Getting a tattoo is a super exciting experience. Whether your getting your first tattoo or the latest addition to your collection, the anticipation of seeing your vision come to life is thrilling. That’s why the thought of postponing your appointment due to feeling sick can be so frustrating. We understand—rescheduling might feel like a setback.
But here’s the truth: prioritizing your health is the best decision for both you and your tattoo artist. Being healthy doesn’t just protect those around you; it ensures that your body can fully focus on healing your new tattoo. The result? A tattoo that looks its best, heals beautifully, and gives you the experience you deserve.
While this blog focuses on how temporary illnesses can impact the tattooing process, chronic conditions require unique considerations. If you’re managing a long-term health condition, stay tuned for our upcoming guide, where we’ll dive deeper into tattoos and chronic illness.
Your health is essential to making your tattoo experience safe, successful, and something to be proud of for years to come. Let’s explore why it’s worth waiting until you feel your best.
What Happens If You Get Tattooed While Sick?
Getting a tattoo while sick might seem manageable, but it’s far more challenging—and risky—than you might think. Illness takes a toll on your body, and adding the stress of a tattoo can lead to complications that affect your experience, your healing, and the final result. Here’s what you should know:
Increased Discomfort and Pain
When you’re sick, your body is already under stress, which can significantly lower your pain tolerance. A tattoo session, which is already physically demanding, may feel far worse than usual. This added discomfort can make the experience unnecessarily grueling, especially if you’re already dealing with fatigue or aches.
Healing Risks and Infection
Your immune system is your body’s defense mechanism, working overtime to fight off illness. When you add a tattoo—a controlled wound—into the mix, your immune system has to divide its energy between battling your sickness and repairing the tattoo. This can slow the healing process, increase the risk of infection, and even lead to patchy scabbing or uneven healing.
Tattoo Quality Risks
Slower healing caused by illness can also impact the appearance of your tattoo. Prolonged recovery times can lead to faded colors, blurred lines, or a less vibrant final result. These issues can compromise the overall quality of your tattoo, making it less likely to heal as the artist intended.
In short, getting a tattoo while sick not only makes the process harder on your body but also puts your health and tattoo quality at risk. Waiting until you’re healthy ensures the best possible outcome and an experience you can enjoy.
These are just the general challenges. The specifics depend on the type of illness you’re dealing with. From colds and coughs to sinus infections and beyond, each scenario comes with its own risks and complications. Let’s take a closer look at why it’s better to wait until you’re healthy before getting your next tattoo.
Getting a Tattoo With a Cold
Getting a tattoo while you have a cold puts unnecessary strain on your body and increases the risk of complications. Your immune system is already working hard to fight off the cold virus, leaving less energy for healing your tattoo. Sneezing or nasal discharge can also contaminate the sterile environment, heightening the risk of infection.
Getting a Tattoo With a Cough
Getting a tattoo while coughing makes the process unsafe and unhygienic. Coughing causes sudden movements that can disrupt the tattooing process and result in smudged lines. It also risks contaminating the studio environment with droplets, increasing infection risks for everyone involved.
Getting a Tattoo With COVID
Getting a tattoo while infected with COVID weakens your body’s ability to heal and puts others at risk. COVID compromises your immune system, slowing healing and increasing the chance of infection. Lingering symptoms like fatigue can make the session harder to endure, while the risk of spreading the virus in the studio is unethical.
Getting a Tattoo With a Sinus Infection
Getting a tattoo with a sinus infection is especially risky due to inflammation near the head and neck. This can increase the likelihood of complications for tattoos in those areas and amplify discomfort from facial pressure during the session.
Getting a Tattoo With a Stuffy Nose
Getting a tattoo with a stuffy nose creates hygiene risks and increases discomfort. Mucus from a runny nose can contaminate the sterile environment, while breathing through your mouth for long periods makes the session harder to tolerate.
Getting a Tattoo With a Sore Throat or Strep Throat
Getting a tattoo with strep throat is dangerous because it’s highly contagious and compromises comfort. Exposing your artist or other clients to illness is irresponsible, and the added throat pain makes the tattooing process unnecessarily uncomfortable.
Can You Get a Tattoo If You Are Sick But Not Contagious Anymore?
Getting a tattoo after an illness, even if you’re no longer contagious, can still pose risks to your healing process. Lingering fatigue or a weakened immune system may slow recovery and increase the likelihood of complications. To ensure the best results, check in with your artist and wait until you feel fully recovered before proceeding.
