Why You Should Never Try to Treat an Infected Tattoo at Home (2024)

It's something that many people with tattoos have experienced: They spend time carefully researching talented tattoo artists in their area, to find someone with a reputable reputation and a style of art they admire. They focus for eons on which design to choose as well as the best place for it on their body. They sit patiently while they get inked and afterward, they admire the fresh new design.

And then —whether it's their first tattoo or their tenth — a bit of time later, their beautiful new body art starts to hurt more than it should. Feeling achy after a tattoo is completely normal, but they realize the pain isn't going away, and may even be getting worse. And then they realize there's redness in the area around the inked skin, and (uh oh) that area feels warm to the touch. And then (ick), they see that the scab is goopy with pus.

Yes, infections can happen after a tattoo. This doesn't mean that the artist did something wrong or that the person who ended up with an infection after a tattoo was sloppy with their aftercare (though both of those things sometimes happen, unfortunately). When you consider how tattoos are made, it's not totally surprising that the area sometimes gets infected. One way this might happen, according to the Cleveland Clinic: In some cases, the tattoo ink may have been diluted with non-sterile water.

To find out why and how tattoos can get infected, we asked the experts — a tattoo artist and four dermatologists — for their best advice. Follow it below to lower your risk for infection and get the right treatment, should your cool new body art become a problem.

For starters, don’t be impulsive – a safe tattoo requires planning ahead. For example, you need to carefully think about where you want the tattoo on your body.

You can get an infection with a tattoo on any part of the body, says Ife Rodney, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Eternal Dermatology in Fulton, Maryland. “But places that are prone to more moisture and bacteria — like under the arms, the lip and feet — get infected more easily," she says. "Plus, the lower extremities, in general, take a bit longer to heal, making them more prone to infections.” What you want to be especially careful with, however, are the hands and fingers. “We touch so many different surfaces every day that tattoos in these places have the greatest risk, especially since it can be hard to control ourselves from using our hands while the tattoo heals,” explains Dr. Rodney.

Plus, if there are any signs of skin inflammation (like a rash, redness, broken or irritated skin), Dr. Rodney recommends waiting until the site is completely healed and the skin is normal before getting a tattoo. “Also, if you are treating an unrelated skin condition using topical medications like a steroid cream, these medications could increase the risk of infection, even if the skin appears normal,” she adds.

It’s also crucial to consider the reputation of the tattoo parlor and artist. If you inadvertently choose a sketchy tattoo parlor, you may be putting yourself at risk. “While most infections happen in aftercare, some start right at the tattoo parlor,” says Dr. Rodney. “Make sure the tattoo parlor is licensed because licensed parlors are regularly inspected by a health agency. Do a little research beforehand to check the safety/infection record of the artist, and ask them about their equipment sterilization practices and protocols. They should have no problem with you seeing them in action.” A reputable artist should understand and have no issue with questions about their safety record.

Essential to know: "Tattoo artists should follow Universal Precautions, the standard for anyone who could be in contact with blood or bodily fluids, and take blood borne pathogen training," explains Joe Lathe-Vitale, a shop owner and tattoo artist for 20 years. "An artist who's properly trained and using good safety measures will greatly minimize any chance of infection."

A properly trained tattoo artist will always use sterile, single-use needles, says Lathe-Vitale; they'll also properly sterilize and clean any materials that are reused, though most artists now use entirely single-use disposable items. Dr. Rodney suggests that you watch to make sure they use new gloves; they should do that with each client and change gloves as needed during the procedure.

Another important point: A tattoo artist is responsible for making sure the skin is properly prepped before starting to work on the area. "You can develop an infection if the skin isn't adequately cleaned before getting a tattoo," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology.

Both Dr. Rodney and Dr. Zeichner say that it's normal to have pain and swelling after a tattoo session — and anyone who's ever had a tattoo would agree with them. But anything beyond some pain and swelling may be a cause for worry, especially if the symptoms last beyond three or more days. "If you are developing significant warmth, redness or tenderness, you may have developed an infection," says Dr. Zeichner. "If you feel unwell or have a fever or any pus in the area of the tattoo, these can be other signs of an infection. Other conditions, like allergic reactions to tattoo ink, may present in a similar manner, with redness, itching and swelling." You’ll also want to take note of any leaking ink or excessive itching, notes Dr. Rodney.

