Tattoo Infection |
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 May 7 2007, 02:26 PM
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#1
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I am going to the doctor today as I think my boxer tattoo is infected. I have numerous tattoos and am pretty meticulous about caring for them, but this is my first experience with something like this. It's isolated to the area near the "ditch" of my arm. It started out getting all puff, and tender, then started to form like a crevice with a milky-colored liquid at times. Then over the weekend, the outside of my forearm broke out in small painful pimples with little white-heads.
It's been a week and I went in to my regular tattoo artist for a touch up on another piece and he said he couldn't work on me as having an infection could cause serious problems (Good to know). Anyway, I was curious if anyone here has had an infection and what the outcome was. Did the tattoo heal poorly? Was it salvageable? Here's a pic (note: This is pretty gross!)
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-------------------- Stay humble.
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Dec 4 2007, 10:56 AM
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#41
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that shits crazy...ive never seen this wtf....can we say...dirty needles?nah im playin for the serious ones........
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Jan 4 2008, 08:21 PM
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#42
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Alright, so I have a new tattoo and am confused on whether it is infected or not and how I should treat it. I received advise but am questioning whether the advice is legit or not and need help from the people here.
So the tat was done in two parts on two seperate sittings. The first was the black lettering and two weeks later I did the red ink behind it. The black healed fine however the red is turning out a mess. It looks like it could be infected. It has been about two weeks since the red was completed. It looks like severe scabbing deep into the skin more than usual. But there has been no pussing, swelling, or pain. It does itch like crazy but I figure that is probably the hair growing back. There are also a couple bumps but figured that might be ingrown hairs. Here is the other part: I ran into the receptionist from tattoo shop and asked him about it. He is NOT a tattooist but is heavily inked and gave me advice. He stated that red ink is difficult to heal and this stuff happens. He did not say whether it was an infection or not. But he did say NOT to put anything on it at all and just let the scabs heal themselves. He said once the scabs are gone, then to apply lotion. Is this advice good? What else should I do or consider? I have attached some pics so you can get an idea. Any help would be awesome. Thanks.
Attached image(s)
 
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Jan 4 2008, 08:44 PM
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#43
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could be he ate up your skin pretty fierce in those spots, or you could be having a reaction to the red ink, which is common when it comes to reds. If you are not showing the typical symptoms of staph (look through the threads here or google) I would wait and see. I personally think it looks like he chewed you up pretty good. But what do i know, I'm just a scratcher.
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Jan 5 2008, 01:37 PM
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#44
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If there's no tenderness, it's prob. not an infection. But you really shouldn't take any chances. If you have health insurance, go to the doctor to be safe. Why not? That's what insurance is for.
-------------------- Stay humble.
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Jan 5 2008, 02:47 PM
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#45
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looks like overworked to me too! doesn't look infected (lack of redness/tenderness/pus) but like J says if in doubt get checked out! i wouldnt put anything on it personally either ... just let it go now and give it another month or so healing before hitting it again .. spend the week or so before you are gonna go back at it latherin it with moisturiser to help prepare the skin.
This post has been edited by Blackwidow: Jan 5 2008, 02:48 PM -------------------- Facebook me ... blackwidow footie/myspace me ... bwidow2001
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Jan 5 2008, 05:58 PM
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#46
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Looks very much like hamburgered skin.
It must have hurt like a bastard when you had it done if your skin was as chewed up as it looks. Keep it bone dry and free from contaminants and like the people have said if you are worried go and see your doctor. -------------------- We are all laying in the gutter but some of us are looking for spare change...
Tragic Bio.. Joe Sleepy on MySpace Merchandise JoeSleepy on Zazzle.com |
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Jan 6 2008, 02:03 AM
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#47
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not one pigment is harder than another to heal, he turned you into hamberger. Good thing he wasen't tattooin on your chest, it would be on your spine.
-------------------- Treat every situation like a dog would. Eat it, hump it, or piss on it and walk away.
http://www.myspace.com/maddhattertattoos |
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Jan 6 2008, 05:03 AM
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#48
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i got the impression he did this tattoo himself?
-------------------- Facebook me ... blackwidow footie/myspace me ... bwidow2001
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Jan 6 2008, 11:02 AM
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#49
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Hey! I can tell you personally this shit is serious. There are different 'levels' of staph virus's. I have read a lot about it recently. The doctors info keeps changing because this is latest problem. Staph is everywhere and most will never suffer more than an itchy scab. Used to be only the sick would suffer or hospitals had cases. now people have died outside of hospitals. google mrsa. staph, blood poisoning and blood sepsis and you start to see how fast people are running to research label and understand. I had a spider bite (brown recluse) that opened a wound that took forever to close and heal, i got a secondary infection (docs called it staph something or other) (open wound +dirty job/life= secondary infection), i watched my leg swell and turn red, not bad, but two days later a had odd red pimples on my body nowhere near the site, but near mayor blood vessals. The wound was so septic that the staph had gone systemic and was poisoning my blood. I was septic with weak vitals. Hours after the pimples i was hospitalized shot full of good drugs, racking up a major bill and a good (?) story. I am a construction worker and generally am pretty resistant to getting help and this happened so fast i asked to go to a hospital.
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Jan 6 2008, 10:16 PM
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#50
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Thanks everyone for who responded to my problem.
I am hearing a lot of tat lingo that i dont know: "chewed up" and "hamburgered." What exactly does this mean and what does it mean for the future of my tat? Is there any chance of salvaging the work? Or will have to walk around with my head down in shame cuz my forearm looks like crap for the rest of my life? I am seeing a doc just in case. That is why I got the insurance for sure! |
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Jan 23 2008, 12:05 AM
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#51
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Quick question: I use steri-wipes on the skin before starting the tat process....will these kill any staph infection that is already on the skin?
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Jan 23 2008, 10:00 PM
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#52
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QUOTE (Fudge @ Jan 23 2008, 02:05 AM)  Quick question: I use steri-wipes on the skin before starting the tat process....will these kill any staph infection that is already on the skin? i dont know, most wipe & sprays tell how long they have to be on surface to kill certain things -------------------- |
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Jan 25 2008, 09:27 AM
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#53
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QUOTE (GarbageGuy @ Jan 7 2008, 06:16 AM) Thanks everyone for who responded to my problem. I am hearing a lot of tat lingo that i dont know: "chewed up" and "hamburgered." What exactly does this mean and what does it mean for the future of my tat? Is there any chance of salvaging the work? Or will have to walk around with my head down in shame cuz my forearm looks like crap for the rest of my life? I am seeing a doc just in case. That is why I got the insurance for sure! these terms basically mean that the skin was traumatized by being over worked. (too many passes, working too deep, etc.) hope this helps... always see your doctor is something ins't going status quoe. |
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Oct 8 2008, 04:59 AM
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#54
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Staph can enter the skin via any 'insult' not only from tattooing. It could be a cut on the hand or foot, or the result of a IV puncture / needle insertion.
This doesn't imply that the needle itself was contaminated or it is even THE artists fault since staph could have entered from being on the surface of the skin or AFTER the tattoo was done and from somewhere in public, in your home, at work, etc. I've seen this before and depending on the depth of scabbing you will prob experience a 'pale area' where the scabbing is/was and eventually require a touch up. I'd not however even think of this for awhile so the infection totally clears and the skin heals fully so you don't scar-up that area that is still healing. Good luck - it will heal...it's not a major issue unless you are a diabetic or have a comprised immune system... |
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