problems with healed tats

Okay.. Heres a strange on for ya. I have several tats, two of them (both done by different people, years apart) on occasion will raise up off the skin. If I run my fingers over them you can feel the lines. Its not around the lines, its the lines themselves. It lasts anywhere from 10 mins to a couple hours. Its a little freaky. one is on my thigh one is on my wrist and the newest is a little better than a year old the oldest is about 13 years old. when they raise they do itch a bit and they dont raise at the same time. Anyone ever heard of this??? Any ideas?? just wondering. Thanks in advance Alley

What you are probably feeling is an irritation to the skin causing swelling in the deeper layers which will force the small amount of scar tissue in the tattoo to swell as well, and be pushed up to the surface. This is pretty normal, but will vary in relation to how much scar is in the tattoo,and how much irritation the skin is in. Sunburn, touching the tattooed skin with something that you are allergic to, or an overall high immune response for whatever reason will cause this. When they are swollen, they may also appear lighter temporarily, as the ink will not sit as densely in the skin because there is more "skin" than normal due to a fluid increase in the tissue.