A "different" pregnancy/tattoo question

ok, i'm somewhere between 7.5 and 8.5 weeks pregnant (hopefully i'll have more idea next week) - and today, i've been having issues with my existing tattoos itching. i have four tattoos - two that are over 2 years old, the other two probably 18 months old - the first two are fine, the other two have become sort of raised and itchy the way they were when they were new. it started off being only the one earlier today, but now it's both of them

has anyone else had this happen?? if so, what can i do to relieve the itching and stop myself wanting to rip my shoulder blades open - i swear, it's worse than when i got them done!!! i can feel the outlines of the all the artwork again - weird!

i've looked everywhere but i can't find the bepanthan (DH got tattoo at same time, and it's quite possible he's got it in his work stuff in the truck) and live 40k round trip from nearest pharmacy, so any suggestions of things that a non-parent will have in the house would be HUGELY appreciated - my shoulders will love you!!!

do u have alovera or calamine???

other wise cover your hands with bandages or cotton gloves!!!

or get dh to tie your hands together Lol

DH not home feeb - or my hands would be otherwise occupied anyway!

no aloevera or calomine here.

would something like body butter moisturise it enough to stop it itching, or would it make it worse?

Lol bugger.

try a cool shower.

u can try body butter and if it makes it worse wash it off.

sorry no other ideas

thanks feeb. will attack myself with body butter (at least i'll smell good) and hopefully it will ease. it helped with the itchy flaky boobs the other day! miracle stuff i guess!

wish i wasn't feeling so crook, i'd just drive to bro's place - they have three kids - bound to have something like bepanthan/calomine lotion lol

pregnancy number two i'm sure i'll have all this stuff on hand....

Yep, mine did the same. Only the one on my back though, not my hip one. Try vaseline or sorbolene. Or even just a wet cool cloth. Try not to use anything that might irritate it more, like highly perfumed creams. Bepanthan is the best...don't forget to buy some next shopping trip. Always handy

I would have never connected the 2 BG but now that you mention it, my 10 yo tatt started getting itchy when I was pregnant with Noah, I think you are on to something. Try having it just where you can't reach it on your back :lol:

thanks Kate - don't feel quite so freaky now that i know it's happened to someone else

DH can't recall where the bepanthan is, but will look in his truck tonight - and i'll pull the house apart a bit more now to see if i can find it..

Hi BG.... don't quote me but I don't think it's safe to use Bepanthen when your pregnant.....

my tatts did the same thing in my first tri .... i found after sun gel worked really well... the stuff you put on when you've been sunburnt.

Hope it feels better soon ....it won't last forever

also just a thought but do you have any canasten or anything like that?

why would it not be safe it is nappy rash cream

Interesting. My tattoo (between my breasts) didn't itch... but it was at least 10 years old when I had my last two pregnancies and i can't think back as 1994 for my first.

How old are they? If they are recent then it could be your immune system trying to reject the ink from your body... meaning that there mightn't be much you can do other than alleviate symptoms. I wonder if a dose of anti-histamine could help (this stops itching from other causes... any hayfever tablet should work)... I think it's an A classification drug (ie safe for pregnancy) but just confirm that before you take it.... maybe give nurse-on-call a call? Otherwise I'd try anything that would stop itching for other causes... you could try soaking in an oatmeal bath (any stale porridge oats lying around?). I find oats can be soothing for itchiness.

Try bathing with luke warm salty water - make sure its tepid water because hot water will make it more itchy.

Any plain unscented moisturiser should get you thru until you next get to the pharmacy next. Another soother is 1 tblspoon milk in 1cup tepid water or even better if you can relax in a bath with 1cup milk.

My friend is a tattoo artist and she experienced the same thing.

Good luck

Hi Feeb.... sorry I've got placenta dementia I was thinking of one of the silver based cream some tattooists use.....

Lol thats ok i was just confused why it would be bad!!!!

placenta brain and booby feeding brains is annoying!!!

Haha, yep bepanthan is fine. Definately not bad for pg women. My tattoo was maybe 6 years old. I would try normal things like the bepanthan and other creams before antihistamines. Although antihistamines should work really well if you get no relief from other methods

Polaramine would be ok but I don't think there are any other anti histamines that are safe.

Feeb ---- my brain has left the building :)

Just a thought but what about some Lucas Paw Paw Ointment if you have any for lipbalm BG

Yep, I took Polaramine almost daily for my hand and foot itchiness (yes, it was cholestasis and under supervision)... so it should be safe if the itchiness prevents you from sleeping for example.

managed to get it settled down (for now) with a cool cloth. most of the body butter type things i have although stating to be natural, i'm just not sure how they'll go in pregnancy so avoiding it where i can. if i can't get relief tonight, i'll go looking again

we're a pretty "simple" couple as far as creams and stuff go, so nothing here really. i looked at a bottle of betadine the other day and realised it was 8 years out of date - so if i haven't bought it myself recently, i'm reluctant to use it! lol

Just so you know there are only certain types of antihistamine that are safe in pregnancy. So best to ask the chesmist which ones you can take.

No words of advice but this happened to me too. Oh the joys of been pg :lol:

perhaps you could ask a tattoosit?? maybe give one a call and see what they say?

Sounds like the skin is getting dry if they are itching = in my experience that is why my tatts and piercings get a little itchy. Does the skin feel tight?

Best thing is to get some moisture into them. Doesn't matter what type really...as long as it doesn't stay dry as dryness, itching and flaking can lead to fading and colour loss.

Good luck!

My DH's tattoos get raised and irritated sections from time to time so it's not necessarily a PG thing. He has half sleeves and his shoulders done but only one bit will come up about 10c piece sized and in different places. Also some of the tattoos that do this are a good 15 years old!

thanks ladies - have kept them moisturised and they've reduced back down heaps! i'm thinking it may be partially pg related, but partially from the heat the other day too cos the inflamation reduced as it cooled down, and has been fine ever since

ahh, the joys of pregnancy.... (ish)

My 15 year old tatt (upper middle back) raises up every now and again - but its not very itchy. It seems to happen more in the heat of when I am stressed. I asked the tattooist who did me and he said that it is really common and was nothing to stress about. I guess pregnancy is pretty stressful so I'll be checking my own tatt from now on to see if it too has risen up!

I get this every now and then, and yes it was worse during pregnancy. The sure fire thing that works for me? Lots of water. Your tattoos get 'raised' when you're dehydrated. Putting creams on them will provide moisture and temporary relief, but for long term relief, you need to up your water intake. I can always tell if I'm not drinking enough (or my water needs increase, as they do in pregnancy) when my tatts become raised and itchy.

Try it - make sure you drink 50% more water over the next few days, and I reckon you should see an improvement.

sushee - i WISH! i can't stomach much of anything at the moment - but will admit that night (and most nights) to being rather parched over night...

Hi briggsy's girl - My DH is a tattooist and he says this is quite common - it happens to lots of people. He has quite a few tattoos that every now and again feel raised and itchy. He thinks it can also be a seasonal thing for him...usually occuring in spring/summer. :)

Then dehydration is probably exactly what it is! I understand not being able to drink much - I was very much the same.

BG, I sometimes put cream (whatever you are using) in the fridge when I have itchy skin, gives it that extra soothing feeling :)
I had a bottle of palmers in the fridge permanently when pregnant with DS :)