A tattoo is a series of puncture wounds that carry ink into the different levels of the skin. At first, the tattoo may be swollen. There may be some crusting on the surface. It's normal for the tattoo to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours. And it may ooze clear, yellow, or blood-tinged fluid for several days.
Problems with tattoos include:
Be sure to think about all aspects of getting a tattoo. A tattoo should be considered permanent. Tattoo removal is hard and may cause scarring. It may not be possible to completely remove a tattoo and restore your normal skin color and texture.
Temporary tattoos, such as henna tattoos (mehndi), may also cause problems. Most of the ingredients in temporary tattoos are safe for application to the skin. But there have been reports of allergic skin reactions (contact dermatitis) to the ingredients in some of the tattoos.
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
Symptoms of infection may include:
Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:
Usually found in dirt and soil, tetanus bacteria typically enter the body through a wound. Wounds may include a bite, a cut, a puncture, a burn, a scrape, insect bites, or any injury that may cause broken skin.
You may need a tetanus shot depending on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.
If proper technique and clean instruments are not used, there is a chance of getting an infectious disease when you get a tattoo or body piercing.
Symptoms of an infectious illness may include:
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) may include:
A severe reaction can be life-threatening. If you have had a bad allergic reaction to a substance before and are exposed to it again, treat any symptoms as an emergency. Even if the symptoms are mild at first, they may quickly become very severe.
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
Based on your answers, you need emergency care.
Call 911 or other emergency services now.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.
Most minor swelling and redness (inflammation) from a tattoo can be treated at home. If your tattoo artist gave you instructions, follow them carefully. If you didn't get instructions for skin care of the tattoo site, try using these.
Minimal bleeding can be stopped by applying direct pressure to the wound. It's normal for the tattoo site to ooze small amounts of blood for up to 24 hours and to ooze clear, yellow, or blood-tinged fluid for several days.
This can help reduce swelling, bruising, or itching. Never apply ice directly to the skin. It can cause tissue damage. Put a layer of fabric between the cold pack and the skin.
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Don't use strong soaps, detergents, and other chemicals. They can make itching worse.
If you think your tattoo might become dirty or irritated, cover it with a bandage. Follow these steps when using a bandage.
Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:
Over-the-counter medicines
More self-care
Current as of: November 15, 2021
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor MD - Emergency Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
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