Infected Tattoo?
I got a tattoo 2 days ago on my forearm. It’s my second one but it’s kind of worrying me. There is still a little redness and inflammation. It also still stings/burns quite a bit. I’ve been using Softsoap and Suave lotion to take care of it and I’m not sure but I think both have fragrance. Is there any way I can tell if it’s infected? What should I do??
if it gets red around the outer edges and puffy, itchy or swollen it’s infected. antibiotics will clear it up.
oh and if it turns out to be, inform the folks you got it from, maybe their hygeine practices are not too good.
dont get tattoos it gives you skin cancer. Maybe thats what you have. I dont think so though.
I just got a tattoo a month ago on my forearm, and it was sore and tender and swollen for almost a week. It is a sensitive area, it sounds like it is okay, just keep an eye on it. Use some Curel cream, or A&D lotion, they are fragrance free, and I use Pears glycerine soap, that’s what my tattoo artist recommended to me, it turned out great. Wash it twice a day, I usually do it in the shower in the morning, just don’t put it directly in the shower, and before I go to bed at night, and I just use a thin layer of cream whenever it looks dry. Good Luck!
ok firstly stop using all those products
these are the instructions
1. as soon as you get home from getting tattooes take the bandage or covering off and wash it with a mild NON SCENTED soap- preferably plain Dial liquid soup.
2. For approx 5 days after receiving the tattoo wash it 3 times a day with dial soap-pat dry with a PAPER towel
3.After those 5 days youll begin to crust up-scab-then you will switch to using a non scented lotion -preferably lubriderm or eucerin
DO NOT:
use vaseline on tattoos-EVER
pick off scabs
scratch tattoo
expose it to direct sunlight/sunshine
apply anything to it that is not approved by your tattoo artist.
I have a tattoo on my forearm- and it hurt for almost a week after i got it done. it was very sore and i was experiencing sharp shooting/burning pains to the area. im very sensitive and i wound up healing fine (after taking good care of it)
some tattoo spots are just a pain for some people. if the area stays painful for more than a week i suggest going back to the artist/shop where you were tatooed and have them evaluate it. i am a professional tattoo artist/body piercer but i cannot see your tattoo right now lol
good luck
2 days is still pretty fresh… if you’re still worried bout it.. i’d go back to the tattoo artist and ask them.
The fragrance could easily be an issue. I’d switch if at all possible. I know that when my ink is new I can’t take anything scented or I get a similar reaction. Once a week or so has gone by, though, most anything is fine.
I tend to doubt a little redness, inflammation & sensitivity is an infection. This early in the healing process the skin is still tender, moreso if you irritate it (as with the scented lotions and/or soap). Some areas of the body can take more abuse than others too; the work on my shoulder heals and reacts a little differently than tats on my back. In most cases there is still redness and minor puffiness for 3-5 days, and it’s sensitive. I can’t take a nice hot shower on that area for sometimes up to two weeks.
I’d say check with the artist, since they’ve seen lots of people heal up from a tattoo. Switch to non-scented lotion & soap. Don’t get carried away with the lotion regardless; too much can make some people break out.
If you see any kind of discharge or subcutaneous discoloration, then you *might* have an infection, but based on the above I strongly doubt it.
Some take a while to settle but if you are worried go back & see whoever did it for you.
A little redness and swelling is completely normal. I would think your problem is what you are using to take care of it.
Switch to an A&D ointment (which you should have been using from the start) for the next day or two, then switch to an UNSCENTED hand lotion. As far as washing it goes, you only need to do this once a day in the shower (any more than that will cause it to get irritated), and you should be using an unscented anitbacterial handsoap (such as dial). Scented soaps and lotions contain chemicals that will definitely irritate wounds (which is what a tattoo is), and can easily cause a burning feeling if those chemical get absorbed into the skin (which is very likely with a fresh tattoo)
If you do this, and the redness and swelling hasn’t gone down within the next day or two, you definitely need to have it checked out.
the fragrenced soap is the problem you are allergict to the fragrence
stop all this fragrence and use savalon in the cream form that should do the trick
why did you not use bacitracin or something on it for the 1st 3-5 days? It is important NOT to get a tat infected!!! It will ruin it.
Now go back to your tat artist TODAY and start taking care of it.
Stop with the lotion…get some bacatracin.no triple anti-biotic..tonight wrap it in plastic w/ alot of ointment.
wash in morning, leave open,and apply bacatracin alot…allday.
repeat again at night until reddness goes away. keep applyin ointment,
even after it peels.
both artists ive used recommended no fragranced soaps or lotions and for the first day or two use a+d ointment then switch to a thick hypoallergenic lotion. if you are really worried go to a doctor my husband ended up getting lymphoadenitis from one of his and it cost us like $400 in medical bills go check it out if you are worried dont let it wait but chances are it is just sensitive and will heal up just fine soon.
Stop using the lotion ..just wash it with anti-bacterial soap..and you may apply ice pack..to reduce the swelling..pop three Advil..Don’t use lotions on tattoos unless the third day or so..good luck