What Should I Do
If you arent sure whether your new tattoo is infected, ask your artist about signs and symptoms. If you think it might be infected, seek medical attention immediately do not wait.
Skin infections can rapidly spread to the bloodstream and become life-threatening. At the very least, you will need to talk to a doctor to get a prescription for an antibiotic. If you wait until the infection is festering, the tattoo may be severely disfigured and your treatment will be more complex.
Tattoo infection treatments may include:
- Antibiotics: Depending on the seriousness of the infection, you may need a prescription for oral antibiotics. In severe cases, you may be hospitalized and receive intravenous antibiotics.
- Topical ointments: Your doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin. These ointments should not be used to prevent an infection because they can clog pores and cause infection.
- Cold compresses: Your doctor may recommend using an ice pack to cool the skin and help relieve pain and swelling. It is essential to keep the skin completely dry during this process. Never apply ice directly to the skin always use a towel between your skin and the ice pack. It is easy to go numb, and ice can cause severe tissue damage. Only use it for 10 minutes before allowing the skin to re-warm.
Don’t Try To Treat It Yourself
You cannot count on an infection to clear up without medication. “If not treated, infections typically do not resolve on their own, says Dr. Zeichner. They can grow in size and become quite large and tender. As with any skin infection, in severe cases bacteria can enter your bloodstream and actually become life-threatening.”
Keep in mind, tattoo infections are usually deeper in the skin as the needle pierces 1.5 to 2 mm into the skin, notes Dr. Rodney, so an OTC antibiotic ointment isnt going to cut it. “Depending on the severity of the infection, your dermatologist may prescribe a prescription topical antibiotic,” Dr. Zeichner explains. “In some severe cases, you may receive an oral antibiotic instead.”
If you try to treat an infection on your own, you could delay the 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.
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Culture and gram stain of purulent drainage of skin infections can help aid in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, but this is not a requirement . Alternatively, it is not recommended to perform a swab, biopsy, or blood culture from a cellulitis infection . For abscesses, incision and drainage is the recommended treatment . For infections involved with penetrating trauma, as could be the case with a recent body piercing, treatment with antimicrobials directed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species are recommended . Recommended treatment duration is five days, but therapy extension is advisable if not improved during that treatment period .
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What Can I Do To Lower My Risk Of A Tattoo Infection
Seeking services from a licensed tattoo artist and shop may lower your infection risk. Check with your state department of health about complaint activity against the shop.
You should also ask your tattoo artist about the kind of ink they use and sterilization practices. They should wear gloves at all times and use sterile wipes to clean your skin before, during and after your tattoo. You should also receive and follow detailed instructions about caring for your tattoo while it heals.
Can You Get A Tattoo While Sick
Just like with antibiotics, the answer is yes, but you really shouldnt. The same reasons why not also applies in this case. When youre sick, your bodys not well-conditioned for healing. Therefore, you should also postpone your tattoo appointment when youre sick on the day of. Getting well instead of getting inked should be your top priority!
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Signs Of Infection Include:
Increased pain or swelling on or around the tattoo.The raw reddish appearance of the tattoo increasing and spreading instead of fading and healing after a few days.Itchy or painful lumps or bumps under the skin.Pus, discharge, or open sores are appearing.A putrid smell.Fever, chills, or shivering.
In the case of fever or chills developing, seek immediate medical advice. A fever may indicate that the infection has spread into your bloodstream, and immediate intervention will be needed to avoid sepsis from spreading.
Product Liability In Tattoo Injury Cases
Sometimes tattoo infections and injuries can be a consequence of defective equipment, and have nothing to do with how the tattoo artist or parlor acted. If your infection happened because a batch of ink was defective or a piece of tattooing equipment didnt work properly, you could have a legitimate product liability claim for damages against the manufacturer or retailer.
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Treatment Of Tattoo Infections
Doctors treat tattoo infections with oral or injected antibiotics. In rare cases, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus might infect a tattoo. This bacterium is resistant to many common antibiotics. Treatment might require the use of powerful and expensive antibiotics. Doctors might also recommend emergency surgery to clean and drain the infected tissue.
Five Common Infections Stem From:
1, Staphylococcal BacteriaIt is the most common strain of bacteria to cause infection. The strain responds well to antibiotics and, if caught and treated early, further complications are rare.
2. Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Another minor infection that presents as itchy transparent or red patches on the tattoo, the NTM infection can be stopped easily. The bacteria are usually caught through contaminated water that is used to dilute the tattoo ink.
3. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA is a more serious infection that has evolved into a resistant strain against antibiotics. It can lead to other complications, such as TSS, organ failure, sepsis, and coma, in extreme circumstances. MRSA is rare in an otherwise healthy person that treats a standard Staph infection early and effectively.
4. Viral InfectionsOther infections can be viral in nature and introduced through the use of unsterilized equipment, for example. These viral contaminants include Herpes simplex, viral Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, and HIV.
5. Allergic reactionsSome people can have an allergic reaction to a specific colour of ink, for example. It comes down to the metals used in the manufacture of the substance. The mercury sulphide in red is the most common colour to cause an allergy, with symptoms of blistering, crusting, and swelling becoming apparent.
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How To Identify An Infected Tattoo
The most common symptom of a tattoo infection is a rash or red, bumpy skin around the area of the tattoo.
In some cases, your skin may just be irritated because of the needle, especially if you have sensitive skin. If this is the case, your symptoms should fade after a few days.
But if these symptoms continue for a week or more, see your tattoo artist or doctor.
See your doctor if you experience one or more of the following:
Take Care Of Your Tattooed Skin
Another cause of tattoo infection is lack of post-tattoo care. The first few days after a tattoo are critical when it comes to proper care. You should receive very clear wound-care instructions, and you should follow them carefully. Treat your tattoo as if it is a skin wound with twice daily washing of the area, keeping the area clean and covering it with petrolatum ointment and bandages until healed.
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Can I Put Triple Antibiotic Cream On My New Tattoo
Tattoo aftercare is one of the most important stages of your tattoo journey. One of the main factors your tattoo requires for a smooth healing process is the proper use of a moisturizer. Many people tend to take any cream lying around and apply it to their tattoo. It will help if you avoid this, as you could be using the wrong moisturizers that harm your tattoo instead of improving it. You should keep triple antibiotic creams far away from your tattoo.
Triple antibiotic creams such as Neosporin can ruin your tattoos healing as such products include a petroleum base that blocks the access of oxygen on your tattoo, leading to excessive dryness and may also cause stickiness in your tattoo if the cream is too thick for your skin. Sticky tattoos lead to dirt and bacterial accumulation on the tattoo, which leads to a faded look or even oozing. Triple antibiotic creams such as Neosporin help you avoid infections however, this is the only benefit as the side-effects take greater weightage.
How Long After The Tattoo Can I Take Antibiotics
As mentioned earlier, getting a tattoo while on antibiotics is a bad decision, especially if you want your tattoo to come out the right way. If youre in dire need to take antibiotics, you can probably take them after your appointment. It would be best if you waited at least a few days before you start taking antibiotics. It would help if you allowed your tattoo to go through at least the first few healing stages without any interference.
Antibiotics may cause your body to reject ink from settling into your skin. This will ruin the outlook of your tattoo as the antibiotics are already at work, getting rid of any risk of bacterial infection. You may wish to take antibiotics after your tattoo appointment, but then you must also prepare for other complications you may have to deal with, for example, tattoo laser removal treatments.
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Carefully Consider The Body Part You Want Inked
Any part of the body is at risk for infection, 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. Plus, the lower extremities, in general, take a bit longer to heal, making them more prone to infections. However, you really want to be careful with hands and fingers. We touch so many different surfaces every day, that these tattoos have the greatest risk, especially since we will need to control ourselves from using our hands while the tattoo heals, explains Dr. Rodney.
Plus, if there are any signs of skin inflammation , Dr. Rodney recommends waiting until the site is completely healed and the skin is normal. 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.
How Do You Treat An Infected Tattoo
Antibiotics are a common treatment for tattoo infections. Depending on the diagnosis and severity, it may take multiple antibiotics to clear the infection. Many people need to be on these drugs for up to six weeks.
For severe infections, intravenous antibiotics may be necessary. Surgery may also be required for infections that dont respond to antibiotics. It can take more than one procedure to remove all the affected skin.
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Best Way To Treat An Infected Tattoo
If you are experiencing minor bumps and rashes, then you can usually manage at home with antibacterial ointment , proper cleaning, and rest.
If youre experiencing an infection, the type of treatment will depend on the cause. You may need to visit a Doctor for further inspection and possible sample to determine the bacteria or virus cause. In rare cases, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help stop the infection. In severe cases of infection, antibiotic treatments may last for weeks or months.
