Tattoos and body piercings provide an opening in the skin that may allow germs to enter your body and cause infections. These infections could cause sepsis. It is for this reason that anyone who receives a tattoo or piercing must take special care to reduce the risk of contracting an infection.
Tattoos and complications.
In the preantibiotic era, bacterial complications of tattooing sometimes were severe or even fatal. Today, sepsis after tattooing is extremely rare.
People with severe tattoo infections are at risk for complications that may include: Endocarditis. Organ failure, which occurs when your kidneys, liver or other organs can no longer do their job. Septic shock (sepsis).
Most sepsis is caused by bacterial infections, but it can also be caused by viral infections, such as COVID-19 or influenza; fungal infections; or noninfectious insults, such as traumatic injury.
People with sepsis often develop a hemorrhagic rash—a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pinpricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.
Types of Infections
Most often, tattoo infections are bacterial skin infections like staphylococcus. You pick them up from unsterile conditions or contaminated inks or water. It's uncommon, but you could also get a serious infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Redness and warmth
Make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for a topical or oral antibiotics. You can have swelling and warmth even without infection, says Tonkovic-Capin. But if it persists for more than three days or gets worse, then it is an infection. And you guessed it: See a doctor.
Signs of an infected tattoo
If it progresses, worsens or accelerates three to five days after getting the tattoo, you need to take action due to high likelihood of a skin infection. Pus with foul-smelling drainage. Worsening pain. Systemic symptoms like fevers and chills.
Your provider can examine the area, diagnose the infection, and prescribe treatment, most likely antibiotics. If a tattoo infection is left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening health conditions, such as septic shock and toxic shock syndrome.
Basically treat this sickness as if it is a regular flu. Your symptoms should pass in a day or two as your body's immune system calms down and gets to the proper work of healing the actual tattoo on your skin.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
An adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis: acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense. blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.
The tattoo process causes trauma to your body along with stress on your body and your brain. Your immune system will start to fight back. This is sometimes called “tattoo flu” as you may feel sick. This is normal, especially with your first tattoo as your body is in shock and is trying to heal itself.
An infected tattoo can be serious. The area around your tattoo may be painful, swollen, red, and hot. You may see red streaks or pus at the tattoo site. You may have a fever or swollen or tender lymph nodes.
Extreme redness of the skin: Most tattoos are inflamed and red right after they've been done, but if the redness intensifies rather than resolving within a week of the procedure, you may have an infection.
However, with tattooing, when done under non-ideal conditions, there is the possibility of microorganisms infecting the skin. It can be due to bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The most common infections are due to bacteria and specifically, bacteria that cause pus formation like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. These germs can live on contaminated implanted medical devices and improperly cleaned needles, such as those used for tattoos and injecting drugs. If an area of your skin is broken, skin-to-skin contact or touching contaminated objects may also lead to infection.
People with more tattoos appear to have higher levels of immune molecules, including antibodies. However, researchers point out that more antibodies don't always translate into better immunity and no one knows how long the effects really last.
As sepsis worsens or septic shock develops, an early sign, particularly in older people or the very young, may be confusion or decreased alertness. Blood pressure decreases, yet the skin is paradoxically warm. Later, extremities become cool and pale, with peripheral cyanosis and mottling.
Sepsis is known as the 'silent killer' because its symptoms often mimic that of other illnesses such as the flu or gastro. But, if it is identified and treated early, patients can recover.
A person with sepsis might have one or more of the following signs or symptoms: High heart rate or weak pulse. Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Confusion or disorientation.