Is Your Tattoo Infected? 14 Signs of Infection

It is necessary to use clean and tattoo supplies when tattooing. This is a prerequisite for ensuring that it is not susceptible to infection. You need to do tattoo aftercare to get a nice tattoo. In some cases, you may still be infected for a variety of reasons, and the infected tattoo will have some common symptoms. Generally, some of these symptoms may also be that it is healing. However, the more symptoms that occur at the same time, the higher the chance of infection.

1. Continuous Extreme Pain

In general, all new tattoos will have a certain degree of pain in the first few days. The larger the tattoo, the longer the surface pain keeps. But if the tattoo is still very painful after 7-10 days, then it may be a sign of infection.

2. Rash

The rash may have different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. Although many rashes are only red and smooth, many rashes can be uneven.

3. The tattoo area is extremely redness

Almost all new tattoos will become inflamed for a few days, but if the tattoo still becomes redder after 5-7 days, it may mean that the infection has begun.

4. The tattoo area surface becomes hot

Due to the body's natural healing response to the tattoo, most of the blood flow to the area naturally increases the local temperature. However, if the tattoo area still gets hot after a week, this may be a sign of possible infection. 5. Itching

Almost all new tattoos will have itching during the recovery phase, but if your itching is not disappeared after a week and becomes more extreme, it may be a sign of infection.

6. Swelling

The swelling of the new tattoo is very common, especially for tattoos located below the waist, the swelling will be more obvious. If the swelling spreads from the tattoo area and does not decrease within 7-10 days, this may be caused by an infection.

7. Extremely/Unusual Scabbing

Tattoo scab is completely normal during tattoo healing. However, if the entire tattoo becomes full of crusty, thick, itchy scabs and begins to ooze and bleed, then this may be a sign of infection.

8. Blister

Blisters are not a common side-effect of getting a tattoo and therefore any blistering on the skin around the tattooed area should be seen as suspicious and potentially the result of an infection and should be treated.

9. Pimples or Ooze Pus

Pimples can be common on a new tattoo and are generally not a problem, however, if you develop pimples that begin to ooze and pus, or more serious then an infection is likely. Depending on the type of infection, the pus can be clear, fluid, or thick. If this happens to you in the first three days - it is likely to be completely normal.

10. Foul Odor

If the exudation in the tattoo is accompanied by an odor, it usually indicates infection has occurred.

11. Red Streaking

If long red lines appear that look like they’re streaking away from your tattoo, you should seek medical attention immediately. This is a serious sign of infection.

12. Swollen lymph nodes

There are some small nodules around the body called lymph nodes that help to filter out impurities in the blood. If an infection is present, the lymph nodes closest to the infection usually begin to swell.

13. High Temperature, Fever, Extreme Tiredness

In general, all infections have symptoms that increase core body temperature and cause drowsiness and extreme fatigue.

14. Increased Heart Rate and Increased Breathing

If the symptoms also include increased heart rate, increased breathing, and confusion, seek medical attention immediately as these may be serious infections. NOTE

The infection may have only one of the above symptoms, or multiple symptoms may occur at the same time. The more appeared, the higher the chance of infection. Keep in touch with the tattooist at any time, he will give you relevant professional advice based on experience! Do not blindly treat yourself.

How to avoid tattoo infection?

All in all, the tattoo products you used to tattoo are not the only factors that cause infection. Once you have noticed those signs of tattoo infection, please see your doctor. It seems cool to get tattoos, but physical health is more important. Make sure you have got the tattoo products from the official sale channel. Tattoo ink and tattoo needles are the most "dangerous" factors. As for tattoo ink, you have to buy professional ones, like radiant colors ink, and eternal ink. When buying tattoo needles, make sure that the needles are sterilized. Besides, you have to learn something about tattoo aftercare before getting a tattoo and obey these rules.