Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsCausesStagesTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs
Causes
Stages
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
A tattoo infection occurs when a person gets a tattoo and it becomes infected due to small wounds on the skin. Although proper sterilization and care can reduce the risk of tattoo infection, it still can occur. Tattoo infections can be mild, but if left untreated, they can be dangerous and lead to serious health consequences.
This article discusses the signs, causes, and stages of tattoo infection and what you can do to prevent or treat it.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Waikato District Health Boardwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Signs of an Infection
Post-application swelling, pain, and redness in the tattooed area are completely normal. However, if an infection occurs,other symptoms can present, including:
The aforementioned signs will occur at or around the site of the tattoo, but other signs of infection can arise, including:
When to See a Healthcare ProviderMild skin irritation is normal with tattoos. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Infections can continue to worsen and cause severe health complications if left untreated.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Mild skin irritation is normal with tattoos. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Infections can continue to worsen and cause severe health complications if left untreated.
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Tattoo Infection Causes
Contaminated Ink and Tattoo InfectionsAccording to research, tattoo ink remains one of the major causes of tattoo infections. Roughly 10% of new tattoo inks contain some sort of bacteria or pathogen that can cause a tattoo infection.
Contaminated Ink and Tattoo Infections
According to research, tattoo ink remains one of the major causes of tattoo infections. Roughly 10% of new tattoo inks contain some sort of bacteria or pathogen that can cause a tattoo infection.
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Tattoo Infection Stages
When an infection develops after a tattoo, it goes through various stages. While these stages aren’t medically defined, they can help you get a better sense of how the infection will progress over time.
The stages associated withskin infectionsafter a tattoo include:
Complications of a Tattoo Infection
If the infection goes untreated, several serious and even life-threatening complications can occur, such as:
To treat a tattoo infection, a healthcare provider must first know what type of pathogen is causing it. In the event that bacteria is causing the infection,antibioticswill be prescribed.
The duration and strength of the antibiotic will highly depend on how far along the infection is and where it is infecting the body. Antibiotics used include:
In some cases, viral infections that a person acquired through tattoos cannot be cured.
Some examples of possible viral infections that can be contracted via tattooing include:
These viral infections cannot be cured, but they can be managed with medications. Treatment will vary.
Preventing a tattoo infection requires a person to not only practice good aftercare, but also to choose the right parlor. If you are looking to get a tattoo and want to avoid infection, look for a licensed tattoo artist and a well-reviewed parlor.
Getting to know the tattoo artist and visiting the tattoo parlor prior to getting the tattoo is a good way to determine whether they are practicing safe tattooing.
That said, even the cleanest and most hygienic tattoo parlors can have unopened ink that contains bacteria or other pathogens. Roughly 10% of new inks will contain bacteria, which is out of the control of the tattoo parlor and artists.
Because of this, proper aftercare is the best way to protect yourself against infection. Proper aftercare involves:
What to Avoid to Prevent InfectionTo make sure that your skin heals properly and you don’t get an infection, you should avoid:Picking or scratching the tattooSwimming or sitting in water for at least two weeksSun exposure for at least three weeksAbrasive clothing or other materials that could further irritate the tattooed areaLetting anyone touch the tattoo without first washing their hands
What to Avoid to Prevent Infection
To make sure that your skin heals properly and you don’t get an infection, you should avoid:Picking or scratching the tattooSwimming or sitting in water for at least two weeksSun exposure for at least three weeksAbrasive clothing or other materials that could further irritate the tattooed areaLetting anyone touch the tattoo without first washing their hands
To make sure that your skin heals properly and you don’t get an infection, you should avoid:
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Summary
All tattoos come with a risk of infection because they are open wounds. If an infection does occur, it will present with symptoms such as swelling, redness, pain, ulcers or a rash, and possibly fever or chills. If you notice any signs of infection, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Your provider can examine the area, diagnose the infection, and prescribe treatment, most likely antibiotics.
If a tattoo infection is left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening health conditions, such as septic shock and toxic shock syndrome. To prevent a tattoo infection, you should always go to a reputable artist with a clean parlor and follow all of the after-care instructions carefully.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBecause tattoos are open wounds, and every person heals differently, it can be hard to determine a set time when infection would occur. Typically speaking, tattoos can get infected anywhere from a few days to a couple of months after they are finished. This is because healing times vary, and, as long as there is still skin to heal, infection is possible.A mild infection that is caught and treated early likely won’t ruin the tattoo, but the longer it’s left untreated, the more risk you run of visual changes to the tattoo. This is because the skin infection can cause ulcers and other skin symptoms that can leave scarring in the area that compromises the visual integrity of the tattoo.An infected tattoo will never heal on its own. In fact, if they are left alone, they will spread and could even cause other health issues, some of which are fatal. This is why treatment is so important.
