Can you get a tattoo while pregnant?

Is it okay to get a tattoo while pregnant?

To be extra careful, wait until after pregnancy.

"There's no data that tattoos during pregnancy are unsafe, but that doesn't mean they're completely safe," says Layan Alrahmani, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board . "The general consensus is to avoid getting a new tattoo until after delivery."

Here are some possible risks of getting a tattoo during pregnancy:

• Skin infection. A tattoo is a skin wound, and, according to one study , between 0.5 and 6% of people who get a tattoo get an infection afterwards. Some of these are local skin infections, and others are more serious. According to Dr. Alrahmani, it's hard to know how your body would respond to an infection from a tattoo during pregnancy, since your immune system is compromised when you're expecting.
• Disease. If your tattoo artist uses unclean needles, they could spread diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS . A rare but very dangerous bloodborne infection of the heart valves, infectious endocarditis, has also been associated with tattoos. And it's possible for you to pass these diseases along to your baby while you're pregnant.
• We don't know how tattoo dyes and inks – which enter the bloodstream – affect a developing baby. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that some inks contain pigments used in printer toners and in car paint. One study found that tattoo inks may contain impurities and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, and mercury – ingredients considered carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. The study also found bacteria in two of the 39 colorants examined. Small amounts of chemicals that might be harmless to an adult can have a much bigger impact on a tiny fetus.
• Because of skin changes during pregnancy (including stretching of your belly and breasts), a tattoo that you get while you're pregnant might look distorted after you deliver your baby. This is especially true if your tattoo is on your stomach, hips, or chest.
• Increased pain. Tattoos always involve at least a little discomfort, but when you're pregnant your skin may be more sensitive than usual.

Safety tips if you get a tattoo while pregnant

If you decide to get a tattoo while pregnant despite the risks, tell your tattoo artist that you're expecting (though they may decline to tattoo you until after pregnancy).

And take these steps to make sure your tattoo procedure is as safe as possible:

• Make sure your tattoo artist is registered and practices safe tattooing methods. Requirements vary from state to state, and not all states require a license. Check with your local health department to learn about local regulations.
• Visit ahead of time and check that the shop environment is clean. Artists should wash their hands and wear a new pair of gloves before starting.
• Make sure only new or sterilized equipment is used for tattooing. Inks should be sterile and unopened. Non-disposable equipment should be heat-sterilized using an autoclave.
• Ask your tattoo artist about the inks they use. There's no federal oversight and no government approval of tattoo inks, because they're considered cosmetic products. But you can ask about ingredients and check that the inks haven't been recalled .
• Take good care of your tattoo. Keep it clean and moisturized. Avoid sun exposure and swimming while it's healing. Follow any other directions you receive, and contact your provider if you think your tattoo may be infected. Signs of infection include redness or swelling after a few days, running a fever , and/or having a rash around the tattoo.

Will an existing tattoo cause problems during pregnancy?

Having a tattoo that's already healed shouldn't cause any problems for you or your baby during pregnancy.

You may find that your tattoo changes while you're pregnant, though. Chloasma (brown pigmentation that happens during pregnancy) can affect the color of a tattoo, for example. Weight gain and stretching of the skin can cause tattoos to become distorted, and stretch marks can also cause damage.

If the skin around your tattoo feels irritated, talk with your healthcare provider about treatment – and check out our article on safe skin care during pregnancy.

Can I get an epidural if I have a back tattoo?

Most doctors will give an epidural if you have a tattoo on your lower back, but they may decide not to if the tattoo is recent and still fresh or if there are any signs of infection.

There's no clear evidence against giving epidurals near tattoos. A study of 18 years of medical literature on the topic concluded that there have been no convincing complications reported after receiving an epidural through a tattoo.

As an extra precaution, your anesthesiologist may try to insert the needle in an area away from the tattoo design, if possible.

Can I have a tattoo removed during pregnancy?

It's best to avoid having a tattoo removed during pregnancy because of possible risks to your baby.

The most common way to remove tattoos is with laser treatments. The laser doesn't eliminate the ink in the tattoo. Instead, the laser light shatters the ink into particles that your body absorbs and flushes out.

It generally takes a series of treatments – with a six-week time period between sessions – to remove a tattoo. The six weeks allows for the wound to heal and the ink to be absorbed. During that time, your baby could be exposed to the ink that your body is absorbing.

Don't try tattoo removal creams or ointments, either. These haven't been proven effective or safe. They often contain strong acids that may cause burning, a rash, or a permanent scar. (And, due to having more sensitive skin, you're more likely to scar during pregnancy.)

Key Takeaways

• Getting a tattoo while pregnant isn't recommended. You could get a skin infection or disease, and you might expose your developing baby to unsafe dyes.

• If you still decide to get a tattoo while pregnant, make sure the tattoo artist practices safe methods with sterile equipment. Tell the artist you're pregnant.

• Existing tattoos shouldn't cause problems during pregnancy, and you can still get an epidural if you have a healed tattoo on your lower back.