Persistent, long term, extreme itch and painful bumps in your tattoo may be signs of an atypical mycobacterial infection. This may require long-term antibiotic treatment.
Tattoo infections are more often than not very easy to treat. Most infections can be treated within a few days or week. However, some more serious infections may require long-term antibiotics or further medications.
Choose a good tattoo artist and tattoo studio. Ensure you have a proper tattoo care product and remember to keep the wound clean! Thank You! – Betty xx
Skincare For Pregnant Women
Pregnancy is a very hard time for a woman in which the skin becomes very dull and dry and there are more chances of having acne and other bad skin conditions. Having a good skincare routine is a must need for a pregnant lady. Medicines taken during pregnancy for the prevention of pregnancy symptoms or any other conditions can affect a womens skin.
It is very important for pregnant ladies to take care of their skin. Pregnant women can use numerous products available on the market for skincare. Healthy skincare shows a healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy bellies have stretch marks on the skin that are unpleasant and sometimes irritating. There are many products in the market for stretch marks. These products are totally safe to use.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Tattoo Infection
The signs and symptoms you may encounter if your tattoo becomes infected can vary greatly depending on the type of infection you contract, the location of the infection, size of the wound, how your immune system copes with fighting it off and how long the infection persists.
It is important to note that some of the symptoms mentioned below, for example redness, swelling and mild discomfort may be experienced as part of the normal tattoo healing process. It is when these symptoms worsen that you should be concerned.
How To Treat An Infection
If you suspect your tattoo has become infected, speak to your doctor or dermatologist straight away. The longer you leave an infection, the worse the consequences. It can be tempting to try to clean it up yourself and throw on some antibacterial cream, but the longer you leave it to wait for medical advice, the worse the outcome.
Following a consultation, you will probably be prescribed a combination of topical and oral antibiotics to stop the infection in its tracks. A mild infection will usually be treated in a couple of weeks, while a more severe or systemic case might require several months of antibiotic treatment.
Its a great reason to get the issue sorted out quickly.
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What Medications Affect Tattoos
Many people have a misconception about how painkillers help with the pain during their tattoo procedure. Painkillers actually make it worse and may cause you more pain. Painkillers make blood thinner, and when this happens, it becomes difficult for artists to tattoo their design freely and may require a bit more effort. In doing so, you will experience more pain, and in some cases, you might not be able to continue with the tattooing procedure.
One of the main medications that people commonly tend to take before their tattoo appointment, which leads to blood thinning, is ibuprofen and panadol. Other blood thinner medications include Apixban, Heparin, Edoxaban, Dabigatran, and Warfarin. In case you received a prescription to take any of these medications due to a medical condition, you must communicate this with your tattoo artist or wait till you finish the entire course of these medications.
If you have antibiotics in your system, this is more likely to affect your tattoo and ruin its whole outlook. Sometimes, antibiotics work without affecting your tattoos healing process, but you must talk to your tattoo artists about this. Some antibiotics usually make your skin hypertensive and may lead to severe skin reactions rather than getting in the way of your tattoo healing process.
Health Risks Of Tattoos
Tattooing uses needles to inject ink into the dermal layer of the skin. This makes the tattoo permanent but introduces a path for microbes to enter the skin.
Tattoos become infected when bacteria enter the body through the punctures produced by tattooing. Tattoos also expose customers to the transmission of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis. Also, some customers might have an allergic reaction to the ink.
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Get A Proper Diagnosis
Even if your previous tattoos have healed perfectly, it’s imperative to consult a board-certified dermatologist if you have signs of an infection. Other conditions, like allergic reactions to tattoo ink, may present in a similar manner, with redness, itching and swelling, says Dr. Rodney. As treatment for both of these conditions is different, it is best to figure out the correct diagnosis ASAP.
She says 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, explains Dr. Rodney. 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.
Is My Tattoo Infected Or Just Healing
A very common question people have. Is my tattoo infected or just healing? Is the tattoo ‘supposed’ to be red and inflamed, itchy and swollen? In short – Yes, in moderation and without it getting worse or being overly irritable. It is very common and normal for tattoos to look red, itchy and swollen. This is normal during the healing process. However if any of these symptoms become out of hand or difficult to deal with, then there could be a possibility of infection. Especially if it becomes extra painful, discharges pus-like substances, a rash breaks out, extreme discolouration or severe scabbing and irritation.There is typically no need to panic, just ensure proper tattoo care and quality tattoo aftercare to ensure the best possible healing process with minimal risk of infection.
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