Infected Tattoo Signs

Did you get yourself inked recently? It is very important that you take good care of the mark, as the chances of an infected tattoo are high if the skin is bothered or picked after getting inked.

The fact that the skin needs to heal is what most people forget. Remember that the tattoo is a wound, which you have inflicted on yourself. On that note, read the paragraphs below, which enlist some general infected tattoo signs.

It is necessary to take care of yourself after you get inked, as there are high chances of an infection. It is essential that you ascertain if there is an infection or not. Just after getting a tattoo made, it is going to be red and irritated. It is observed that blood can ooze out from the area or there can be scabbing.

At such times, do not irritate the skin any further. However, if you see green pus oozing out and redness for more than a week, swelling; then indeed you have caught an infection. The signs are as follows.

• The first sign is inflammation. There can be an itching, pricking sensation around the area.
• If you gently move your hand over it, does the skin feel hot to touch, after more than 2-3 days of getting inked? In that case, there is severe infection.

• There will be swelling around the area, as the skin has been troubled. If the swelling spreads away from the area, it is means there is an underlying infection.
• This infection can cause fever. There are chances of mild to severe fever. If it persists for more than a day or two, do not neglect it. Have yourself examined by a health care professional.

• Along with fever, one may have muscle pain and weakness as well. However, it is important to note that weakness sets in, when the infection is well spread. You will have to pay attention to it and get it treated.

• It is natural for the inked area to pain. If you have got a small design made, the pain will be less as compared to large design. Ideally, the pain should go away after a couple of days. In case it does not subside and if the pain increases, chances are high that you have an infection.

• Yellow-greenish discharge is a clear indicator of an infection. At times, the discharge can be accompanied by foul odor as well. Then it's time, you visit your health care professional, as it might require a dose of antibiotics.

• If you see red streaks outside the tattoo, it is a sign of blood poisoning. It is an emergency, immediately visit your doctor, as it can prove to be fatal.
• Swollen lymph nodes also need immediate attention, as it means immune system is trying hard to resist the infection.

The first step is to visit your tattoo artist as soon as you see the symptoms. These artists are usually trained to handle such infections. Its good to remember that they also see a number of such infections first hand.

They will be in a better position to judge if what you claim as infections are indeed the same or not. If they are unable to provide a remedy, visit to your health care professional may be called for.

He will be able to tell you the kind of skin infection you bear, and at the same time, give you proper guidance in regards to treatment. If the infection is severe, he might prescribe some oral antibiotics.

In case the health care professional feels that the infection can be treated with ointment, he will prescribe an antibiotic ointment. Do not use any other ointment, as it can clog the skin and further the infection.

A small tip in taking care of this infection: Please keep it dry all the time. Do not go swimming when you have the infection. It will aggravate the problem, as contact with water leads to pus formation. Even while taking a shower, take care that you keep the area dry.

As soon as you see symptoms of this problem, have it examined by your health care professional. Sometimes, if proper sanitary conditions are not maintained while getting inked, chances of infection are high and bring this to your doctor's notice. In such adverse cases, he might examine you for any other disease. So take adequate precautions as it is rightly said "Prevention is better than cure!"

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.