Acne Medications: You may not think of acne as being a major medical condition—it isn’t. But if you’re taking Accutane (or any other Tetracycline-related medication), or any other prescription drug for acne, you do not want to get tattooed. Prescription drugs for acne can cause skin to be hyper-sensitive and getting a tattoo can be disastrous and lead to severe pain and scarring.
Antibiotics: Disclose all antibiotics to your tattoo artist, and discuss whether or not it’s safe to proceed. Anecdotally, some people have reported unusual skin reactions to tattoos when they were on antibiotics.
Blood Thinners: If you are taking any kind of medication to thin your blood, you’ll want to inform your artist beforehand and also consult your doctor. Depending on the reason you’re taking the medication, it might not be wise to get tattooed, or it might just require shorter sessions.
Anti-Rejection Drugs: If you have had an organ transplant and/or are on anti-rejection medication, getting a tattoo might not be in your best interest. Consult with your doctor first to determine if your overall health is strong enough to withstand the stress of getting tattooed and if your medications may interfere with the healing process.