A client walks in, cool as a cucumber. Settles in, we prep the area, and I casually ask: "You on any medication?" He thinks for a second. "Aspirin. Daily. For my heart."
I packed up the gear. We had to reschedule.
He didn't get it. He'd been on aspirin for years, felt fine. Honestly, I should've asked when he booked, not when he walked in. I noted that down. But so should he — he shouldn't have waited for me to ask.
⚠️ Important: I'm a tattoo artist, not a doctor. This article is based on what I've seen in the studio and data from drug references and health authorities. It doesn't replace a medical consultation. If you're on medication, talk to your doctor AND your tattoo artist before your session.
Why Some Medications Cause Issues
Three main ways a medication can mess with a tattoo:
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Blood thinning — anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs slow down clotting. During a session, that means heavier bleeding. The ink might not take well, and your artist works in less-than-ideal conditions.
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Slower healing — corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and some long-term treatments stop your skin from repairing itself properly. A tattoo that normally heals in 3 weeks could take 6 or 8.
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Higher infection risk — if your immune system is compromised (immunosuppressants, chemo, certain autoimmune conditions), the risk of post-tattoo infection goes up.
The Traffic Light System
Here's how we sort situations at the studio. Not medical advice — just what we see and how we adapt.
🟢 Green Light
You can get tattooed without special precautions. Let your artist know, but it doesn't change the session.
- Most antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs)
- Most contraceptives (pill, implant, IUD)
- Antihistamines (allergy meds)
- Thyroid medication (levothyroxine and similar)
- Statins (cholesterol meds)
- Blood pressure meds (unless they include anticoagulants)
🟡 Orange Light
You can get tattooed, but with adjustments. You must tell your artist. The session might be modified — shorter, on less vascularized areas, with reinforced aftercare.
| Medication | What We Adjust |
|---|---|
| Anticoagulants (Eliquis, warfarin, Coumadin) | Shorter session, less saturation, closer bleeding monitoring |
| Antiplatelet drugs (long-term aspirin, clopidogrel/Plavix) | Same as anticoagulants. Do NOT stop without medical advice |
| Anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, ketoprofen) | Avoid 24h before the session (unless prescribed otherwise) |
| Corticosteroids (prednisone, long-term cortisone) | Slower healing — plan extended aftercare |
| Diabetes meds (insulin, metformin) | Eat well before the session. Elevate the area after. Watch healing |
🔴 Red Light
You need medical clearance first. Without a doctor's okay, we don't tattoo.
- Roaccutane (isotretinoin) — severe acne treatment. It weakens the skin and massively slows healing. Dermatologists recommend waiting 6 to 12 months after stopping.
- Immunosuppressants (post-transplant, autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) — infection risk is too high without medical sign-off.
- Active chemotherapy — weakened immune system, low platelets, bleeding and infection risks.
- High-dose anticoagulants (AVK, heparin) — if your dose is high, the bleeding risk can be too significant.
Being in this category doesn't mean you'll never get tattooed. But it requires coordination between your doctor and your artist. We can do that. We've done it before.
What To Do If You're On Medication
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Tell your artist BEFORE you book. Not when you arrive. A message, a call, an email: "I'm on X, is that okay?" We'll answer. We won't judge. We'll thank you.
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Never stop your meds on your own. If your doctor prescribed an anticoagulant, there's a reason. Don't stop for a tattoo. We adapt the session. That's our job.
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If you're in the orange zone, send us the exact med name + dosage. Some doses are fine, some aren't. The prescribing doctor can give us written clearance if needed.
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If you're in the red zone, get written approval from your doctor. We can talk to them if needed. We've done this before.
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Plan for slower healing if you're on corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. Keep it hydrated, protected, monitored.
Myth: "Alcohol Disinfects"
Seen this way too many times. No.
Alcohol (beer, wine, spirits) doesn't disinfect anything. It thins your blood (like a mild anticoagulant), dilates your vessels, dehydrates your skin, and lowers your pain threshold.
People who drink before a session "for courage" bleed more, feel more pain, and heal worse.
If you want to disinfect your tattoo, use mild soap and clean water. That's it.
💡 Key Takeaways
- Most medications are fine with tattooing. The important thing is to tell us.
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs: we adapt the session, you don't stop them.
- Roaccutane: wait 6 to 12 months after stopping.
- When in doubt, your doctor + your artist = the right team to decide.
- Alcohol before a session? Worst idea.
- Also check our article on tattoo ink allergies.
Sources
- Vidal.fr — Drug dictionary, active substance profiles
- ANSM (French National Agency for Drug Safety) — Tattoo and medication recommendations
- HAS (French Health Authority) — Anticoagulant patient management guidelines
- Journal of Dermatological Treatment (2018) — Isotretinoin and tattooing: recommendations
- Santé Publique France — Tattoo and infection risk: professional guidelines
Not sure about your meds? Write to us before booking. We'll answer and we'll guide you.