Because tattoos are open wounds, and every person heals differently, it can be hard to determine a set time when infection would occur. Typically speaking, tattoos can get infected anywhere from a few days to a couple of months after they are finished. This is because healing times vary, and, as long as there is still skin to heal, infection is possible.
A mild infection that is caught and treated early likely won’t ruin the tattoo, but the longer it’s left untreated, the more risk you run of visual changes to the tattoo. This is because the skin infection can cause ulcers and other skin symptoms that can leave scarring in the area that compromises the visual integrity of the tattoo.
An infected tattoo will never heal on its own. In fact, if they are left alone, they will spread and could even cause other health issues, some of which are fatal. This is why treatment is so important.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dieckmann R, Boone I, Brockmann SO, et al.The risk of bacterial infection after tattooing.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016;113(40):665-671. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0665Serup J.Tattoo infections, personal resistance, and contagious exposure through tattooing.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:30-41. doi:10.1159/000450777UpToDate.Patient education: skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis) (beyond the basics).Serup J.Medical treatment of tattoo complications.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:74-81. doi:10.1159/000450804Cohen PR.Tattoo-associated viral infections: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2021;14:1529-1540. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284796Fauger A, Sonck S, Kluger N, Chavagnac-Bonneville M, Sayag M.Tattoo aftercare management with a dermo-cosmetic product: improvement in discomfort sensation and skin repair quality.J Cosmet Dermatol.2022;21(3):1051-1056. doi:10.1111/jocd.14157
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dieckmann R, Boone I, Brockmann SO, et al.The risk of bacterial infection after tattooing.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016;113(40):665-671. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0665Serup J.Tattoo infections, personal resistance, and contagious exposure through tattooing.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:30-41. doi:10.1159/000450777UpToDate.Patient education: skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis) (beyond the basics).Serup J.Medical treatment of tattoo complications.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:74-81. doi:10.1159/000450804Cohen PR.Tattoo-associated viral infections: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2021;14:1529-1540. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284796Fauger A, Sonck S, Kluger N, Chavagnac-Bonneville M, Sayag M.Tattoo aftercare management with a dermo-cosmetic product: improvement in discomfort sensation and skin repair quality.J Cosmet Dermatol.2022;21(3):1051-1056. doi:10.1111/jocd.14157
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dieckmann R, Boone I, Brockmann SO, et al.The risk of bacterial infection after tattooing.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016;113(40):665-671. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0665Serup J.Tattoo infections, personal resistance, and contagious exposure through tattooing.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:30-41. doi:10.1159/000450777UpToDate.Patient education: skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis) (beyond the basics).Serup J.Medical treatment of tattoo complications.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:74-81. doi:10.1159/000450804Cohen PR.Tattoo-associated viral infections: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2021;14:1529-1540. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284796Fauger A, Sonck S, Kluger N, Chavagnac-Bonneville M, Sayag M.Tattoo aftercare management with a dermo-cosmetic product: improvement in discomfort sensation and skin repair quality.J Cosmet Dermatol.2022;21(3):1051-1056. doi:10.1111/jocd.14157
Dieckmann R, Boone I, Brockmann SO, et al.The risk of bacterial infection after tattooing.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2016;113(40):665-671. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0665
Serup J.Tattoo infections, personal resistance, and contagious exposure through tattooing.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:30-41. doi:10.1159/000450777
UpToDate.Patient education: skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis) (beyond the basics).
Serup J.Medical treatment of tattoo complications.Curr Probl Dermatol.2017;52:74-81. doi:10.1159/000450804
Cohen PR.Tattoo-associated viral infections: a review.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2021;14:1529-1540. doi:10.2147/CCID.S284796
Fauger A, Sonck S, Kluger N, Chavagnac-Bonneville M, Sayag M.Tattoo aftercare management with a dermo-cosmetic product: improvement in discomfort sensation and skin repair quality.J Cosmet Dermatol.2022;21(3):1051-1056. doi:10.1111/jocd.14157
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