Infected Tattoo: How To Know If Your Tattoo Is Infected

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Getting a new tattoo can be a fun and exciting experience. You’ve probably been thinking about your new piece for weeks or months, and the time has finally come to visit your local tattoo shop and get that ink scratched into your skin.

As exciting as this might be, there are risks that you should be aware of. And today, the risk that we’re talking about is getting a tattoo infection.

Below, we’re learning all about infected tattoos, explaining the symptoms and signs of infection to look out for, how to treat an infected tattoo, and what you can do to minimize the risk of it happening in the first place.

Which brings us to our main topic of discussion:

How do you know if your tattoo is infected?

If it’s been several days or longer and your tattoo is still sore, doesn’t feel like it’s getting any better, and it just doesn’t look like it’s healing properly, you likely have a possible infection on your hands. Some of the most common signs of an infection in a tattoo include redness, swelling, pus, and pain on or near the tattooed site.

However, in more severe cases, symptoms of a soft tissue infection can include fever, chills, and sweating.

If left untreated, tattooed skin infections can lead to more severe infections, such as sepsis or endocarditis, which is a left-threatening inflammation of the lining of the heart, AKA, it’s something YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH!

If you experience signs of infection, it’s time to seek out medical treatment before things gets any worse.

Generally, if you think your tattoo is starting to become infected, it probably is. So get your butt to a doctor ASAP!

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What causes tattoo infections?

Tattoo infections occur for a number of reasons, ranging from unsafe tattooing practices to poor tattoo aftercare. Here are some factors that can contribute to or cause an unwanted tattoo infection:

• Contaminated tattoo ink – Improperly handled or contaminated tattoo ink can lead to infections after being used in a tattoo.
• Unsterilized equipment – Everything in your artist’s tattoo parlor needs to be clean. Good tattoo artists understand this and and will always follow proper sterilization practices.
• Blood-borne pathogens – Getting a tattoo involves contact with blood, which means there’s a risk of contracting blood-borne infections, like Hepatitis B, HIV, or staph infections.
• Poor aftercare – After you get a new tattoo, it’s crucial that you take proper care of it and keep it clean until the healing process is complete. Keep your new tattoo safe, clean and dry at all times!
• Touching a fresh tattoo – Proper tattoo aftercare involves NOT touching your new tattoo. If you must touch your tattoo, make sure to clean your hands with antibacterial soap first.
• Swimming with a fresh tattoo – Swimming or bathing exposes your tattoo to whatever pathogens are swimming around in the water with you. So just how long after a tattoo can you swim?It’s best to wait 2-4 weeks, or until the tattoo is fully healed.
• Sweat and dirt – Another common reason tattoos get infected is from exposure to sweat, dirt or dust. This is especially true for those that work outside on construction sites or in any other sort of dusty environments.

It’s also good to note that people that are immuno-compromised are at a much higher risk of developing infected tattoos. This includes people with diabetes or other underlying health conditions, people undergoing chemotherapy, or people taking certain medications.

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How To Treat An Infected Tattoo

The first step in treating an infected tattoo is seeing a doctor or healthcare provider who can properly diagnose the infection. Some superficial infections may go away on their own after a few days, but if the infection gets below the skin’s surface, things can get bad fast!

While most tattoo skin infections are bacterial infections, it’s also possible to have a viral infection or fungal infection on your tattoo. And each of these will require a different type of medical attention.

In most cases, your healthcare provider will prescribe a run of oral antibiotics to help clear up the infection. But corticosteroids, topical creams or ointments may also be prescribed to help treat the infected area.

Depending on the severity of the infection and in rare cases, your doctor may need to take a skin sample and send it to the lab for proper diagnosis.

Either way, only a qualified doctor can properly diagnose and develop an effective plan for treating your infection.

What will happen to my infected tattoo?

