If you've recently gotten a tattoo and feel it's raised, you're likely wondering what's happening. Believe it or not, this is surprisingly common and can happen for various reasons. A raised tattoo can sometimes represent a serious issue, and you may need medical attention. Still, in most cases, it's not severe and can be treated at home. In this article, we’ll dive into common culprits and discuss whether you should be worried.

WHY DOES MY TATTOO FEEL RAISED?

Allergic Reaction To Tattoo Ink

Although it's rare, your tattoo may feel raised if you're allergic to the ink; this is more common with colored inks, and most experts say it should stop within two to three weeks. However, you must seek medical attention if you notice other symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, or an intense burning sensation. If your tattoo is raised, but you don't have any other symptoms, you can treat it with a topical steroid ointment.

Weather Conditions

Your tattoo may feel raised after exposure to particularly warm or cold temperatures. It's crucial to minimize fresh tattoos' exposure to direct sunlight to avoid potential swelling.

If you've accidentally exposed it to heat or sunlight, you can reduce your symptoms by avoiding further sun exposure and doing your best to keep it cool. On the other hand, if you believe your tattoo has been exposed to particularly cold conditions, try using a moisturizer to reduce the swelling.

Infected Tattoo

It's essential that you only get tattoos from trusted professionals with a track record of keeping their shop and supplies clean. Otherwise, you may end up with a skin infection. Skin infections can also occur if you don't adhere to the post-tattoo safety procedures. After 24 hours, you need to gently clean your new tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water; after washing it, you must pat it dry before applying ointment.

If your ink is infected, the skin around it will likely be red, sore, and raised; this is one of the more serious reasons for a tattoo to feel raised, as the infection can spread. If you believe you have an infection, it's best to seek help from a medical professional.

Scarring

Scarring can occur if your tattoo artist affects your skin tissue too deeply. Additionally, this can happen if you didn't follow the proper tattoo aftercare procedures. It's essential to use a Derm Shield or a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage to keep new tattoos safe.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do if scarring occurs. However, you can regenerate the skin to some degree with hydrating lotions or a product specifically meant to help with tattoo scarring.

High blood pressure

In general, it's best to avoid tattoos if you have exceptionally high blood pressure. The tattooing process can cause your blood pressure to increase and may have dangerous side effects. Still, if you've already gotten a tattoo, you may notice that it feels raised after exercising because your body is forcing blood into the skin tissue. There isn't much you can do to prevent this, but it's only temporary. If your tattoo feels raised after working out, consider taking a day off before you continue to exercise.

It may feel raised for no reason at all

It's common for new tattoos to feel raised for no reason. Over time, it will heal, and the raised feeling will go away. In some cases, it can take weeks or even months for your skin to return to normal. Still, there's no reason to be concerned.

It’s best to continue your tattoo aftercare procedures as long as your tattoo artist recommends. As long as you take care of your new ink, you’re unlikely to run into any serious problems.