What to do if a tattoo gets infected? 10 tips to heal an infected tattoo

Little by little, tattoos stop looking like something marginal and, fortunately, they appear as they really are: an expression of art. And this new social concept, according to 2018 statistics, means the result of a study based on surveys conducted in more than twenty countries, i.e., 38% of the world population has at least one tattoo .

But this fever for tattoos is causing many people who are not familiar with this world, due to ignorance or simply to save some money, to choose to get tattooed in inadequate establishments in terms of hygiene. And if we take into account, when it comes to tattooing, that a needle will break our skin 50,000 times per minute, there is little precaution.

Now, as we say, by going to non-professional tattoo artists who do not care about hygiene and/or neglect the instructions to follow the tattoo cure at home, we put ourselves at risk of contagion. An infection that can not only make the tattoo look bad forever but can also endanger our health .

For this reason, in today’s article and in the hands of the most prestigious scientific publications, we will see what are the signs that a tattoo is infected, what to do if there is an infection, and what the best tips for its treatment are. This infection and both aesthetic and health complications are reduced. Let us begin.

How will I know if a tattoo is infected?

It is estimated that around 5% of tattoos become infected . As we can see, it is not very common. In addition, following the instructions on how to cure it and, above all, getting tattooed in professional studios that follow proper hygiene guidelines, it is very difficult for us to tolerate the infection. But there is always a risk. After all, when we get tattoos, we go home with open wounds on our skin.

Be that as it may, the main causes and risk factors behind tattoo skin infection are, in addition to going to unhealthy studios, bathing in the sea, rubbing the skin with surfaces, using too much medical cream (because the skin does ). does not breathe, is too humid and gets hot (a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi), shedding scabies after contact with our pets… All this increases the risk of infection in the area of the wound.

Now, that is one of our biggest doubts about it. “How do I know my tattoo is infected?” Each skin responds differently to an infection, but it is true that there are a series of symptoms that indicate this infection:

Irritation
itch
deformation of the tattoo image.
discharge of puss
Swelling and redness
cum blisters
formation of abundant scabies.
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Fever
Bad smell in the skin area
Fatigue
Severe pain in the area
Appearance of bumps or rash

Irritation, itching and redness are common symptoms during the first two days. If after four days you continue to experience these symptoms and/or, of course, others have developed (not all the clinical signs that we have described appear), it is possible that the tattoo is infected. The most common infections are caused by bacteria, but they can also be caused by fungi. Be that as it may, at this point, the most important thing is to start treating this infection.

How do I treat and care for an infected tattoo?

Then we will see tips for treating an infected tattoo at home. But it is very important to make that clear. The first thing we have to do is call or go to the doctor. and explain the situation with our properties. He will assess the situation and tell us if there are enough home remedies or if a more comprehensive treatment should be followed for the most serious cases.

In the same way, you should analyze the progression of the symptoms to see if they improve or, on the contrary, worsen. After all, this is common sense. And if we see that the infection is increasing, we need to seek medical attention. Not only because the tattoo heals well, but also because our health is in danger. With that said, we look at the best tips for treating an infected tattoo.

1. Purify the tattoo wounds.

When you get infected, the first thing you should take care of is that the damaged skin area is as clean as possible. Therefore, wounds should be thoroughly cleaned as directed by the doctor. Normally, I just do it with warm water and, yes, with very clean hands. It is important to dry the skin with sterile gauze to remove dirt, residual suppuration, excess blood, and ink, but without damaging the wound too much.

2. Use antibiotic cream.

In case of bacterial infection (the most common), it is important to apply creams that help heal and disinfect the wound thanks to its antibacterial properties. There are many antibiotic ointments available in pharmacies; always follow your doctor’s instructions.It is important to apply this cream when the infected area is completely clean.

3. Cover the infection with gauze. 4.

Once you have the area cleaned and the antibiotic cream applied, it is time to protect the area, which should be done by covering the infected region with sterile gauze and a piece of plastic wrap and tape so that everything is well adhered. and protection This routine must be followed twice a day until it is seen that the evolution is good.

4. Stop using the healing cream.

One of the most important tips for healing tattoos is to apply the healing cream. But in the case of infection, it must be stopped immediately. This will make the skin too wet, too soft, and too hot, all of which favor the growth of bacterial populations.

5. Allow the wound to breathe.

As we have said, in the face of an infection, it is important to protect the skin with sterile gauze, but it cannot always be covered. You need to breathe and get oxygen, as this will speed up the body’s own infection-fighting mechanisms. This is also, in part, the explanation of why we should stop applying creams.

6. Pour in the ice cubes

Ice helps reduce the sensation of pain even more. reducing symptoms such as inflammation and redness . Therefore, to alleviate many of the annoying symptoms while the infection subsides, you can apply it to the infected area. Now, it is very important that you do not apply the ice directly to the skin, since the skin can burn. Put it on a clean towel and everything is perfect.

7. Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Once a tattoo has healed, it is very important to avoid exposure to solar radiation during the first 15 days, as it can cause further damage to the skin. So, of course, when you have an infection, this advice becomes even more important. It is very important, if you have to be in the sun, that you cover the infected area. In this way, you will reduce the risk of complications. both aesthetically and health-wise

8. When showering, avoid wetting the area.

Humidity is one of the main factors that leads to an even greater increase in the populations of bacteria or fungi. The skin must be kept as dry as possible if we want to speed up the healing of the infection. Therefore, it is interesting that when you shower, you cover the tattoo with gauze to prevent it from coming into contact with water and humidity for too long.

9. Make contact with your tattoo artist.

If you have followed all these tips, you will most likely get over the infection without any complications. Now, what is possible is that the tattoo image is slightly deformed. But do not worry. You can contact your tattoo artist (or change, in case you think they or the studio were to blame for the infection) and explain it to them. In practice, unless the infection is too serious, the design can be solved with a few tweaks .

10. If the situation does not improve (or worsens), consult a doctor.

As we have said, there is always the danger that the infection will not be reduced by following the advice we have given. In the event that this is the case and it does not improve over the next few days (or worse), it is very important that you go to the doctor.

He may recommend stronger antibiotics and even, if only in very severe and rare cases, the possibility of surgery. However, in the vast majority of cases, tattoo infections, provided they are treated properly, are mild and, apart from the discomfort they may cause in contact with the tattoo, do not constitute serious health problems.

What to do if a tattoo gets infected? 10 tips to heal an infected tattoo