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While a person is getting a tattoo, the skin secretes a fluid that forms droplets on the surface. Now, normally the blood particles in the fluid would dry on the surface and would look like black specs. If left alone and no bothered or picked at they will attach themselves along with particles and then they dry and form what you know as a scab. Eventually though the skin will heal in spite of the obstacles created. If this process gets disturbed then you are going to have to deal with healing an infected tattoo.

If the damage that occurs to the skin is minimal in nature, then the rate of healing will usually depend on the level of moisture present in the area. Certain healing ointments can create the needed atmosphere for proper healing and they are: Bacitracin Zinc, A & D Ointment and Petroleum. The petroleum content in these products means that neither air nor water penetrates to the skin surface and this then creates the optimal healing condition.

When a tattoo has just been finished, no oozing occurs and the skin surface is still dry one way or the other. The application of a petroleum based product would mean the appearance of droplets of fluid because of the body’s production of exudates. Exudates are needed in order to create an environment which tends to help with the quick healing of tattoos. Wounds which are maintained in a moist environment with exudates tend to suffer lesser chances of getting infected than dry wounds.

Initially it was believed that petroleum would cause the ink to leave the skin but it is now known that is not true. The constant application of antibacterial is not necessary to avoid infection. Antibacterial products actually interfere with the wound healing process. Ointment applying and plastic wrapping for the shower or sleeping for a few days will help protect the tattoo under adverse conditions.

Sometimes tattoo infection tends to occur for various reasons. Some of the symptoms which may mean that your tattoo is infected are listed as follows: Increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the tattoo, red streaks extending from the area, pus coming from the wound, swollen or tender lymph nodes, or fever. These are all indications of the presence of an infection.

Infection may start at the tattoo and usually clear or clear-yellow fluid that drains from an infected tattoo may change to creamy yellow, brown, or red or look or smell like pus. Infection may also occur deep inside the wound, with few noticeable signs at the site. Pain and swelling may develop. This is a definite sign that you have to heal the infected tattoo.

Sometimes the skin over a tattoo may heal but an infection may be present in the depths of the wound, this would usually result in a more serious situation such as an abscess. Failure to heal this infected tattoo may lead to it spreading within the bones or joints and it may become septic and infect the whole body.

Antibiotics are usually needed to heal an infected tattoo but a doctor might also recommend blood tests as well and suggest that the infected tattoo be kept as dry as possible. Water tends to affect healing tattoos adversely.