An infected tattoo is going to hurt and feel uncomfortable until the infection clears and your body starts to heal. But even after the infection is gone, you could be left with a pretty nasty looking tattoo.

There’s no way to tell exactly what your tattoo will look like after it heals, but color loss, blurred lines, ink rejection, and other tattoo distortion are almost guaranteed.

In some cases, if the aftermath isn’t too bad, your artist might be able to fix the tattoo. But some infected tattoos turn out so bad that people have to resort to tattoo removal.

We should also point out that if you feel like your tattoo became infected due to improper tattooing practices, you should NOT return to the same tattoo artist for touchups, coverups, or any advice whatsoever.

If they messed up and put you and your tattoo at risk in the first place, don’t give them another chance!

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How To Avoid Tattoo Infections – Proper Tattoo Aftercare

Yes, getting a tattoo does carry the risk of infection. But on the bright side, infections are relatively rare and there are many things you can do to reduce your chances of ending up with an infected tattoo, such as:

• Choosing a reputable tattoo parlor – Licensed tattoo artists know and understand the severity of tattoo infections, and it’s not something they want to be held responsible for. Make sure to choose a reputable tattoo shop that employs experienced tattoo artists.
• Sterilized needles and equipment – You shouldn’t have to worry about this if you’re at a reputable shop. But make sure that your tattoo artist is using sterilized needles, sterile water, and that they keep everything in their shop as clean as possible.
• Clean your tattoo – Exposure to dirt, dust, sweat, and other pathogens can cause your tattoo to become infected. That’s why it’s VITAL that you clean the tattooed area regularly with antibacterial soap and water to prevent infections from taking hold.
• Follow your artists aftercare instructions – When they’re done, your artist will provide you with a series of aftercare instructions. Follow these to the letter to ensure that your tattoo heals properly, stays safe, clean, and doesn’t get infected.

Frequently Asked Questions – Infected Tattoos

Getting a tattoo is fun and exciting. And despite there being some risks, most tattoos are done safely and heal without any major complications. However, infections are possible, which is why it’s good to know about them and understand how to avoid them.

Let’s take a look at a few more frequently asked questions about tattoo infections.

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What are some of the other risks of getting a tattoo? Are there other tattoo-associated skin reactions that are possible?

Aside from bacterial infections, it is possible for other types of infections to occur. Viral or fungal infections are rare but possible. There’s also the risk of contracting blood-borne illnesses like Hepatitis, HIV, staph infections or rare bacterial infections like flesh-eating disease. These are all reason why it’s vital to only ever let a licensed tattoo artist do any work on you. They know how to keep their workspace clean and prevent these types of infections from happening.

My tattoo is itchy? Does that mean I have an infection?

Not necessarily. It could be a sign of infection, but it’s actually quite common for a tattoo to feel dry and itchy while it’s healing. But why is my tattoo itchy? Your skin was just pricked a few thousand times, which means that it’s going to take some time for it to recover. And in the process, it’s common for your skin to dry out, peel, and feel itchy. So if it’s itchy, that’s fine. Just make sure to watch out for other signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, and pus.

Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to a tattoo?

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to have an allergic reaction to a tattoo. It’s possible to experience an allergic skin reaction to any of the products your tattoo artist uses while doing the tattoo, or to the tattoo ink itself. Red tattoo inks are particularly known for causing allergic reactions. On the bright side, allergic reactions are rare… But they can happen!

Can a tattoo artist treat my infected tattoo?

No, a tattoo artist cannot treat tattoo infections. Sure, they can tell you whether your tattoo is infected or not. But they won’t be able to properly diagnose the infection or prescribe the necessary medications you’ll need. So you really do need to see a doctor who can properly diagnose the cause of the infection, determine whether it’s bacterial, viral, or fungal, and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Now, if this article hasn’t scared you off from getting inked, and you’re in the process of planning or designing your next piece… Check out our AI tattoo generator to instantly create tons of super cool and unique tattoo designs!