09 Feb Can you tattoo over scars?
Can you tattoo over scars?
The answer is yes in many cases. But there are certain instances where you shouldn’t and a few questions you need to ask yourself before you take this step. You need to establish why you are looking to tattoo over a scar. Is it because you see your scars as something unsightly on your skin or because you see it as last resort to make it disappear or reduce in appearance? If so, tattooing may not be the answer as you might be able to still see the scar, especially if it’s quite large. And before you take such a drastic, permanent step – explore other options like silicone-based treatments as they may be more effective.
Then there’s the physical considerations to take into account. If you scar easily, getting a tattoo may actually give you more scars. And if your scar’s only recently healed, a tattoo may make the scar look worse so it’s best to tattoo over old scars (over 18-months old) if at all.
Raised scars don’t always take well to tattoos as they are more sensitive than normal skin or non-raised scars. The process may make your skin and scar sore. Some scars also damage the nerves in your skin which make getting a tattoo extremely painful.
It also goes without saying not to consider getting a tattoo if your skin is red around the scar or the scar’s infected. Before you think about getting a tattoo to cover your scar you should check out every other method available of scar reduction. Silicone sheets and gel are proven to significantly soften the appearance of scars and aid the healing process. They will probably give the effects you’re after without the expense and pain of a tattoo, and you won’t have to live with it for the rest of your life as you would with a tattoo.
UK/DER/14/0002n Date of Preparation August 2014
