Healing issue with Rapier 2

[CRose801]

This is the 3rd black and grey tattoo come back with this on it... all three have been long healed (over a month). These spots are not going away. It almost seems like a rash on and under the skin, its real dry and flaky but doesn't seem to hurt the client... 2 of the tattoos that came back with this were on large leg tattoos... 5 hour + sessions, the 3rd was on a stomach... Any idea on how to get rid of these spots and what is causing them?? This is the first time seeing this in 5 year of tattooing and they have all happened in the last 3 months or so...

[OwlsDen]

Could be your ink. Some blacks are known to grow mold. Give it a whiff, if it stinks then that could be your problem. I personally have never seen that before, but I don't think a machine would be the cause.

[gangstajay]

I see hair..could be hair bumps.. I doubt your machine is the issue.

[CRose801]

I see hair..could be hair bumps.. I doubt your machine is the issue.

This is right below a bellow button.. right below the picture is ridiculous thunderbush

[Bishopbyname]

It's definitely not the machine. I've NEVER seen a reaction that's purely been down to a machine before. Reactions are always down to cleanliness and hygiene. If you know that you tattoo clean then it's either the ink or the customer not looking after it properly. But because it's happened more than once i doubt it's the customer's fault. Which only leaves the ink as the suspect IMO

[Administrator]

Ask the client to tell you how they took care of the tattoo. What they put on it, how often etc. Its always best to not ask if they did what you told them cause 90% of the time they will lie and say yes. they could be allergic to the soap or lotion they are using. They could be a chronic carrier for mild forms of staph or other minor bacterial stuff. Check your bottles of pigment. Smell them for sure! Are these the only people coming back with this problem or have you put black in others that are having no issue?

[Inkslingers]

Ask the client to tell you how they took care of the tattoo. What they put on it, how often etc. Its always best to not ask if they did what you told them cause 90% of the time they will lie and say yes. they could be allergic to the soap or lotion they are using. They could be a chronic carrier for mild forms of staph or other minor bacterial stuff. Check your bottles of pigment. Smell them for sure! Are these the only people coming back with this problem or have you put black in others that are having no issue?

You may have missed this in the post, but this is something that has happened 3 times...so I'd tend to rule out the healing factor as been the cause (unless by way of total fluke they all healed their tattoos the same way). A staph could be the cause, but again, if 3 people have the same issue it would have most likely originated from the studio that the work was done. Something you may want to consider. Keep in mind that many forms of staph can live on a surface for weeks, even months in some cases.

[CRose801]

You may have missed this in the post, but this is something that has happened 3 times...so I'd tend to rule out the healing factor as been the cause (unless by way of total fluke they all healed their tattoos the same way). A staph could be the cause, but again, if 3 people have the same issue it would have most likely originated from the studio that the work was done. Something you may want to consider. Keep in mind that many forms of staph can live on a surface for weeks, even months in some cases.

That's why I'm trying to figure out whats going on and asking if anyone else has had a similar issue...I never said this was solely a problem with them healing, I'm aware the problem could be something I'm doing. Telling me that I could be transferring stapf doesn't help if this is not a staph infection. There are 3 different clients that could have 3 completely unrelated things going on. Why has it only happened to 3% of people I have used the same grey wash on? If it was staph shouldn't I be seeing it in color and line work and most likely other people in the shop? I'd bet my left nut that 99% of people who have healing issues get them from sleeping on dirty sheets with their dog and the skank they just picked up from a bar, not my immaculate studio. Sorry if this comes off defensive but I'm looking for things I can look for, like stanky greywash, and what I can do to help my clients that got it...not to hear I'm transferring staph with no evidence that's what it is...

[Administrator]

I agree 100% that its not the machine... I may have left the tops open on the bottles once or twice... I bought a new set of greywash (fusion) just the other day so I can't smell the old bottles but I have a feeling that could of been an issue. I smelled the new bottles and one of them does have a little vinegar smell. We smelled some of the other fusion greywash sets and a couple bottles smelled horrible, like rotten lunch meat... those bottles were tossed. I do a ton of black and grey and Ive only seen the problem 3 times, in my 3 favorites, only in the greywash never in the black. Is there anything topical I can recommend using? The first guy I saw this in was a sewer worker who was 50 years old, 300 lbs, 6'6 and was later told diabetic. I tried to get him to go to the Dr. for months and he wouldn't... he finally did and the Dr. gave him a name for what he had, but of course he cant remember...

Diabetic will open them up to so much!

This is right below a bellow button.. right below the picture is ridiculous thunderbush

Could also be a reaction to his own button on his pants if he has a metal or polymer allergy. My mom has horrible skin conditions on her hands brought on from working as a cleaning lady for almost 40 years she has to drive with gloves one cause she is allergic to the inside of her car.

[Administrator]

And for the record anyone who has taken a BBP class that talks about staph realize there are many different kinds of staph bacteria. Some very minor that are just a nuisance and others that will kill you. You may still want your client to talk to their Dr just in case.