| While a person is getting a tattoo, the skin | | | | products actually interfere with the wound healing |
| secretes a fluid that forms droplets on the | | | | process. Ointment applying and plastic wrapping |
| surface. Now, normally the blood particles in the | | | | for the shower or sleeping for a few days will |
| fluid would dry on the surface and would look like | | | | help protect the tattoo under adverse conditions. |
| black specs. If left alone and no bothered or | | | | Sometimes for various reasons a tattoo will |
| picked at they will attach themselves along with | | | | become infected. If any of the following |
| particles and then they dry and form what you | | | | symptoms are present after having a tattoo it is |
| know as a scab. Eventually though the skin will | | | | possible that yours is infected and you are going |
| heal in spite of the obstacles created. If this | | | | to have to heal an infected tattoo. Increased pain, |
| process gets disturbed then you are going to | | | | swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the |
| have to deal with healing an infected tattoo. | | | | tattoo, red streaks extending from the area, pus |
| If there is minimal damage to the skin then the | | | | coming from the wound, swollen or tender lymph |
| speed of healing will depend on the amount of | | | | nodes, or fever are all indications that an infection |
| moisture in the area. The three top rated healing | | | | has occurred. |
| ointments are Bacitracin Zinc, A & D | | | | Infection may start at the tattoo and usually clear |
| Ointment and Petroleum. It is the petroleum in | | | | or clear-yellow fluid that drains from an infected |
| these products that produces the best healing | | | | tattoo may change to creamy yellow, brown, or |
| speed because it makes the skin occlusive. | | | | red or look or smell like pus. Infection may also |
| Occlusive means neither water nor air can | | | | occur deep inside the wound, with few noticeable |
| penetrate to the skin surface. This then creates | | | | signs at the site. Pain and swelling may develop. |
| the ultimate healing condition. | | | | This is a definite sign that you have to heal the |
| When a tattoo is just finished there is generally | | | | infected tattoo. |
| no oozing and the surface is relatively dry so | | | | The skin over a tattoo may heal while an infection |
| when a petroleum product is applied droplets of | | | | is present in the wound, causing a more serious |
| fluid will begin to appear because the body is | | | | infection, such as an abscess. If you do not heal |
| producing exudates. Exudates are necessary to | | | | your infected tattoo it can spread to an infection |
| create an environment which stimulates rapid | | | | within the bones, the joints or even become |
| wound healing. A wound maintained in a moist | | | | sepsis, which is an infection in the whole body. |
| environment with exudates has a lower infection | | | | You will likely need an antibiotic to heal your |
| rate than a wound which is dry. | | | | infected tattoo. A doctor may also order blood |
| Initially it was believed that petroleum would cause | | | | tests, depending on the circumstances under |
| the ink to leave the skin but it is now known that | | | | which you received the tattoo. Treat an infected |
| is not true. The constant application of antibacterial | | | | tattoo by keeping it dry at all times. Water is the |
| is not necessary to avoid infection. Antibacterial | | | | biggest enemy of your tattoo as it heals. |