Tattoos and an MRI scan - is there anything to worry about?

Some of us will be unfortunate enough to need an MRI at some point in our lives. We say unfortunate because if you need an MRI, that means something has gone very wrong somewhere.

If you do need one and have a tattoo, you may have heard some rumours about how the 2 things can interact with one another. But are these just rumours or is there a real possibility that an MRI can affect a tattoo?

What’s an MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and it’s the magnetic part that we’re worried about.

The force is so strong that even the “weakest” machine used is 10,000 times the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field. Small metal objects like paper clips or keys can become deadly projectiles when pulled through the air.

So what’s this have to do with tattoos? Well, back in the day, tattoo ink was completely unregulated, and could contain pretty much anything - even metal.

I have metal in my tattoo?!

No, you don’t. Well, probably not.

Because tattoo ink was unregulated (and still is to a high degree), any tattoos over, say 25 years old may contain some metallic fragments, or if you got your tattoo in some dodgy studio in Thailand you might be a little bit worried.

Some MRI patients who have had tattoos that dated back far enough have reported pain during MRI scans, ranging from slight to severe.

There are a few reasons this could be. One theory is that the magnetic force pulls on the metallic fragments so violently that it causes a burning sensation in the location of the tattoo, while another is that the pain is caused by built up friction between the particles.

Even if there is no pain at all, these fragments can cause distortions (called artifacts) in the results, rendering them useless.

How do I know if my tattoo has metal in it?

Honestly, you can't. But if you got your ink within the past 20 years of from a reputable studio, you can be pretty sure it's safe.

Even if you got a tattoo over 25 years ago, it doesn’t mean the ink contains metal. And even if it did, that doesn't always mean you'll have a problem with an MRI. There’s always alternatives to an MRI scan, people with pacemakers and metal implants also can’t use them, so chat to your doctor if you’re worried.

Why you should probably avoid black henna tattoos

For anyone not wanting to commit to the permanence of a real tattoo, a henna tattoo is a great way to test the water.

Henna tattoos usually last between 2 -4 weeks, gradually fading as time passes, leaving no permanent marks.

But beware! Black Henna is something else entirely, and can damage your skin, leaving you permanently scarred.

What is Henna?

The Henna tattoo dye is created from a substance which comes from the lawsonia Inermis plant. Historically, henna was used in the Arabian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent, Near and Middle East, Carthage, other parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

The plant is crushed into a powder which is turned into a paste. This paste is then added to the skin in a pattern, left until it hardens, then washed off.

Natural henna dye leaves behind a burnt orange or brown stain which will begin to fade after about a week.

What is Black Henna?

Many people don’t like the orange/brown stain real henna leaves, and want a more “realistic” tattoo, and that’s where black henna comes in.

Black henna, or kali mehndi as it’s sometimes known, is henna that that has been mixed with paraphenylenediamine (PPD for short) a transdermal toxin which is mainly used as a hair dye.

In some cases this so-called henna doesn't even contain any henna at all, and PPD was never intended to be use in tattoos. When it mixes with oxygen it can cause severe allergic reactions, chemically burning the skin and leaving the victim (usually a teenager) with permanent scars.

PPD is also associated with bladder and blood cancers, liver failure, and fetal harm. It is currently illegal for use on skin in many countries.

Come see us for a real tattoo

Henna tattoos are fine if you want to try out a design or see how you feel about having a tattoo, but for the real thing, come see us here at Sunset Studio.

We have the experience and the staff to give you a beautiful, safe tattoo in our hygienic Auckland studio.

Give us a call today, pop in, or drop us an email with any questions you may have.

8 of the best tattoo ideas for backpackers

Backpacking of one of life’s great joys and privileges, and for those who do spent time travelling to far off places getting into adventures, it’s nice to get a memento of that care-free time.

Here are some tattoo ideas for backpackers to consider if they want to take something special home.

A map of the world

This is a great idea if you want to spend years travelling the world, instead of simply a gap year. Fill in the countries you make it to, and have it as a reminder that there’s still plenty to see and do!

Leaving on a jet plane

A minimalist tattoo of your adventures can be summed up in one simple image; a plane.

A compass

A long-held symbol of travel, a compass is a great way to remember who you are at heart, and always find your way home.