What does an infected tattoo look like? “Depending on the cause of the infection, infected tattoos can have different symptoms,” says Rajani Katta MD, professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. “Some people experience bacterial infections at the site of their tattoo. These infections can lead to red bumps, an oozing rash, a red swollen area at the site of the tattoo or pus draining from the tattoo. Depending on the severity of the infection, the redness and swelling can sometimes spread to involve the surrounding area of skin. The symptoms may include itching or pain.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, an infection from a tattoo may not be apparent until months after the procedure. “Some infections are due to a different type of microbe called mycobacteria,” Dr. Katta says. “These infections can show up weeks or months following application of the tattoo, and they can result in red flaky rashes or red bumps within the tattoo itself."

After the tattoo procedure, even if your artist does everything correctly, the key to healthy healing is what happens after you leave the shop . "A tattoo that is properly done by a reputable artist is pretty resilient. It will heal if just left alone and kept clean," Lathe-Vitale says. "It's outside bacteria that can cause problems."

Tattoo artist Mike Nomy, owner of South Shore Tattoo Company in Amityville, N.Y., points out that, "As soon as a tattoo is done, it's like a big open wound." It's key to protect against germs, he adds, "as well as to speed up the process of healing."

Every artist has preferences for after-care, but most emphasize the importance of keeping the tattooed skin moisturized and clean. That means you need to try and avoid some very normal behaviors that would otherwise be harmless. "In my opinion, the most important thing is for a client to never touch the tattoo without first washing their hands," says Lathe-Vitale. Also wash hands before applying any moisturizer or ointment to the tattoo. He says it’s best not to soak your new tattoo in a tub, use body scrub on it, or let your pet lick or scratch it.

An infection isn't likely to clear up without being treated via medication (that means, you shouldn't try to treat it at-home yourself). "If not treated, infections typically do not resolve on their own,” says Dr. Zeichner. So it's really key to consult a health practitioner. An infected tattoo can even be life-threatening. “The most worrisome medical complication would be if a skin infection spread to other areas, such as your surrounding skin or even into your bloodstream, which can result in a severe systemic infection called sepsis,” says Dr. Katta.

It's also important to know that tattoo infections are usually deeper in the skin, because the needle pierces 1.5 to 2 mm into the skin, notes Dr. Rodney. This means that an OTC antibiotic ointment that you buy at the pharmacy isn’t going to cut it. “If you suspect a skin infection, you should see your doctor to confirm that, because many skin infections will require treatment with antibiotics by mouth,” says Dr. Katta. “Very mild infections may be treated by your doctor with an antibiotic ointment.”

Dr. Rodney explains that a dermatologist will usually perform a physical exam, looking and feeling for signs of an infection or allergic reaction. “If the infection appears serious or if it does not resolve with the initial treatment, we may take a culture of the skin,” she explains. “This is a simple swab that is sent to the lab to figure out the exact type of bacteria that is causing the infection, and the best treatment for it. For the most resistant infections, a skin biopsy may be done, in which a small tissue sample of skin is sent to a lab for testing.”

Once your doctor has given you a treatment regimen, hygiene is crucial. “Keep the skin as clean as possible,” says Mamina Turegano, MS, FAAD, a dermatologist practicing in Metairie, Louisiana. “One of my favorite home remedies is a diluted white vinegar soak. Mix one part white vinegar with three parts water. Soak gauze or a cotton ball in the mixture, and apply it to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes, two to three times a day. You can also wash your skin with chlorhexidine wash, and follow that by applying polysporin or bacitracin.”

Another problem with attempting to handle an infection on your own — besides the fact that it can be dangerous to do so — is that you could delay treatment and end up with scarring. “Not only is this risky, but it can also ruin the appearance of your new tattoo,” says Dr. Rodney. “The infected skin may not heal correctly, leaving an unsightly scar or an abscess that needs to be drained by a doctor.”

You may indeed need to have your tattoo fixed. After the infection heals, you may be disappointed with how your tattoo looks. "If an infection occurs, it's not the end of the world," says Lathe-Vitale. "Once it's cleared up, the tattoo can always be touched up if necessary."

The important thing is to wait until the skin has fully recovered, because when you have an infection it can hinder the healing of the original tattoo. "This may mean that tattoo pigment is not properly retained in the skin,” explains Dr. Zeichner. "It's okay to get a touch up; however, I recommend waiting at least a month or two after the infection has resolved to make sure that the skin is fully healed.” At that point, Lathe-Vitale advises letting your artist visually inspect the tattoo to determine if it's ready to be touched up.