How to Tell If Your Tattoo Is Infected—And What You Should Do If It Is

Mild discomfort and skin irritation are pretty normal after getting a tattoo. But some symptoms like a bumpy rash, pus, pain, or fever might be the sign of an infected tattoo. This can happen when bacteria or other germs are transmitted through the skin via unsterile tattoo tools, products, or sanitary practices. Fortunately, once the infection is diagnosed, a healthcare provider can offer treatment options to manage it.

How Can a Tattoo Get Infected?

To give a permanent tattoo, a tattoo artist will use a needle to prick and inject colored ink into the skin. The same is done for permanent makeup, a type of tattoo applied to look like eyeliner, lip liner, or eyebrows.

It's possible to develop a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection from the process. The infection can be acquired if the tattoo provider doesn't practice proper hygienic protocols or they use equipment that isn’t sterile.

It's also possible to develop an infection if the ink that is being used has bacteria, mold, or other microorganisms. The ink can be contaminated with these elements even if the container is sealed or the label says the ink is sterile.

You might even get an infection if the water the tattoo artist is using to dilute the ink's pigment isn't sterile.

“Do-it-yourself” tattoo inks and kits have been tied to infections, as well.

Not cleaning the skin thoroughly before the tattoo process can lead to infection too.

It's also possible to develop the infection during the healing period either through improper wound cleaning or by contracting an infection while your skin is healing from the tattoo.

What Does an Infected Tattoo Look Like?

Your skin goes through a normal healing process after getting tattooed. During this time, it's common to experience mild symptoms like itchiness, soreness, swelling, and skin flaking or scabbing. Your tattoo artist should tell you what to expect from the healing process.

If something in the tattooing process caused an infection, things might look or feel a little more alarming. The healing process your tattoo artist told you about might not be happening properly. You may notice any of the following signs or symptoms on the skin around the tattooed area:

• A rash that can be itchy with scaly, raised, or swollen bumps
• Excessive redness or discoloration, where the skin beneath the tattoo becomes darker instead of lightening up as it heals
• Pus that oozes from blisters on the skin
• Open sores that may have crusting
• Pain that seems to be getting worse instead of subsiding
• Skin that feels warm to the touch on and around the tattooed area

You may also notice other general signs of infection, which can include:

• Fever
• Chills and shivering
• Sweating
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Drowsiness

Depending on the specific type of infection, symptoms of an infected tattoo can develop within days of getting a tattoo or they could take weeks or months to surface. Experts recommend keeping a close eye on your tattoo during the immediate healing process and beyond to spot an infection and get necessary treatment as soon as possible.

How to Tell If a Tattoo Is Infected

Skin changes after a tattoo don't necessarily mean an infection. A tattoo can also bring on an allergic reaction or a skin disease flare-up. This is why it's important to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis of your skin changes.

During this appointment, the healthcare provider may ask about the symptoms you're experiencing and how long they've been present. They'll likely perform a physical exam of the skin.

The provider may also order lab tests like a skin culture or blood test to help determine whether you have a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.

Tattoo-related infections are usually bacterial. There are several types of bacterial infections that can be contracted via the tattoo process. Bacteria like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and spreading infections like cellulitis can cause swelling, redness, and pain.

Viral infections tend to be rarer but can include molluscum contagiosum (an infection caused by a poxvirus), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Less commonly, a fungal infection may develop, with some documented reports of fungal infections like ringworm (tinea corporis) stemming from a tattoo.

How To Treat an Infected Tattoo

While it's possible to develop an infection that affects the entire body, potentially resulting in serious complications, most tattoo-related infections remain localized and manageable at the skin's surface.

Some mild skin infections may clear up fairly quickly with treatments like a topical ointment or short-term oral antibiotics. More serious infections might require a longer course of medical treatment to fully heal.

The specific treatment options a healthcare provider would recommend will depend on the exact type of infection you have and how severe it is. Treatment options might involve:

• Topical medications, like an antibiotic ointment for a bacterial infection or an antifungal cream for a fungal infection
• Oral medications, such as antibiotics to help clear a bacterial infection, antivirals to manage a viral infection, or corticosteroids to reduce swelling in some cases
• Intravenous (IV) medications given in a hospital setting to treat a severe or stubborn infection
• Over-the-counter pain relievers, like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) to help ease any discomfort
• Medical procedures to help drain pus from an infected area

Knowing the brand, color, and lot or batch number of the ink might help determine what exactly caused the infection and how to best treat it. You can get this information by contacting the tattoo artist. If they know that an infection might be tied to their ink, they will know to stop using it for future customers, as well.

How To Prevent Tattoo Infection

While it's not always possible to control every aspect of your environment, there are some steps that experts recommend taking to help prevent the chances of contracting an infection before, during, or after the tattoo experience:

• Check with your state or local health department to inquire about a particular studio or tattoo artist's license or registration. You can also inquire with the department about any complaints that may have been filed about the shop or artist.
• Ask the tattoo artist or shop owner what their disinfecting and sterilization processes are, including the use of sterilization equipment.
• Ensure that the tattoo artists wears a new pair of gloves and uses a brand-new, sterilized needle with each tattoo session.
  

After the tattoo is complete, you'll want to practice proper skin aftercare to minimize the chances of an infection forming. Make sure to:

• Wash your hands before touching a healing tattoo.
• Follow the bandage and cleaning aftercare instructions the tattoo artist provided.
• Use a plain liquid antibacterial soap when gently cleansing the area, and lightly pat dry with a clean paper towel.
• Moisturize the skin with a small amount of unscented moisturizer for a few weeks post-tattoo.
• Avoid wearing rough clothing fabric that might irritate the skin for the first couple weeks after getting inked.
• Avoid picking at the area. Even if you notice a thin layer of skin beginning to shed, don't pick; this is a normal part of the healing process.

Skin infections can tend to get worse without treatment, so keep an eye out for signs like increasing pain, swelling, pus, and redness or discoloration during the healing process to prevent further complications.

A Quick Review

Getting a tattoo isn't a totally risk-free experience. This process can expose you to a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, whether from a contaminated product, poor sterilization practices at the tattoo parlor, or improper skin aftercare. If you notice signs of an infection—such as pain, swelling, open sores, pus, itching, fever, or chills—contact a healthcare provider and the tattoo artist. The healthcare provider can make a diagnosis and prescribe any necessary treatment like antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal medication to help clear or manage the infection. The tattoo artist can provide details about the products used to help in the diagnosis and treatment and also make sure the contaminated product isn't used on anyone else.