An inflamed tattoo can be a big headache. After all, no one would like to see their dream tattoo with healing problems or something more serious, right? Thinking about it, we talked to tattoo artist Dani Vanzella to ask questions about it, learn how to avoid inflammation and know what care is needed. Follow up!
Why does the tattoo ignite?
The tattoo can inflame by several factors. Dani explains that the causes can vary from person to person. The 3 main factors for the tattoo to inflame are the lack of adequate asepsis by the tattoo artist, the ingestion of contraindicated foods in the first week after the tattoo is performed and exposure to the sun before the minimum healing period.
Our body recognizes a tattoo as a wound, so it is natural to treat it as an inflammation of the skin. It is necessary to properly care for your tattoo so that it does not develop severe inflammation or other complications. Next, learn how to recognize whether or not your tattoo is inflamed.
Symptoms of an inflamed tattoo
After tattooing, it is normal to feel pain and fever at the site after 2 or 3 days. After all, it is necessary to injure the skin to insert the pigment, but some symptoms may indicate that the tattoo has inflamed. Check out these symptoms below:
- Irritation and increased redness at the tattoo site;
- Yellowish secretion;
- Bad smell;
- Prolonged pain and fever.
Dani recommends contacting your tattoo artist if you notice any of these symptoms. In addition, if symptoms persist, it is recommended to seek a health professional.
How to care for an inflamed tattoo
Want to know how to take care of your tattoo inflammation? Stay calm! Here, we will mention some basic care for you to take with your tattoo and avoid inflammation. Follow:
- Do the proper hygiene: it is important to clean the tattooed area correctly with a neutral soap and cold water.
- Avoid contact between plastics and clothing: plastic and clothing can smother the area, preventing the skin from breathing. This ends up making the site more conducive to the development of inflammation.
- Avoid sun exposure: Sunlight hinders the healing process and can interfere with the accommodation of pigment in the layers of the skin.
- Do not remove the crusts or scratch the tattoo: this can facilitate the infection of the region, as it is more exposed to bacteria.
- Use a bacteriostatic antibiotic ointment: this type of ointment is indicated for skin infections, prevents the development of bacteria and helps with healing.
To avoid tattoo inflammation, you need to follow your tattoo artist’s recommendations. Be sure to ask all your questions before leaving the studio. Thus, you will have a smooth and inflammation-free healing process.
Questions about inflamed tattoo
We took advantage of our conversation with Dani to clarify the main doubts on the subject. Check out:
- What types of tattoos tend to ignite, the colored ones or the black ones? In general, black tattoos cause less of an allergic reaction. “The red pigment is the one that most causes allergies, since, in its composition, mercury is used, a very aggressive metal”, says the tattoo artist. She also highlights that the tattoo ignites or is not related to a set of factors and not just the pigment being red or colored.
- Does the inflamed tattoo lose color? According to Dani, “the tattoo, after going through the inflammatory process, if properly cared for from the beginning, does not lose its color”. If the person ingested contraindicated foods and did not take proper care, however, the tattoo fades and looks flawed.
- Is it possible to retouch the tattoo that has inflamed? “Yes, it can be retouched after the minimum interval of 30 days after the first session.”
- Can a tattoo ignite after some time? “Yes, it can become inflamed after the minimum healing period, which is 30 days. However, this is not a rule, as each person has a healing process.”
- How to prevent tattoo inflammation? “A tattoo is an injury to the skin. So it is essential to take care of it properly. Hygiene and hydration of the place are the main ways to avoid inflammation of the tattooed area.”
Also, it is essential to properly protect the tattoo from the sun. “The sun is the enemy of tattoos. Take your tattoo seriously, it will stay with you forever!” recommends Dani. Now that you know how to take care of inflamed tattoo, get to know the new white tattoo trend and learn how to take care of it.