How to heal an infected tattoo

Do you think that the new tattoo is not cured as it should be or that it could be infected? In this article we will explain how to cure an infected tattoo or that it is not healing as it should.

Getting a tattoo is always an incredible experience, but it can be dangerous if a series of factors are not taken into account. Surely when you get a tattoo, the first thing you want to do is show it off, show off the new work that decorates your skin, but surely the tattoo artist gave you some very important guidelines to follow. And it is, that, if you are not careful, you can get infected. 

If the tattoo is swollen or with discharge it is an unequivocal symptom of infection and it is necessary to start immediately with the cures. Do not be alarmed, we are going to give you a series of tips that will help you to heal the tattoo as well as possible, although you must bear in mind that there may be some mark or "scar" after the cure. This is why it is so important follow the prompts that the tattooist gives you about the aftercare for the tattoo.

How to know if a tattoo is infected

The first thing is to make sure that the tattoo is infected or in the early stages of infection. The main symptoms that usually occur are:

  • Irritation
  • Inflammation
  • Itching
  • Discharge with pus and bad smell
  • The design begins to deform.
  • Crusts
  • Ampoules
  • Pain 
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

Sometimes the infection can start during the tattoo session when small wounds are created to inject the ink, either because the material was not properly sterilized or the products were not suitable; it may be that the facilities did not meet the necessary hygienic standards; it can even be later, during the healing process with the first cures or throughout the weeks it may take to heal.

Steps to follow at home

before early signs of infection in the tattoo you have to start with the cures. The first thing is go to the doctor to assess the situation as well as the severity of the infection and start with the most appropriate treatment. This is one of the reasons why post-tattoo cures are essential.

On the other hand, it should also go to the tattoo studio where it was done to comment on what happened with the tattoo artist, especially if you followed the recommendations and did the necessary cures, in that case it may be due to unsuitable material or to the facilities themselves. Whenever you tattoo, it is essential to ensure that the tattoo material, such as needles, are opened in front of you, that the container is hermetically sealed, ensuring sterilization conditions. That the gloves are new, the pigments too. If any of these conditions are not met, they may carry risks of subsequent infection.

All the following recommendations what will we give you to cure an infected tattoo they are previous cures, which under no circumstances replaces a visit to the doctor and the treatment administered there. 

Step by step guide:

  1. We will start by completely cleaning the area of ​​infection (secretion of pus, excess blood and ink) and around it, for this the best thing is warm water and a special neutral pH soap.
  2. With sterilized gauze We will gently dry the area.
  3. The next thing is to cover the area with antibiotic ointment to eliminate the infection. You can find it in pharmacies. With the ointment we will cover the entire infected area and cover it with sterilized gauze and adhesive tape. Be careful not to catch any reddened area with it, when you remove it for the next cure it will hurt a lot, be careful!
  4. This has to be done minimum 2 times a day, but if you see that the infection is serious, it is best to do it 3-4 times if possible. Take it as a medication, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  5. It's a long process, do not think that by doing it for a week the infection will disappear.
  6. In case the infection does not subside, you really have to go to the doctor to recheck the infection.

As we have discussed this They are basic cures to perform at home, it is best to go to a medical center where they will evaluate the situation and avoid possible consequences.

normal healing time

This is always the big question, How long will it take to heal an infected tattoo? Several variables come into play here, such as the type of skin, each one has a different skin type and healing speed and we must bear in mind that not everyone heals or heals the same; the extension of the infection, a "mini" tattoo is not the same as a full back design and the severity of it; A possible over-infection should also be avoided, this can happen if the treatment is stopped halfway because we believe that it is already “okay”.

If we observe that the tattoo does not heal, the number of times the treatment is performed can be increased, but going to the medical center is what we recommend the most, since it may be due to a specific type of infection.

So we will not get tired of reminding you that following the advice of the tattooist on the cures that must be done for healing are very important in order to avoid a serious situation that can affect not only the image of the tattoo, but also your health.


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