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Crazy Question

roxie

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roxie Contributor
roxie
Posted

Hey! Ok, this is a crazy question, and I didn't even know what section to put it under. I am wondering if it is safe for a person with Celiac Disease (and other food allergies) to get a tattoo. I got my first tattoo over a year ago, and it was the SAME time I started getting so SICK. It had to have been a coincidence, right????? Does anyone know anything about this???

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Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Who knows what exactly is in those dyes. It is always risky to get a tattoo, as the dye won't just stay in the spot they put it, but goes into your blood stream. The proof is, that when you get a blue tattoo for instance, the glands which are next to it (if you have it on your arm, it would be the glands in your armpit) will turn blue as well. Personally, I wouldn't like that idea.

I think that it may not have been a coincidence that you got celiac disease after getting your tattoo. Maybe that was the last straw needed to switch on your celiac disease genes.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

I have multiple tatoos, my last one I was really sick when I got it and it didn't make me any worse. The only time I had any kind of reaction was when an artist had a puppy in the room as I am allergic to dogs. I would check the ingredients of any ink, start small and in an easily covered spot, remember they should be considered permanent, and make sure the ointment that you use afterwards is gluten free.

Use great care in design selection and make sure the artist has a good business that is clean. I did reception work once for an artist can't say how many times folks came in wanting names removed which of course you need a surgeon to do. I myself have also had bad work that needed a $300 cover up. So if you do decide to tattoo put a great deal of thought into it first. Also avoid red inks, those are the most likely to give an allergic reaction, unless things have changed in the last 7 years or so.

msmini14 Enthusiast
msmini14
Posted

How funny you ask, I was wondering about this too. I have an appointment tomorrow at 4 and started to question if it is gluten-free, lol.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Just one additional note on the inks, I have DH and have had it since childhood. I am virtually positive that all the inks that were used on me were safe mainly because if they weren't I would have had a real mess from the resulting blisters. DO NOT take this to mean I am saying all inks are safe, have your artist check them to be sure. If you have DH also be sure to bring in a nice box of nonpowdered gloves for the artist to use. The ones they have might also be a risk.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

Tattoos do NOT have gluten in them.

Make sure you check the salves they give you after - mine had wheat germ oil in it, so I used Vitamin E instead (it works just as well).

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
Tattoos do NOT have gluten in them.

Make sure you check the salves they give you after - mine had wheat germ oil in it, so I used Vitamin E instead (it works just as well).

Be really careful if you decide to use Vitamin E, check what it is derived from as it will be either soy or wheat unless it is chemically formed for which will have D- before the tocepheral. Using vitamin E from wheat germ oil could result in a reaction. Polysporin is for sure gluten-free and does not have any added ingredients that we would react to. I use that instead of neosporin which may have wheat germ oil added in the form of vit E.

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roxie Contributor
roxie
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for all the info!

roxie Contributor
roxie
Posted
  • Author

msmini14 - You wrote and said you had an appointment to get a tattoo. Did you get it, and did you have any reactions? Just curious.

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    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

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    • rei.b
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By rei.b · Posted

      Okay well the info about TTG-A actually makes a lot of sense and I wish the PA had explained that to me. But yes, I would assume I would have intestinal damage from eating a lot of gluten for 32 years while having all these symptoms. As far as avoiding gluten foods - I was definitely not doing that. Bread, pasta, quesadillas (with flour tortillas) and crackers are my 4 favorite foods and I ate at least one of those things multiple times a day e.g. breakfast with eggs and toast, a cheese quesadilla for lunch, and pasta for dinner, and crackers and cheese as a before bed snack. I'm not even kidding.  I'm not really big on sugar, so I don't really do sweets. I don't have any of those conditions.  I am not sure if I have the genes or not. When the geneticist did my genetic testing for EDS this year, I didn't think to ask for him to request the celiac genes so they didn't test for them, unfortunately.  I guess another expectation I had is  that if gluten was the issue, the gluten-free diet would make me feel better, and I'm 3 months in and that hasn't been the case. I am being very careful and reading every label because I didn't want to screw this up and have to do gluten-free for longer than necessary if I end up not having celiac. I'm literally checking everything, even tea and anything else prepacked like caramel dip. Honestly its making me anxious 😅
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      High DGP-A with normal IGA

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      I was tested for celiac at the same time, so I wasn't taking naltrexone yet. I say that, because I don't. The endoscopy showed some mild inflammation but was inconclusive as to celiac disease. They took several biopsies and that's all that was shown. I was not given a Marsh score.
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