Tattoo during pregnancy

Tattooing during pregnancy – is it safe?

Tattooing is becoming more and more popular, especially among young people. In this way, they want to mark their individuality or preserve events or symbols that are important to them on their skin. However, many women wonder if tattooing is safe during pregnancy or when trying to have a baby. Although professional tattoo studios follow the hygiene rules when tattooing and test the inks to make sure they are safe, tattooing during pregnancy is not safe. First of all, the inks used in tattooing have not been tested for their safety for pregnant women. Therefore, it is not known exactly what effects they might have on a developing fetus and what time during pregnancy might be the safest. In addition, a pregnant woman’s skin, like her entire body, changes during these nine months. It is more sensitive and susceptible to damage, so a procedure as invasive as tattooing could lead to a serious skin reaction or local infection because the immune system is reduced during this time. There is also the problem of pain, which should be avoided by the pregnant woman and can even contribute to the induction of premature labor.

It should be remembered that tattooing is a process in which the continuity of the tissue is broken and blood comes into contact with the needle and ink. If proper care and sufficient hygiene rules are not observed, the transmission of pathogens of hepatitis B and C and even HIV may occur. These are chronic and, in the case of HIV, incurable diseases that can permanently affect the development of the fetus, cause miscarriages or congenital infections in the newborn. For this reason, it is advisable to postpone the decision to get a tattoo until the end of pregnancy.

How to take care of a tattoo during pregnancy?

If the tattoo was done before pregnancy and no pathogens were transmitted through the blood, it does not pose a risk to the developing fetus. The rules for care also do not change significantly compared to before pregnancy, so it is worth remembering:

• Cream the tattoo with a high sunscreen or protect it from sun exposure
• Moisturize the skin using products that have been tested and do not cause allergic reactions
• Follow the recommendations of your tattoo artist who did the tattooing
• Ensure sufficient fluid intake