Understanding Tattoo Flu: What It Is and How to Manage It
What is tattoo flu?
Tattoo flu is simply the term for feeling unwell after getting a tattoo. This doesn't happen to everyone or with every tattoo session. When you undergo tattooing, your body experiences prolonged pain (sessions can range from 3-7 hours for many people), causing it to utilize all available resources to cope, which ultimately affects your immune system.
The pain from repeated needle punctures increases adrenaline in your system. Eventually, your immune system identifies this process as a potential threat and dispatches white blood cells (leukocytes) to fight possible infection. As leukocyte counts rise in your system, you may experience nausea, fever, or chills – hence the term "tattoo flu."
The pain from repeated needle punctures increases adrenaline in your system. Eventually, your immune system identifies this process as a potential threat and dispatches white blood cells (leukocytes) to fight possible infection. As leukocyte counts rise in your system, you may experience nausea, fever, or chills – hence the term "tattoo flu."
APRIL 2025
Will it happen to you?
It's impossible to predict since every person's body and immune system responds differently. However, you can significantly reduce your chances by taking a few precautions:
- Get a full night's sleep before your appointment
- Enjoy a substantial, healthy breakfast with a good balance of carbohydrates and proteins
- Consider taking paracetamol before your session (only if you're NOT allergic to it), as it helps your body manage inflammation and pain
- Avoid alcohol the night before – it thins your blood, increases leukocyte count, and can negatively impact tattoo healing
Enjoy a substantial, healthy breakfast with a good balance of carbohydrates and proteins
Always advise your doctor about medicine you want to take!
Royalty free Images from dreamstime.com
Royalty free Images from dreamstime.com
How long does tattoo flu last?
Symptoms typically last from a few hours up to a couple of days. If they persist longer, it's unusual and could indicate that your immune system was already compromised before your tattoo session. You might feel quite weakened the following day, experience headaches, or in some cases, even have diarrhea.
Symptoms typically last from a few hours up to a couple of days. If they persist longer, it's unusual and could indicate that your immune system was already compromised before your tattoo session. You might feel quite weakened the following day, experience headaches, or in some cases, even have diarrhea.
Important: Distinguishing tattoo flu from infection
Be careful not to confuse tattoo infection with tattoo flu.
Infection symptoms include:
Infection symptoms include:
- Skin on and around your tattoo feeling unusually hot the next day and after
- Extreme sensitivity to touch
- Tattoo discolouration or pus
April 2025
Conclusion
From my own experience tattoo flu does not happen to every client and typically resolves with rest, nutritious meals, and over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol.
Please consult your doctor if you're unsure whether you can safely take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Happy inking!
#tattooflu
Please consult your doctor if you're unsure whether you can safely take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Happy inking!
#tattooflu
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