Tattoo Infection: Signs, Causes, Treatment & Prevention (2024)

FAQs

Tattoo Infection: Signs, Causes, Treatment & Prevention? ›

Fever: A persistent fever could indicate an infection; you should seek medical attention immediately. Pus-filled blisters or abscesses: If these are present, seek medical attention. Red streaks around the tattoo: This is a severe sign of infection, and medical attention should be sought immediately.

Inappropriate hygiene measures in tattoo parlors and non-medical wound care are major risk factors for tattoo-related infections.

Will an infected tattoo heal on its own? No, tattoo infections rarely heal on their own, and they usually begin to move through several stages when you delay treatment. In the earliest stages, you might see some redness and swelling.

Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment primarily used to help prevent infections in minor wounds. Both brand name and generic versions contain three antibiotic ingredients to help fight bacteria and prevent infections in minor wounds. These include bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin.

Topical Creams: Topical creams such as Aquaphor healing ointment and petroleum jelly are best for keeping the tattooed area hydrated and reducing infection symptoms such as redness and inflammation.

Moisturize: Treat your tattoo like a skin wound and keep the area clean and covered with a water-based moisturizer and bandage. Don't use petroleum-based lotions like Vaseline or Neosporin as these can trap moisture and bacteria, which can lead to infections and scarring.

Fungal, parasitic, and viral pathogens may be inoculated with tattoo needle penetration [4]. In rare cases, bacteria may pass in soft tissue, causing cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. Additionally, bacteria may enter the blood and cause sepsis, endocarditis, and cardiac insufficiency.

If a skin condition that appears, you'll likely see signs of the disease within 10 to 20 days of getting the tattoo. The disease can also appear as early as three days after getting inked. Sometimes, it shows up years later.

All of these symptoms tend to be mild and usually occur in the hours after you get your tattoo, but they might even start to show up during the session. If the fever or chills get stronger or if you see pus, blood or anything oozing on the skin around the tattooed area, this is a sign that you have an infection.

What do the beginning stages of an infected tattoo look like? ›

Signs of a tattoo infection may appear across the entire tattoo or only within specific colors. They can include: Bumps on your skin (papules) that sometimes contain pus (pustules). Nodules, bumps on or below your skin that are larger than papules.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if: You lose feeling in the area near the tattoo, or it feels numb or tingly. The skin near the tattoo turns pale or cool. The tattoo starts to bleed, and blood soaks through the bandage.

In the case of a common bacterial infection, the symptoms might show up immediately within hours or a few days of tattooing. However, there are some bacteria like mycobacteria that have a long incubation time so that the infection shows up only after weeks or months.

Using Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap for tattoos is perfect for this step! Most tattoo professionals recommend the Unscented variety so that you are not putting any potentially irritating essential oils on your sensitive skin.

Takeaway. Vaseline isn't the best choice for tattoo aftercare. Petroleum jelly traps moisture and bacteria, which can lead to infections and scarring if your tattoo doesn't get enough air while it's healing. You may be able to use Vaseline on old tattoos if your skin is dry.

ALWAYS keep a new tattoo covered and protected if working in a dirty/dusty/oily environment; IF the tattoo becomes red or inflamed or hot to the touch please stop using all products / creams and wash three times daily with high concentrated salt water and contact me on 07712814139.

Tattoo Tip #3: Don't use antibacterial lotion

Although you don't want bacteria infiltrating your tattoo, you should avoid products like Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic, and CURAD. Dr. Jagdeo says these can lead to skin becoming more sensitive, and again, creating the conditions for inflammation.