An important lesson in avoiding a tattoo and body piercing infection is to not get one in the first place! However, there are some simple things you can do to avoid these infections.

Body piercings have a greater risk of infection because they actually invade the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. For this reason, more caution is required to prevent infection. Maintaining the area with washings and using the cream that your professional piercer or tattoo artist provides with their service.

Body piercings tend to get infected if they are botched. So make sure you go to a reputable piercer who can provide you with sterile needles and materials. This is the number one preventative step you can take.

Tattooing has a low risk in getting an infection due to the way they are given. The tattoo ink is introduced into the dermis, an upper layer of the skin. Bleeding may occur but this is normal. Tattoo needles are shallow and hold low risk of infection.

Be sure that your tattoo artist has a very good reputation and uses sanitized equipment. A number of experienced artists possess an autoclave to sterilize their equipment. The major risk of infection with tattooing is hepatitis C caused by using a dirty needle.

A few of the signs of infection are inflammation, cloudy seepage, greenish scabbing, redness and tenderness. There might be signs of an allergic reaction like swelling, redness and itching on the infected area. You must tell your piercer or tattoo artist to any allergies to any products even sensitivity to inks.

Although most piercings and tattoos are painful to begin with, this pain should subside within a few days to a week. If yours shows no sign of healing, you should contact your piercer or tattooist and let them look at it. In many cases they can tell you what you need to do to clear up any minor infection.

Lastly, if ever you do get an infection that has gone deeper into the skin, immediately get an advice from a physician. You may be asked to take antibiotics to help free your body from the infection. Time and again, this can be done without losing the piercing as well as not damaging your tattoo.

Tags: Tattoos