Tattoo during pregnancy

Tattooing during pregnancy – is it safe?

Tattooing is gaining popularity in Poland, especially among young people. They want to mark their individuality in this way or capture events or symbols important to them on their skin. However, many women wonder whether it is safe to get a tattoo during pregnancy or when trying to have a baby. Despite professional tattoo studios’ adherence to hygienic practices during tattooing, as well as testing inks for safe use, the practice is not safe for pregnancy. First of all, the inks used in tattooing have not been tested for safety in pregnant women. For this reason, it is not known exactly what effect they could have on the developing fetus and which moment during the pregnancy would be potentially safest. What’s more, a pregnant woman’s skin, like her entire body, changes during those nine months. It is more delicate and susceptible to damage, so performing such an invasive procedure as tattooing could lead to a serious skin reaction or local infection due to the lowered immunity at the time. An additional problem is also pain, which should be avoided by a pregnant woman and may even contribute to the induction of preterm labor.

It is worth remembering that tattooing is a process in which there is a break in the continuity of tissue and contact of blood with the needle and ink. If proper care and sufficient hygiene are not taken, transmission of pathogens that cause hepatitis B and C and even HIV can occur. These are chronic and, in the case of HIV, incurable diseases that can permanently disrupt fetal development, lead to miscarriage or congenital infection in the newborn. For this reason, the decision to get a tattoo is worth postponing until after the pregnancy is complete.

How to take care of a tattoo during pregnancy?

If the tattoo was performed before pregnancy and there was no bloodborne transmission of pathogens, it poses no risk to the developing fetus. The rules for its care also do not change significantly compared to before pregnancy, so it is worth remembering to:

• Lubricate the tattoo with a high sunscreen or protect it from the sun’s rays
• Moisturize the skin making sure to use products that have been tested and do not cause allergic reactions
• Follow the recommendations of your tattoo artist who performed the tattoo
• Take care of proper hydration