Tattoo Infection

Tattoos and Infections

Most of us will never experience a tattoo infection, no matter how many tats we get. However, infections are not unheard of, even in this day and age when sterile practices are the norm rather than the exception.

Types of Tattoo Infection

Skin Infections

Skin infections are relatively common after getting a tattoo. They can be caused by using unsterilized equipment and a lack of sterile conditions in the immediate tattoo environment. Skin infections can even be caused by the artist creating the tat if he/she doesn't take precautions with personal hygiene.

More commonly, tattoo infections are caused by not diligently following aftercare instructions to keep the fresh site clean and moisturized during the healing process.

Typical signs of infection include:

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Localized tenderness
• Pus/Bloody discharge
• Fever
• Pain radiating from the site more than 48 hours after the procedure

Slightly inflamed tattoo.

If you experience any of these symptoms with a fresh tattoo, a visit to the doctor is in short order. Most infections are easily treated with an antibiotic and resuming aftercare procedures. However, significant infections can result in blood poisoning if they are allowed to progress for too long.

Hepatitis C

According to a report by CNN, tattoo enthusiasts are nine times as likely to contract a hepatitis C infection, a deadly blood disease that attacks liver function. The disease is typically transferred from one person to another when proper sterile procedures aren't followed. This can include reusing needles between clients, and reusing inks. In fact, a study conducted by a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center and published in the Journal of American Medicine garnered some thought provoking results.

• People with large tats were at higher risk for hepatitis C infection.
• People whose designs included red, orange, yellow or white were more likely to have hepatitis C than people with plain black tattoos. The study doesn't confirm this, but the higher rate of infection is likely due to reusing or sharing ink caps.

There is no known cure for hepatitis C, and the disease can be fatal unless it goes into remission. Even then, stress and other illnesses can trigger its renewed attack on the liver, leading to eventual death.

HIV

HIV infections can lead to full blown AIDS, a deadly disease for which there is currently no known cure. The virus is mainly passed through improperly sterilized tools, but can also be transferred if an infected artist accidentally prick his hand while working on a tat.

Protecting Yourself from Tattoo Infections

You can significantly lower your risk of getting a tattoo infection by doing a little research beforehand and thoroughly checking out both the shop and the artist you intend to use.

• Familiarize yourself with basic sterile procedures to be followed when creating tattoos.
• Take a look around the shop to make sure they have an autoclave and that they are using it.

Sharps bin for used needles.

• Watch your artist to make sure he/she properly disinfects before donning plastic gloves and a surgical mask.
• Insist your artist uses a brand new needle rather than one that has been run through an autoclave. Although a properly operated autoclave forces sterilizing steam through very tiny spaces, there's still a chance that a pocket of infection could survive in the hollow.
• Follow all aftercare instructions to the letter.

Conclusion

A tattoo infection definitely isn't comfortable, and it can ruin your brand new body art if scarring takes place. A moderate level of awareness on your part, and a great deal of care on your artist's part can ensure you never experience a tattoo infection of any magnitude.