(NEXSTAR) – If you’re planning to get some new ink, be prepared for the possibility of experiencing what’s known as the “tattoo flu.”
This term is used by individuals who have felt under the weather after getting a large or time-consuming tattoo. The condition isn’t caused by a virus or infection linked to the tattooing process, but rather by your body’s immune system reacting to what it perceives as trauma.
“This definitely occurs,” says Dr. Mary Lupo, a board-certified dermatologist and adjunct faculty member at Tulane University. “It’s an immune response that varies based on personal sensitivity. The larger the tattoo, the more the body perceives it as an assault. Subsequent tattoos might increase your sensitivity because the body remembers the first experience.”
In Brooklyn, Timothy Lebron of Bodiesneedrest and HERE tattoo parlour notes that even those getting their first tattoos can experience symptoms of the tattoo flu.
But Timothy Lebron, of Bodiesneedrest and the HERE tattoo parlour in Brooklyn, says he’s seen lots of first-timers come down with tattoo flu as well.
“Plenty of people get hit with that foggy, feverish feeling after a tattoo,” he said. “Your immune system kicks in, inflammation rises, your stress hormones spike and then crash. … It’s like the day after a bad hangover.”
Those who claim they’ve suffered from the tattoo flu report symptoms including everything from body aches and fever to chills or nausea.
“[I’m] feeling so nauseous, hot and exhausted,” one Reddit user said in a recent post, while another said she experienced “fever and horrible cold chills” and “felt like I got hit by a truck.”
Jeff Garnett, the co-founder of InkLess Tattoo Removal in New York City, told Nexstar he once came down with the tattoo flu after two 10-hour sessions in 2020 — describing it as a natural reaction to a “metal needle going into your skin thousands of times.”
Garnett, however, believes that some people who come down with the “tattoo flu” after a lengthy session are actually just sick with common viruses. Their immune systems are busy trying to heal their tattoos, he theorizes, leaving them more susceptible to disease.
“Your body can only handle so much,” he said.
For these reasons, Garnett said he refrains from scheduling extended sessions with clients who want their tattoos removed, as laser therapy can be traumatic too.
“There is a limit to how much we do in one sitting,” he said. “We don’t want to overwhelm your immune system. You have to do it in manageable pieces.”
As for mitigating the effects, Garnett suggests staying hydrated throughout the process (tattooing or tattoo removal), while Lebron recommends eating a “good meal” and consuming beverages or foods with higher levels of electrolytes. Lupo said patients might also want to take an anti-inflammatory afterwards.
“Most of the time, people sort of treat it symptomatically and deal with it,” she said.
“If it hits you, don’t panic,” Lebron added. “Rest. Drink water. Eat something with salt and carbs. Take a warm shower. You’ll usually feel fine by the next day.”
Then again, some folks are lucky enough to avoid the tattoo flu altogether — no matter how many times they’ve been inked.
“I didn’t even know tattoo flu was a thing lmao and I’m covered in them,” on TikTok user wrote in response to a video about the phenomenon.
