With tattoos becoming more and more popular, many people in their late teens or early twenties are running into the issue of wanting to get a tattoo but having an acne breakout.  While the back and shoulders are very popular places to get tattoos, they are also very common places for acne to develop.  Just because you have had acne on your shoulder and/or back in the past doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a tattoo there, but most tattoo artists would strongly advise you not to get a tattoo in an area that is currently broken out.  The reason being is simple: acne is infected oil below the skin and a tattoo needle could easily pop this “pocket” of oil, which in turn causes it to fill with ink from the needle and spread inside the pore.  This means the ink could potential settle in there and become permanently colored.  This would ruin any tattoo you had planned and cost thousands of dollars worth of surgery to remove.

When it comes to getting a tattoo with acne it is best to wait until the acne clears up and then get the tattoo.  Doing it while you currently have a breakout is too risky because it can very easily ruin the tattoo and your skin.