Tattoo Infection: Symptoms And Treatment - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeTattoo Infection: Tips for Identification and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Bukky Aremu, APRN — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on September 10, 2025

Identification
Pictures
Staph infection
Treatment
See a doctor
Choosing a provider
Prevention
Summary

A common symptom of a tattoo infection is a rash around the area of the tattoo. Treatment depends on the cause of infection, and often includes a prescribed antibiotic.

Tattoos are an increasingly common sight. According to a 2023 study, about 30% of American adults indicated in a large-scale 2019 poll that they had at least one tattoo.

Their popularity may convince you that they aren’t all that risky to get. But getting a tattoo does carry some risk: Inserting an ink-covered needle into your skin has the potential to introduce foreign matter or infections into your body.

Getting a tattoo from a person or a shop that doesn’t properly clean their tools or provide you with instructions for keeping your fresh tattoo clean can lead to skin conditions, infections, or other health problems.

Here’s what you need to know about recognizing a possible tattoo infection, treating the affected area, and more.

How to identify an infected tattoo

A common symptom of a tattoo infection is a rash or red, bumpy skin around the area of the tattoo.

In some cases, your skin may just be irritated because of the needle, especially if you have sensitive skin. If this is the case, your symptoms should fade after a few days.

But if these symptoms continue for a week or more, see your tattoo artist or doctor.

See your doctor if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

fever
waves of heat and cold
abnormal shivering
swelling of the tattooed area
pus coming out of the area
red lesions around the area
red streaking from the area
areas of hard, raised tissue

Tattoo infection: Pictures

Is staph infection likely?

A staph infection is one type of infection you might get with a tattoo. Although these infections are treatable, staph bacteria can often develop resistance to regular antibiotics, making prescription treatments ineffective.

Staph bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can also get into your bloodstream and internal organs. When this happens, other conditions can develop, such as sepsis, arthritis, and toxic shock syndrome.

Some common symptoms of staph infection include:

aches or pains in your bones or muscles
fever of 102°F (38.9°C) or more
swelling of the infected area
sores in the infected area, filled with pus or fluid
impetigo (a honey-crusted rash)

See a doctor immediately or go to an urgent care clinic if you have any of these symptoms after getting a tattoo.

How to treat an infected tattoo

Minor bumps and rashes can usually be managed at home with antibacterial ointment, proper cleaning, and rest.

If you have an infection, treatment depends on the cause. A doctor may take a swab of the area or lance a pus pocket (if one is present) to test the liquid and see what bacteria or virus is causing the infection.

In most cases, a doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to help stop the infection. In severe cases of infection, antibiotic treatments may last for weeks or months. You will need to complete the entire dose of the antibiotic, even if it clears up before you are done.

If your infection was caused by MRSA bacteria, antibiotics may not help. If MRSA causes an abscess, a doctor may drain it instead of giving you antibiotics.

In rare cases of infection, surgery may be required. If your tissue has died due to the infection (necrosis), surgery may be needed to remove it.

Persistent, sometimes itchy, and painful bumps in your tattoo may be signs of an atypical mycobacterial infection. This requires long-term antibiotic treatment.

When to see a doctor

If you begin to feel feverish and experience abnormal oozing or scabbing around the tattooed area, see a doctor. These are common signs of infection. You should also see a doctor if a rash or swelling lasts for more than a week.

If an infection isn’t treated soon enough or can’t be treated properly because the bacteria have become resistant to an antibiotic, abscesses can result. Removal may require treatment in a clinic or hospital.

You should also see a doctor if you experience uncomfortable itching around the tattooed area or if the area is oozing pus or fluid. You may be having an allergic reaction to the ink.

Medical emergency
An allergic reaction can also lead to anaphylactic shock. This causes your throat to close up and your blood pressure to become dangerously low.
Go to the emergency room right away if you experience:
abdominal pain
anxiety
confusion
coughing
rash
slurred speech
facial swelling
trouble breathing
weak pulse
wheezing
difficulty swallowing
itchy skin
swelling in your mouth and throat
nausea

Choosing a reputable tattoo artist and parlor

Before getting a tattoo, find out if you’re allergic to any ingredients in tattoo ink. Make sure you ask the tattoo artist what ingredients their inks contain. If you’re allergic to any of them, ask for a different ink or avoid getting a tattoo altogether. However, keep in mind that it may be difficult to know what exactly is in tattoo inks as they aren’t regulated in any way.

Make sure that all items that touch your skin have been properly sterilized. Ask the parlor about how they sterilize instruments and meet safety standards.

Other things to consider before getting a tattoo include:

Is the tattoo parlor licensed? Licensed parlors have to be inspected by a health agency and meet certain safety requirements in order to stay open.
Is the tattoo parlor and artist reputable? It’s worth visiting a few tattoo parlors and artists before you decide to get a tattoo to see how trustworthy the parlor is. Reading reviews online or hearing about the shop through word-of-mouth are good ways to gauge how safe the shop is.
Does your potential tattoo artist follow safety procedures? Your tattoo artist should use a new, sterilized needle every time they start a tattoo. They should also wear gloves at all times.

How to prevent tattoo infection

If your tattoo artist gave you instructions on how to take care of your tattoo, follow those instructions closely. If they didn’t provide you with clear guidelines afterward, give them a call. They should be able to provide you with aftercare information.

Next steps

In general, you should do the following to make sure the area heals properly:

Remove the bandage 3 to 5 hours after you’ve gotten the tattoo.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water.
Use a clean, dry washcloth or paper towel to pat the area (to dry it and to remove blood, serum, or excess pigment).
Let the area air-dry for a few minutes. Don’t rub it dry — this can damage the skin.
Put an ointment (not a lotion), such as as A+D, to the area. Do not use Vaseline. Dab off the excess.
Repeat these steps about four times a day for at least 4 days.

Once the tattooed area starts to form into scabs, use a moisturizer or lotion to keep your skin from getting too dry or damaged. Don’t scratch or pick at the skin. This can cause the area to heal improperly, which may make you more susceptible to infections.

Takeaway

Tattoo infections are usually easy to treat and even easier to prevent. Most infections can be treated within a week with antibiotics. However, some infections can be very serious and require long-term antibiotics or other medications.

Selecting the right tattoo artist and learning to take care of your tattoo is crucial to ensuring your tattoo heals well and looks the way you want it to.

Bad infections may result in long-term antibiotic care, but usually they won’t cause any long-lasting health problems. Though rare, it’s possible to get a condition like hepatitis or HIV from a tattoo needle. In these cases, you might require more intensive, long-term treatment.

Read this article in Spanish.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) basics (2025). https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/about/
Morlock R, et al. (2023). Think before you ink: Perception, prevalence, and correlates of tattooing and tattoo regret in US adults.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10693284/
Ngan V. (2019). Tattoo-associated skin reactions.https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/tattoo-associated-skin-reactions/
Othman S, et al. (2024). Surgical excision and reconstruction of tattoo following hypersensitivity.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9118029/
Ramakrishnan K, et al. (2015). Skin and soft tissue infections.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0915/p474.html
Tattoos & permanent makeup: Fact sheet. (2024).https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/tattoos-permanent-makeup-fact-sheet
Think before you ink: Tattoo safety. (2024).https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/think-you-ink-are-tattoos-safe

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Medically reviewed by Bukky Aremu, APRN — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on September 10, 2025

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