Please help- I’m pretty freaked out. This is my first tattoo. I got it 9-10 days ago (depending on if you count the day I got it or not). I have followed the aftercare instructions to the T and kept incredibly clean. I used A&D ointment the first 3.5 days (light) and am now using Eucerin fragrance free lotion. I’m washing about three times per day, alternating between Dial antibacterial and Dove fragrance free. It scabbed over really bad, and the scabs are just starting to come off now. The only spot where they came off a lot is at the top of the second parentheses. Oh, and the tattoo is on the side of my calf.
What I’m really worried about, though, is the redness. I called the tattoo parlor yesterday (it’s about 45 min drive away or I’d go in), and they said although they try to avoid scabbing, redness is normal with scabbing, and to keep it clean and moist but not too moist. That is what I have done. It has been this level of redness for the last 2-3 days. It even seemed less red before that, but this redness came when the scabs formed. It’s not warm or painful, just really itchy. It doesn’t seem to be spreading at all, but it’s weirdly shaped the way it perfectly surrounds the tattoo.
Does this look like an infection to you, or is it just irritation from the scabbing/healing? Is there anything I can do to treat it? I don’t want to put an ice pack on it if it’s an infection, but if it’s just irritation, that might help.
if there is no fluid seeping from it then it is fine, it looks to me like it is overworked, hense the heavy scabbing.
give it a few more days and if it is still the same then go show your doctor, to me it looks ok. definately more red than normaly would expect, just bare with it a little longer, and if its continually itching then give it a gentle slap. …. not too hard but it will stop it itching tempararilly. 😉
Hi
As Outlaw has said the area have been heavily worked and the scabbing is the result. Itching is a sign of it healing – so no picking at it.
The redness is also quite common but signs of infection are;
Fluid leaking from beneath the scab – this can be clear (first stages) or pus coloured (later stages)
Hotness where it is red like a fever or fire feeling in the area.
Hard lumps that form up like a boil or yellow/white ‘pin-heads’ in the redness area.
Discolouration – blues, black, green, purple of the flesh – like ugly bruises.
To be honest it looks like you are ok just got some inflamation as you have a wound on your arm. My advice is keep it clean as you are doing and maybe take a small course of ibruprofen to relive the redness or any swelling – it will be tender for 2 weeks + so keep an eye on it.
Also check on the thread called paranoid about infection. This will give you some main pointers to watch for.
As it is I think you will be fine but any doubts or changes get a med professional to check it out.
Take Care
Matthew
the second session on my arm sleeve was also very red after a week or so, it will be because that its very itchy and sore still, it went after a few days after though, nothing to worry about =], the scabbing at after a week or so is still normal depending on our skin type, i have very dry skin most of the time so my skin finds it harder to cope with so many scabs.
hope this helps you.
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