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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 is just finished there is generally no oozing and the surface is relatively dry so when a petroleum product is applied droplets of fluid will begin to appear because the body is producing exudates. Exudates are necessary to create an environment which stimulates rapid wound healing. A wound maintained in a moist environment with exudates has a lower infection rate than a wound which is dry.

It was formerly thought that petroleum based ointments affected a tattoo in a negative manner by causing the ink to dissolve from the skin but scientific research has proven that this fact is not true. The constant application of antibacterial medication is also not good for the healing process. You can apply ointment and plastic wrapping to your tattoo when you go to sleep or go to bathe for a number of days as this will help protect your tattoo under these circumstances.

Tattoos may get infected for a whole number of reasons and usually when these reasons occur various symptoms tend to indicate that a tattoo is infected, these symptoms include: 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.

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.

In certain other cases, the skin over a tattoo could heal but an infection could still reside in the depths of the wound thereby creating more serious situations such as an abscess. Neglecting to take care of this abscess properly may result in it becoming septic and infecting the whole body.

You will likely need an antibiotic to heal your infected tattoo. A doctor may also order blood tests, depending on the circumstances under which you received the tattoo. Treat an infected tattoo by keeping it dry at all times. Water is the biggest enemy of your tattoo as it heals.