What to Do When a Tattoo Gets Infected — Questions and Tips
How to Deal With a Tattoo Infection (and How to Prevent It From Happening Again)
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There are several signs to look out for if you think your tattoo is infected. According to Dagger, that includes prolonged (i.e. more than two days) swelling around the tattooed area, increased tenderness of the tattooed area, and rashes, redness, or bumps on the tattooed area. You should also keep an eye on pus coming out of the tattoo, but don't be alarmed if you see blood and plasma immediately after your appointment — that much is normal.
The first thing you should do if your tattoo is showing the above signs is to reach out to a doctor, if possible, to assess the situation. You'll get a better idea of how serious the infection is and where you should go from there.
If you catch the infection quickly and it remains non-serious, Dagger recommends you stop using ointment and wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap three times a day. Then, he said, you should let it "dry heal" without any ointments or creams.