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Two years ago, my best friend popped by one afternoon with what he said was "a big surprise." With no idea what he could possibly be bringing, I told my wife to make sure our little boy was holding her hand - because it very well could be anything from a tax refund check to a live tiger.

As it turns out, about a week earlier, he had finally committed to what he had been bragging that he would do for years - get a tattoo. He dropped by early - still in a shirt that looked as if he had slept in it.

But when he rolled up his sleeve to show off his new "baby," he was just as surprised as I was.

What lay beneath his sleeve was not the flawless outline of the state of Texas (colored in with the state flag) that he had always described. Instead, it was puffy, bumpy and much blotchier red than any artist would ever allow. His eyes locked on the ink, and he reacted loudly.

After warning him to watch his mouth around my two year old, I looked up tattoo reactions on the Internet via Google. From all the sources we saw, he was having an allergic reaction to the tattoo.

His doctor told him he was lucky. His reaction flared up in less than a week. Most allergic reactions will not manifest themselves until weeks, months, or even years down the road. That's what makes tattoo ink allergies so tricky, he said. Since the reaction can lay dormant for years, an allergy test before getting inked up is practically useless.

If you've had a bad reaction to certain types of jewelry, it's more likely that you will have a similar problem with tattoo ink, since both often contain such elements as nickel and cadmium.

For those considering a tattoo - or proud new ink wearers, here are the signs that you're having an allergic reaction to a tattoo.

1. Itching
2. Swollen, red area
3. Bumps or rash

My buddy's reaction was severe but manageable. His doctor told him that living in South Texas was not helpful. Hotter days cause more severe reactions.

To treat his tattoo, he was given hydrocortisone and was told to use a cold compress. Within another week, he was proudly showing off his new art once again. Had it not cleared up, his doctor recommended a visit to a dermatologist for a steroid treatment.

Learn more about this author, Todd Christian.
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