in all the treatment modalities in Dermatology.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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