The signs that mean your tattoo is infected – and when it could prove DEADLY

ONE in five Brits has one - even if you can't see it.

And the figure is even higher in the younger generation with one in three young adults sporting a ink.

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Tattoos have definitely become a normal part of life - most of us know someone either have one or know someone who does.

But getting inked comes with a health risk, it could get infected.

And while most infections can cause a nasty skin irritation and even leave scars, some infections could cost you your life.

So how do you know if your tat is infected?

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It's normal to see a bit of redness, swelling and tenderness when you get a new tattoo.

After all, a needle has just pierced in and out of your skin injecting it with ink as it goes.

If you follow all the care instruction, like keeping it clean and well moisturised, then everything should heal up nicely.

But when it doesn't that's when it can become infected and you're faced with more than just sore skin.

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Symptoms of an infected tattoo

One of the biggest signs your tattoo is infected is pus.

Pus is essentially a build-up of dead white blood cells that have accumulated to fight an infection.

So it goes without saying that where there is pus, there is an infection.

Your tattooed area may also be hot and painful to touch, swollen and more wounds may begin appearing around the area you got inked.

You may also start to experience a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

That's when you need to be worried because it means the infection has made its way into your blood and could lead to deadly sepsis.

If you have any of these symptoms you need to speak to a GP straight away.

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What causes an infection?

A number of things can cause a tattoo to become infected.

When you get one you have essentially broken the skin thousands of times in one area, which means it's very easy for nasty germs and bugs to get in.

One of the infections you might end up with is a staph infection.

Staph bacteria can cause minor skin irritation like boils and blisters, but it can also cause more serious infections in the blood, lungs and hearts if it manages to enter the bloodstream.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a common superbug known to be resistant to antibiotics, can cause blood poisoning and even toxic shock syndrome if it gets into your bloodstream.

If this isn't treated quickly it can lead to organ failure and even death.

Another type of infection you might get is from contaminated ink - it pays to remember that you are not the only one in that tattoo shop to have ever been inked so chose a parlour that meets health and safety standards.

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A nontuberculous mycobacteria infection can also be caused by unsterile instruments and unsterile water used to clean the instruments.

This can cause red or greyish patches of raised, thicken skin to appear around the tattooed area.

A 2015 study noted a rise in case reports of nontuberculous mycobacteria infection within six months of getting a tattoo.

In a review of case reports they found that less than 50 per cent had tested equipment for bacteria, prompting the need for sterile standards during tattooing.

And according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one brand of ink contaminated with the bacteria caused 35 infections in 19 states.

There are also other hidden risks in using dirty equipment, especially needles.

Viral infections like hepatitis B and C, HIV and herpes.

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Treatment for infected tattoos

The first thing you need to do if you think your tattoo might be infected is to speak to your GP or pharmacist.

There are plenty of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory creams available that could help treat the infection.

If your infection is more serious then oral antibiotics may be prescribed alongside creams to treat the affected area.

In some cases your tattoo may need draining which, and there's no nice way of putting this, requires your doctor to lance the wound and allow the pus to drain out.

And in the case of severe infection, where blood poisoning may occur, hospital treatment is necessary.

But if this all sounds to nasty to deal with, there are ways you can stop your tattoo from getting infected.

Before you have even got your ink make sure you have chosen to get your tattoo in a reputable, licensed salon where you know the ink and equipment will be clean.

Make sure your tattoo artists cleans the area of skin they are going to tattoo before the fire-up the tattoo gun.

And once you have a tattoo make sure you follow all the after care instructions, paying particular attention to keeping the area clean until it has healed.

It will take seven to 14 days for your new ink to heal, depending on how big the tattoo is.

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