A heart nipple tattoo can be an attractive addition to your body art, but what are the side effects of getting it? The side effects of a heart nipple tattoo include infection, scabbing, and scarring.
To reduce these side effects and get the most out of your new tattoo, learn more about how to handle it correctly.
What is a heart nipple tattoo?
A heart nipple tattoo is a type of temporary tattoo that you can apply with water and wear for up to two days. It’s one way to get your favorite symbol on your body temporarily. There are many different versions and types, so consider how this tattoo might affect you before you buy it.
Side effects of a heart nipple tattoo
Nipple tattoos are not permanent and can fade over time. Once you’re satisfied with your design, you’ll need to decide whether or not to get the color black and white ink. Since it is just like any other tattoo, healing time varies depending on where it is placed on the body.
The worst side effect would be regretting what you have done. Make sure that this is something that you want for the rest of your life!
Here are some side effects of heart nipple tattoo
1. Infection may occur
An infection is not usually a risk as long as you take the proper precautions. It may be helpful to think about how often you touch your nipple and are sure to wash your hands before touching it. Avoid any makeup, oils, or other substances that can further irritate or hurt your skin.
You may also want to consider avoiding too much contact with water for fear of getting it in and around this delicate area too often. If you are allergic to certain types of adhesive tapes, make sure that they do not contain latex.
Allergic reactions can range from redness and swelling on the skin to more serious medical conditions such as anaphylaxis. Lastly, if your nipple becomes discolored after the application of tattoo ink, this could mean blood has been introduced into the area which increases your chances of infection.
2. Change in nipple sensation
This is the most common symptom after a heart nipple tattoo, as it can take up to 3 months for your nipple to fully heal.
When your nipple starts feeling numb or less sensitive in general, this may be an indication that your body is healing and you’ll be able to feel sensation sooner than expected.
If your side effects don’t go away after 3 months, see your physician as soon as possible to rule out other causes. The main cause of long-term changes in nipple sensation is scar tissue, which will need to be removed with surgery if not treated.
3. Scarring
The most common complication associated with heart nipple tattoos is that they can cause some scarring, particularly around the areola.
Scars may be tender and painful, they will take time to heal (sometimes as long as six months), and may need additional surgery or other treatments in order to be fully resolved.
There are also times when the skin grafting procedure will not work for removing scars due to a lack of blood flow near the breast tissue. In this case, patients might have to undergo surgery on their breasts.
A less likely side effect of a heart nipple tattoo is an infection in the breast area, which should not develop if proper precautions were taken by both you and your artist before tattooing your skin.
4. Bleeding
One side effect that may occur with nipple tattoos is excessive bleeding. There is no way to know if the bleeding will occur, but it is possible. It’s also possible for scars to form around the tattoo or for keloids to form.
If you notice any of these signs, visit your doctor as soon as possible. It can be difficult to see if there are any issues until after the ink has settled into the skin.
5. Change in pigment coloration
Since your nipple color will be darker and more pigmented, it is expected that over time, this pigment will fade. But if you notice your nipple getting lighter or lighter in color than it was before, you may be experiencing hyperpigmentation.
This will happen as time goes on and is common as some pigments work their way to the surface of your skin. If this bothers you, there are products available at most pharmacies and drugstores that can help re-pigment your nipples.
The most popular ones are the Jane Iredale pastel stick for $22 (US) or EltaMD SPF15 tinted sunscreen with tint for $30 (US). It’s important to note these products aren’t made for nipples but do seem to work well for many people.
6. Changing your mind
Tattoos can be altered or removed through laser surgery, although it may leave residual pigmentation. Given the price, this might not be an ideal route to take. The procedure is fairly expensive and usually requires at least one follow-up session for complete removal.
If you want to reverse your heart nipple tattoo but you don’t want to commit to full laser removal, you could always invest in a temporary tattoo on top of your current design as an experiment.
Conclusion
Most tattoos have side effects, but there is no standard set for how these should be reported. There are many temporary adverse reactions that could come with getting a tattoo, like pain, swelling, and redness.
If you are considering getting a heart nipple tattoo, it is important to research possible side effects beforehand and make an informed decision about whether or not this tattoo is right for you.
