Tattoo dyes — especially red dye — can cause allergic skin reactions, resulting in an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This may occur even years after you get the tattoo.

Topical anesthetics such as lidocaine are only marginally effective and can sensitize the skin-meaning the itching could ultimately get worse.

Skin allergies are often manifested in the local skin itching, burning, from erythema, peeling, or from papules, vesicles, and purulent discharge, severe cases, the formation of ulcers.