Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Does Anyone Know If Tatoo Ink Is Gluten Free ?

rlemmon

By rlemmon
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

rlemmon Apprentice
rlemmon
Posted

I am thinking abnout getting one. Anyone know if the is gluten in the ink ? I googled it but nothing came up.

thanks

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

Unless you're allergic to wheat on your skin (ie: allergist skin scratch testing), it shouldn't matter.

When you get a tattoo, the metal-based ink goes between the layers of skin and stays there. Even if the ink did have gluten, and somehow made it into your bloodstream, you shouldn't have any ill effects. Gluten actually has to be ingested for a celiac to have a gluten reaction (I know there are people that have other reactions to gluten on their skin or wherever, but to have a celiac reaction, you have to ingest it. It has to get to your intestines)

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

I know a lot about tattoos because when I was 13, I worked in a tattoo shop everyday afterschool, babysitting the owner's son. It was a strange work situation, but I learned A LOT about tatooing and piercing. I got my own tattoo from that same lady when I was 17. Here are things to look for:

-Make sure they use an autoclave to sterilize the tattoo guns and other metal equipment. They should never reuse needles, make sure you see new, sterile ones come out of the package.

-Ask to see photos of the artist's work, and make sure they are licensed and experienced. Often, they will have done tattoos on themselves or others in the shop, ask to see these. If the tattoo was done poorly, (ie: too deep or too shallow) time will show that. Tats that are lighter in color than they should be were too shallow, ones in which the color bleeds (ie: starts looking fuzzy and like a bruise) the color was too deep. Ask for reccomendations, and look them up at the better business bureau.

-Don't make a rash decision, this will be on your body FOREVER! Also, tats require mantinence to stay looking good! Sun will damage the look of a tattoo, so always use sunscreen, at least on your tattoo (though you should everywhere). You will probably need to have the tat touched up, because time and sun tend to fade tattoos, in 5-10 years.

-Tats near bones (like ankle or hip) hurt the most to have done. On the back also hurts a lot, because you have major nerves under the skin. Obviously sensitive places like the inside of your elbow or the inside of your list hurt a lot as well. Outlining in black hurts more than filling in with color, though it's not that bad. Never drink or take asprin or ibuprofin before getting a tat, shops can't legally ink you if you've been drinking, and both alcohol and asprin and ibuprofin will make you bleed more. Not to mention being chemically altered before permanantly altering your body is stupid. Tylenol 30 mins to an hour before getting your tattoo will help it not hurt as much and will not make you bleed more.

-Different shops say different things about aftercare, but in the shop I worked in you bandage it for a few hours and keep it moist with triple antibiotic ointment (none of those expensive aftercare lotions at the shop). It's important to keep your healing tattoo from drying out, because it can make the color uneven and gross looking.

-Finally, women who plan on ever having kids should not get tats on their hip or anywhere on their stomach or lower breast. Cute as the butterfly on your hip may be at 22, once you have kids it's going to turn into a technicolor bruise.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

hubby that has 47 tats, says that tattoo ink is just pigment usually chemically engineered to be closest to properties of skin pigment, and that there is no reason for gluten to be in it. That it is more chemical than anything.

I have a huge dragon tat on my back that wasn't done that well and is starting to look bad... I've been considering having it redone.

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

It's good to know that it's safe. I have toyed with the idea for a few years now of getting a Claddagh ring tatooed around my ankle.... or perhaps on the small of my back. But I keep chickening out.......

I'm such a wuss........ <_<

Hugs.

Karen

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Ha Karen--me too--I would be petrified to get a tatoo! But then again, I scare easily :ph34r:

Rusla Enthusiast
Rusla
Posted

I have drawn up an ice dragon holding a pent that I want to have done on my leg but that would hurt too much. So I may have it done on my hip when I shrink more.

pinkpei77 Contributor
pinkpei77
Posted

my fiance is a tattoo artist and said he doesnt see how they could have any gluten in them and the general public wont be able to get ingriedient lists from companies but he can because hes liscensed so hes going to work on finding out.

but like someone else said it wouldnt be digested anyways,

and for those of you thinking about it.. just do it!!!

im completly sleeved and have my feet , calves , chest and back done and they were all completly worth it.

you feel so amazing once youve done it!

and as far as pain goes , i dont think they hurt at all.. just some are more annoying.. sort of like a little sunburn.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

Mine is a tribal swirly design thingy with a blue butterfly over it on the small of my back. It's clearly an "I was 17" tattoo, and I think I would hate it if I didn't need whiplash and a full length mirror to see it :P

Still looks good, never sees sunlight, and the artist was fantastic! :D

kabowman Explorer
kabowman
Posted

I love mine (3) and just had a large tribal with feathers done on my hip (I am done with kids). My next will be on my lower back and I think I have gotten my husband of 5 years finally interested in getting his own.

Lollie Enthusiast
Lollie
Posted

I love mine! I got it over 10 years ago but it still looks great! I have a birth mark on my hip. So I had a sunflower designed, that used the birth mark as it's center! I love it still! I'm considering getting another on the small of my back to represent life and as an honor to my dad that died last Sept.....

Good luck all!

Lollie

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

funny that this came up. i have wanted a tattoo for awhile, and after loving one design for awhile now, i am set on my decision. i was going to look into the gluten-thing, but i'm glad it will be safe.

yay!

Guest nini
Guest nini
Posted

the one that I want to get in the small of my back is the symbol of the "healing hand" which is a hand with a swirl in the middle, surrounded by a tribal sun design... now I just have to come up with the money!

gabrielle Contributor
gabrielle
Posted

I have a Celtic cross on the small of my back- I like it, but I got it when I was 18 and trying to rebel...ChelsE is right, make sure you really like what you are putting on yourself since it will be there forever!!

ChelsE I wanted to ask you a question... my boyfriend has a tattoo and sometimes it gets raised/ puffy and itchy. He's had it for like 6 years- isn't that kind of odd??? Hmm... I thought maybe because you had so much info about tattoos you might know why this happens. :blink: Thanks!!

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted
the one that I want to get in the small of my back is the symbol of the "healing hand" which is a hand with a swirl in the middle, surrounded by a tribal sun design... now I just have to come up with the money!

do you have a picture? i would love to see your idea :)

rlemmon Apprentice
rlemmon
Posted
  • Author

Wow, Thanks so much for the info guys. Now all I have to do is bite the bullit B)

cgilsing Enthusiast
cgilsing
Posted

I have one, that I've had for about 7 years. It looks great! But sometimes, especially right after I shower, it gets a little puffed up and itches! Does anybody else have that happen? It seems to go away right away and has never caused any problems (and I have sensitive skin so I always attributed it to that), but it just seems unusal. Especially for a tatoo that I've had for 7 years!!

whitball Explorer
whitball
Posted
I am thinking abnout getting one. Anyone know if the is gluten in the ink ? I googled it but nothing came up.

thanks

Well, I didn't even consider that the ink would be gluten free or not. But I did get one 2 weeks ago. I'm 45 and my 18 year old son asked if we could get one together. Awesome bonding for us. It hurt a bit, but well worth it. Go for it!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,398
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Megannnnn
    Newest Member
    Megannnnn
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
    • Mmoc
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By Mmoc · Posted

      Thank you kindly for your response. I have since gotten the other type of bloods done and am awaiting results. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.