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Dealing With Infected Tattoos
By Mike Wamoult | May 18, 2008
While a person is getting a tattoo, the skin secretes a fluid that forms droplets on the surface. Now, normally the blood particles in the fluid would dry on the surface and would look like black specs. If left alone and no bothered or picked at they will attach themselves along with particles and then they dry and form what you know as a scab. Eventually though the skin will heal in spite of the obstacles created. If this process gets disturbed then you are going to have to deal with healing an infected tattoo.
Minimal damage would more or less meet with a rate of healing which is proportional to the amount of moisture that the tattoo is exposed to. A number of healing ointments can be used to promote the needed atmosphere required for the tattoo to heal and these ointments include: Bacitracin Zinc, A & D Ointment and Petroleum. Petroleum found in all these products tends to mean that air or water will not penetrate the skin surface, what this then results in is the best healing situation.
When a tattoo is just finished there is generally no oozing and the surface is relatively dry so when a petroleum product is applied droplets of fluid will begin to appear because the body is producing exudates. Exudates are necessary to create an environment which stimulates rapid wound healing. A wound maintained in a moist environment with exudates has a lower infection rate than a wound which is dry.
In the past people thought that petroleum in ointments would make the ink dissolve from the skin but research has proven that this is not true. It has also been proven that the constant application of antibacterial medication is not required in order to eliminate the possibility of infection. The constant application of antibacterial medication is even detrimental to the healing process. Simply applying ointment and plastic wrapping for when you shower or sleep for a number of days will help protect your tattoo under difficult conditions.
Sometimes for various reasons a tattoo will become infected. If any of the following symptoms are present after having a tattoo it is possible that yours is infected and you are going to have to heal an infected tattoo. Increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the tattoo, red streaks extending from the area, pus coming from the wound, swollen or tender lymph nodes, or fever are all indications that an infection has occurred.
Infection may start at the tattoo and usually clear or clear-yellow fluid that drains from an infected tattoo may change to creamy yellow, brown, or red or look or smell like pus. Infection may also occur deep inside the wound, with few noticeable signs at the site. Pain and swelling may develop. This is a definite sign that you have to heal the infected tattoo.
In certain other cases, the skin over a tattoo could heal but an infection could still reside in the depths of the wound thereby creating more serious situations such as an abscess. Neglecting to take care of this abscess properly may result in it becoming septic and infecting the whole body.
You will likely need an antibiotic to heal your infected tattoo. A doctor may also order blood tests, depending on the circumstances under which you received the tattoo. Treat an infected tattoo by keeping it dry at all times. Water is the biggest enemy of your tattoo as it heals.
Topics: Health&Fitness |
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