What If I Take Cold Medicine or Other Medication Before My Tattoo Appointment?
Taking medication while getting a tattoo can sometimes create unexpected challenges. Depending on the type of medicine, it could impact your body’s response during the session or how your tattoo heals afterward. Here’s what to consider:
- Decongestants and Antihistamines: These medications can dry out your skin, making it harder for the tattoo ink to absorb properly. Dry skin can also lead to a slower tattoo healing process.
- Blood Thinners (like aspirin or ibuprofen): These can increase bleeding during your tattoo session, which might dilute the ink and make it harder for the artist to create clean, precise lines in your tattoo.
- Antibiotics: If you’re on antibiotics, your tattoo might take longer to heal because these medications can slow down skin regeneration.
If you’re taking any medications, it’s always best to check with your doctor and let your tattoo artist know ahead of time. This way, you can avoid complications and ensure your tattoo turns out as planned!
How Showing Up to a Tattoo Appointment Sick Affects Your Tattoo Artist
When you show up sick to a tattoo appointment, it can jeopardize your artist’s health, disrupt their work schedule, and compromise the studio’s cleanliness and reputation. Here’s why it’s essential to consider the impact:
- Health Risks for the Artist: If your artist catches your illness, they may have to cancel appointments and lose valuable work opportunities. This not only affects their livelihood but also disrupts the schedules of other clients, creating a domino effect of inconvenience.
- Impact on Studio Integrity: Tattoo studios prioritize safety and cleanliness, and a sick client in the chair can jeopardize that reputation. Illnesses can easily spread to other clients or staff members, creating an unsafe environment and potentially leading to further cancellations.
If you’re feeling unwell, it’s essential to communicate with your artist before your appointment. Let them know your symptoms and allow them to decide whether rescheduling is the best option. Being upfront shows respect for your artist’s health, time, and the integrity of the studio. By rescheduling when you’re sick, you’re helping protect the health of your artist and everyone else in the studio while ensuring the safest, most professional environment for everyone involved.
How Long After Being Sick Can You Get a Tattoo?
You should wait at least 24–48 hours after minor illnesses like a cold and at least a week for more severe illnesses like COVID or strep throat. This ensures your body is strong enough to heal the tattoo effectively and avoid complications.
- Minor Illnesses (like colds or mild flu): Give yourself at least 24–48 hours after feeling fully recovered.
- Severe Illnesses (like COVID or strep throat): Allow at least a week for recovery, or consult your doctor for personalized advice.
- Signs You’re Ready: Your energy is back to normal, there are no lingering symptoms like coughing or congestion, and your skin is healthy and hydrated.
Waiting until you’re completely recovered ensures the best healing process and long-lasting tattoo results.
Precautions If You Do Get a Tattoo While Sick
If you decide to go through with your tattoo appointment while feeling unwell, it’s essential to take extra precautions to protect yourself and others.
- Communicate With Your Artist: Let your tattoo artist know you’re feeling under the weather and ensure they are comfortable proceeding with the appointment.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to support your body’s healing process and keep your skin hydrated.
- Practice Good Hygiene: Shower beforehand, wash your hands thoroughly, and avoid touching your face or the tattoo area during the session.
- Wear a Mask: Reduce the risk of spreading germs to your artist and others in the studio by wearing a mask throughout the appointment.
These steps can help minimize risks, but waiting until you’re fully recovered is always the safest choice.
How Sickness Can Alter Tattoo Aftercare
Being sick while healing a tattoo requires extra attention to tattoo aftercare to avoid complications.
- Stay Hydrated: Hydration is even more important when your body is fighting an illness and healing a tattoo at the same time.
- Moisturize More: Medications like antibiotics can dry out your skin, so you may need to apply tattoo-safe moisturizer more frequently.
- Boost Immunity: Support your healing with plenty of rest, a nutrient-rich diet, and good hygiene practices to help your body recover faster.
Taking these steps can help offset the added stress of being sick, but it’s always better to wait until you’re healthy to begin with.
Feeling Healthy? Get a Tattoo From Eternal Devotions
Getting a tattoo while sick introduces unnecessary risks to your health, the healing process, and the quality of your tattoo. It’s always better to wait until you’re fully recovered to ensure the best experience and results.
At Eternal Devotion Tattoos, we’re dedicated to creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for all our clients. By prioritizing health and open communication, we can work together to make sure your tattoo journey is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Contact us for your next tattoo.
Remember, patience pays off. Waiting until you’re healthy ensures a better healing process and a tattoo you’ll be proud of for years to come.