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Gave myself a stick and poke on my ankle, instantly regretted it
I was in my bathroom last Saturday night, thought I was being careful with a sterile needle and India ink. Halfway through the second line, I sneezed and the needle dragged a good inch across my skin, making this ugly jagged scar. I panicked, wiped it clean with alcohol, and now I've got this weird pink mark that looks like a lightning bolt. Anyone else ever mess up a DIY tattoo and have to figure out how to let it heal without it looking terrible?
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rileygarcia2mo ago
Hold up real quick, gotta say something. The pink mark you're describing is probably just irritation from the alcohol and the wound, not like a permanent scar or some crazy keloid situation yet. India ink isn't really designed for skin, it can contain all sorts of stuff that might cause a bad reaction or fade weird over time. I'd honestly recommend just keeping it super clean with mild soap and water and putting some unscented lotion on it, don't slap any more alcohol on there or you'll mess up the healing process. That lightning bolt shape might actually turn out kinda cool if it heals right, but you gotta let your skin do its thing without panicking and scrubbing it. Give it a few weeks and see what happens, if it still looks angry or gets infected then maybe see a doctor but for now just chill and let it settle down.
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aaronsullivan2mo ago
Respectfully got to disagree a bit here. India ink has been used for stick and pokes for decades and plenty of people come out fine if it's done clean. The pink is probably just the skin freaking out from the alcohol scrub more than the ink itself.
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gibson.morgan2mo ago
Man, that whole "it's been used for decades" argument always gets me. Like yeah people used lead paint for centuries too but we know better now. The thing with India ink is it's not sterile and it can have stuff in it that your body just doesn't like over time. I had a friend who used it for a little stick and poke in high school and it healed fine at first but then got all weird and patchy a year later. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather spend a few bucks on proper tattoo ink than gamble with something meant for calligraphy.
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