PEELING REAL LIFE
Abbie Smith, 27, from Kent, wanted anew chest piece – instead she got something blistered and sore...
Stepping towards the tattoo studio, I couldn’t wipe the big grin off my face.
I couldn’t wait for my next inking.
I was booked in to have a large traditional style tattoo.
With several tattoos under my belt already, I’d been using TKTX numbing cream for the more sensitive areas.
And that morning, in July last year, I’d applied the cream –which I’d bought online –in a thick layer over my chest before wrapping it in Cling Film to help with absorption.
Only not long after applying the cream, I experienced a horrible burning sensation across my chest.
I’d never felt this before –it was so painful. It must be my eczema, I thought. I’d done a patch test for the cream beforehand and everything had been fine.
And when the numbing effect of the cream kicked in, thankfully the burning stopped.
But there was a problem.
‘I can’t tattoo you like this,’the tattoo artists said, taking one look at my chest.
And looking downwards, my chest was covered with bright red, tiny blisters. It was shocking.
Rushing home, I immediately showed my mum.
‘It looks like a burn,’she said. Heading upstairs, I went to have a cold shower to try and soothe my poor skin.
Only as the numbing effect wore off, Iwas in excruciating pain.
My skin felt like it was crumbling off my body.
‘Mum,’I screamed, doubled over in pain.
Going to A&E, Iwas given a freezing cold shower for 20 minutes to help relieve the burn.
And as the cold-water droplets splashed on my chest, the blisters began bursting –the pain was vile.
And afterwards the nurses had to try and remove some of the remaining blisters.
‘Sorry, but it will help it heal,’ they told me as I winced in pain.
I was then referred to the East Winstead burn’s unit and two days later, I had a proper examination.
Here doctors told me that I’d suffered a
