Tattoo FAQs: How can you tell if your tattoo is infected, and how do you treat it?

A fresh tattoo is an open wound — in the first few days, it is vulnerable to infections as the body heals.

It is normal to experience swelling, redness, and oozing in the beginning, but when is it time to get worried?

According to Fifty-Five Tinta tattoo artists, look out for rashes and excessive redness.

Jeff Manzon said the rashes might be "scaly, itchy, and bumpy."

"Excessive redness or discoloration, where the skin beneath the tattoo becomes darker instead of lightening up as it heals," he added. "Pus on the blisters and/or open sores that may have crusting."

The infection might also manifest into a fever, tattoo artist Alvin Gantioque said.

"'Pag medyo iba ang pakiramdam mo, minsan pa ay lalagnatin ka or may sobrang sakit sa loob," he said.

Additionally, the tattoo should already be dry by the fifth day, which will then be followed by scabbing and flaking. If the tattoo is exerting too much fluid with no let up, it might be infected.

Treatment

If you suspect that not all is well with your tattoo, the first step is to consult your tattoo artist and confirm whether it's an infection.

"Huwag kang makinig sa kung sino-sino," Gantioque said. "Mag-consult sa tattoo artist para mapayuhan ng dapat gawin."

But once confirmed, tattoo artist Rabbit Abad said he doesn't recommend letting clients treat infections themselves.

"I strongly suggest getting it checked by a doctor for safety, but in my own experience as well as a few clients that experienced an infected tattoo, cold compress around the infected area for a few minutes usually reduces the redness and a bit of the swelling," he said.

Doctors will likely prescribe antibacterial creams and antibiotics, but for first-aid treatments, Abad said you can start by washing it with soap.

"You can also try pain reliever and antiseptic for cuts and burns, they usually help as well," Abad said.

"Keep your tattoo dry, cool, stress-free," he added. "Any strenuous activities may worsen the infection."

Prevention

The tattoo artists urge clients to listen to their aftercare instructions and follow them to a T.

Use mild soap, layer with thin moisturizer, and avoid straining the area where your tattoo is.

"Keep your tattoos clean, quit touching or never let anyone touch your fresh tattoo, never soak your fresh tattoos in water either in the shower or pool or salt water," Manzon said.

Most importantly, only trust professional tattoo shops and artists to do your tattoos.

Now, what happens when the infection clears out?

If the bout of infection damages your tattoo, simply consult again with your tattoo artist for possible retouches.

And be extra careful next time, Kapuso! —GMA Integrated News