When you're on warfarin, it can affect healing of internal and external wounds but I don't know that would cause dryness or flakiness like you describe. Maybe? Have you had work done before by the tattooist who did the tattoo .

Hi Aussie,

Not sure if you are on Facebook or not, but there is a great group there too. Right now there is an active discussion on tattoos.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2220204009/ or search on "Coumadin Club"

I haven't had a tattoo since being on Warfarin, but I have 7, and they all became dry and flaky. I thought this was always the case. I'm going to get another one, my first on Warfarin, so I'd appreciate any tips.

Yeah, to me dry and flakey seems fairly normal when not on warfarin. I do think to what degree could depend on location of the tattoo, the needle work etc.

Here some information from a leading blood clot specialist here in the U.S. (Dr. Stephan Moll, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill):

http://patientblog.clotconnect.org/2011/08/17/tattoo-and-blood-thinners/

What's interesting is that I have an older tattoo (pre warfarin days) by a tattooist whose policy is to not even do a tattoo for someone who's on aspirin. I do think there's something to be said about tattoo artists who think that kind of stuff through. Personally, I'd never get a tattoo while on warfarin because I really do think it can affect the integrity of the tattoo. But that's me.

I can't offer personal advise because even after over 20 years in the Navy I never got a tattoo (lol).

That is kind of funny Tom. Ahh, they're fun to get but with time you do sometimes look at one on your body and go, Oy.

Thanks for the replies and advice much appreciated as it always is..

The tattoos are on my hips so they r personal ie no one sees them unless I want them too. Friends who went on the same day and got not small but to large tattoos like me also found that there tattoos peeled to but just a few days later than mine so I feel better, with the healing almost done okay almost at 2 weeks I know it takes 4. I am really happy with the colour etc so am happy and probably shouldn't have worried , but I tend to worry now when it comes to blood and healing.

As an aside being someone who at a young age is on warfain for the rest f my life and can't come off I have chosen not to let it stop me from doing most things that I can do within medicial limits.
And I did have 2 tattooist not want to do the tattoo because of the chance of heavy bleeding etc... But the tattooist who did my work is not only a brilliant artist but has had 25 years experience and she has done tattoos on people on warfain, etc before and it hasnt affected the final quality, she said some f it might scab, but given where it is scabbing that might actually enhance the tattoo ;) out of pure luck rather than design and in a week I go back t have the ink reviewed and she will see if the colour needs a top up but given how some of the smalles ares have kept the colour it seems great.

But like everything I first talked to my dr to get the okay with doing this and then I was upfront with the tattoo artist and knew the possible side affects.

I totally get that. I'm a lifer too and try not to let most things get in my way just because I'm on warfarin. Si, I wasn't judging you for getting a tattoo while on warfarin. Just something that I thought long and hard about for myself, because despite not being young, I would actually love to get another tattoo but I'm on warfarin long term too. I'm not so much worried about the bleeding; it's the healing that is a sticking point for me. Part of that too is I have an autoimmune disease and am on immunosuppressant medication so between that and the warfarin, it just takes a while for things to heal on me.

But you're right. I think doing the research, talking with the artist, feeling comfortable about it is really what's important.