Passport stamps

Collecting passport stamps is a great way to show which counties you’ve been to, but also a fantastic permanent reminder of your international adventures!

Landmarks

Instantly recognisable, world-famous landmarks look great visually, and if done like above, can really be a classy reminder of your backpacking days.

Wanderlust

Wanderlust is a borrowing from German, and means a strong desire or longing to travel. If many people, once they get a taste of backpacking, it’s hard to stop, so this little word perfectly sums it up.

The Globe

What image is better to sum up a world traveller than the world? Globe tattoos can come in lots of different variations, from this gorgeous watercolour tattoo through to solid black silhouettes.

New Zealand backpackers

Of course, we couldn’t leave Aotearoa off the map! New Zealand gets thousands of backpackers every year, with many of them wanting to take a piece of our beautiful country home with them. If you would like a stunning tattoo of New Zealand, please come and see us here at Sunset.

Irish tattoos to celebrate St Patrick’s Day

On the 17th of March, everyone is Irish. And if you’re not, you’re missing out.

Ask most people in New Zealand and they’ll say they have Irish blood in them somewhere, so to honour this year’s St Patrick’s Day, we’ve found some of the best Irish tattoos on the web to give you inspiration in case you feel like kissing the Blarney Stone this Sunday.

St Patrick

Let’s start with the man himself, St Patrick. You may be surprised to find that he wasn’t even Irish! He was probably Welsh, and was kidnapped by Irish raiders and held as a slave. He escaped, went back to Britain, found Jesus, and then returned to Ireland to spread the good word. In other words, a right mad bastard altogether!

4 leaf clover

What’s better than finding a lucky 4 leaf clover? Having one tattooed on your forever! The odds of finding a 4 leaf clover are 10,000 to 1, so why bother spending hours looking when you can have on on your wrist at all times?

Celtic Cross

Back when St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland, the locals needed a bit of convincing, so he took their existing pegan stone circle design which represented the sun, and added the Christian cross to it. Thus the Celtic Cross was born!

A leprechaun

Leprechauns are often pictured as evil, and rightly so. According to Irish mythology, these wee buggers will trick you any chance they get, but the good news is, if you catch one, you’ll be granted a wish in return for their release!

The Celtic Harp

The symbol of Ireland, found on Irish Passports and official documents, is the ancient Irish Harp. The mirror image of the harp is the true symbol, but Guinness got in there first and made it a trademark, so when the Irish gained independence from the British and needed a national emblem, they had to flip it to stop getting sued!

A pint of Guinness

Speaking of Guinness, check out this awesome traditional tattoo with a wee hint of the Irish. :)

Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone!

The last ever Great Auckland Flash Party!

It’s that time of year again folks!

The Great Auckland Flash Party is on its way again and this will be its final year!

Where and when?

This year’s event will be held over the 5th and 6th of April right here at Sunset Studio - two days of tattoo madness!

As usual, the party is walk-ins only - it’s first come first served! This is your chance to get a new tattoo from one of New Zealand and Australia’s most celebrated artists, who are sometimes booked months in advance.

Doors open at 11am, so get down early to avoid the queues!

How it works

Each artist will put a variety of fresh new line drawings up in the shop, with lower than usual pricing, ranging from around $100-$300.

It’s first come first served, and we have hundreds of line drawings to choose from, so the first people here get a bargain with our special, one-time only, Flash Party prices!

Walk in on the day, pick a design, and get it done - it’s as simple as that!

Which artists are attending?

We have some of the very best tattoo artists in New Zealand and Australia ready and willing to give you a tattoo you’ll love forever.

The team from Sunset will be there of course, including TomTom, Tristan, Mash, Milky, Magali, and Lucky Felix.

Adrian Hing, Daniel Joseph and Habby Tattoo from The Darling Parlour in Sydney will be coming over for the Party, as will Chingy Fringe from the Gold Coast.

Other artists from around New Zealand will be heading to Auckland, including Rohan Skilton and Mike Todd from Monarch Tattoo in Wellington.

Remember, this is the last ever Great Auckland Flash Party, so this is your last chance to grab one of hundreds of designs at special flash day prices!

Don’t forget to check out our Instagram for daily posts of our guest artists work! @sunset_tattoo_nz