Can You Tattoo Over Moles?
Answers and Useful Tips

Warning
This is an informative article based on professional experience.
It does not replace the opinion of a doctor or dermatologist; before tattooing over moles or other skin conditions, consult a dermatologist.
The author is not responsible for decisions made without medical advice.

“Can you tattoo over moles?” is a recurring question. After over 30 years of experience with tattoos, I can say it depends from case to case. Most moles are harmless, others require a bit of attention. Below are some pieces of information that may be useful to help you clarify your ideas.

Not All Skin Spots Are Moles

Before tattooing, it’s important to distinguish the marks on the skin.

• Pigmented spots (freckles):
  Small flat dark areas, usually caused by sun exposure. These areas are simple accumulations of melanin and, if stable, do not pose a problem.

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• Papules:
  These are small solid protrusions, often with a reddish tint or in line with the natural skin tone. They generally derive from inflammations or skin reactions (like acne). These areas should be avoided if they show evident signs of inflammation, redness, swelling or irritation. A skin area with an active inflammatory process must never be tattooed. On the contrary, if they are resolved and stable, they can be evaluated.

• Red Moles (cherry angiomas):
  Small red formations caused by the dilation of blood vessels. For the most part, they are harmless, though they tend to bleed more. If they are flat and stable, they don’t present an issue. 

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• Actual Moles:
  Skin growths that vary in shape, size, and colour. The most common ones are:
• • Junctional mole: uniform in color and flat.
  • Intradermal mole: slightly raised, but benign.
  • Clark’s nevus: can be atypical and requires monitoring.
  • Blue nevus: has a bluish color, but is usually harmless.

Many are completely harmless, they should be checked if they show: irregularities, asymmetry, jagged edges, colour variations, or a diameter greater than 6 mm. In such cases, it would be advisable to monitor them and evaluate whether it’s possible to proceed or not with a dermatologist.

How to Plan a Tattoo with Moles

If the area to be tattooed has moles, especially if they can’t be tattooed, it might be necessary to create a design that can incorporate them. In small tattoos, for example, the mole can become the center of a flower, the eye of a cat, or other graphic alternatives to be studied case by case.

Large tattoos offer more room for maneuver, depending on the number of moles. For instance, in the picture below, I studied the tattoo design so as to exclude the moles, without interrupting the integrity and harmony of the design and respecting the areas to be avoided.

In this other tattoo (unfortunately never completed), I strategically used the light areas of the clouds to exclude the numerous moles present.

One final example had an unexpected solution. This nurse had a large raised mole at the center of the cat’s eye, which was obviously avoided. She showed the finished tattoo to the dermatologist in her department: “It’s a shame to ruin such a beautiful tattoo” she said, “Tattoo it anyway, don’t worry.” She came back, we completed the tattoo, and everything went smoothly.

Things to Consider Before Tattooing Moles

Moles can change over time, but with light colours they remain visible. Even with slightly darker colours, the dermatoscope keeps them under control. Therefore, in the case of problematic moles, it’s better to avoid large dark areas that would hide them from the dermatologist.

And if a mole has been removed? On this topic, some dermatologists advise against tattooing over the scar, fearing recurrences; others, like for the client in the photo below, consider it safe. It’s always preferable not to do anything without the dermatologist’s prior opinion.

The Importance of a Dermatologist Before Tattooing

If you have many moles, or moles you consider problematic in the area you want to tattoo, a dermatological visit is advisable. Get a mapping done: you’ll know which moles to avoid, and the artist can create your design with more peace of mind.

How to Protect the Tattoo (and Moles) After

With or without moles, a tattoo must be protected from sunlight to prevent the colours from fading and losing their brilliance. Even more so if moles are present. An SPF 50 cream can be useful, but remember it needs to be applied every two hours. Therefore, especially on the arms, a UV-protective sleeve is better: it costs little, you can find it online, and it protects the tattoo all day without greasing or clogging pores.

Conclusion

Tattooing over moles requires attention and planning. Mapping the moles will allow the design to be planned strategically, avoiding problematic moles and still having a work of art worthy of the name. If you’re ready to turn your idea into a work of art, contact me.