i got a tattoo 3 days ago and it still hasnt stopped hurting is this normal?? how can i keep it from getting infected?? and what would happen if it did get infected?? any help would be appreciated
Oh yeah its normal for it to keep hurting, and most likely will for the next 2 weeks (it is an open wound). As far as infection, if you clean it regularaly with an ointment, which your tattoo artist should have given you, it will be fine. If you havent gotten any, go to a tattoo or peircing place and ask for some. Peace and love.
I think a lot of the pain depends on where it is also. Make sure to keep it clean and moisturized. Everyone's pain level is different. I know after I had my right shoulder done, the pain was there for about a week, but when I had my left arm done, it lasted only as long as the needle was working. Good luck
thanks people!! its on my ankle and part of its on my foot i dont have any ointment! would neosporin work?? and its been 3 or 4 days, my brother said that if it was going to get infected that it would already be infected by now. i was just wondering if that were true i guess i am just freaking out because my tattoo is sore and none of my other tatts were sore for this long
dont use ointment, use an unscented lotion like lubriderm. Ointments aren't the best for tattoos, its better to have something water soluble. It'll be sore for a while, and just make sure you wash it with antibacterial soap a couples times a day, let it air dry, the put on the lotion. Keep up with that regimen, and it'll be healed in no time. I just finished up healing a beautiful lotus on my arm a few days ago took about 3 weeks to completely heal for me.
Consider a tattoo to be like slight road rash or rug burn... yes, it's going to hurt for a few days. But it shouldn't be unbearable all the time, and if it is, I'd worry about allergies (a lot of people are allergic to reds and oranges). Keep A&D ointment (Vaseline, off-brand Vitamin A&D ointment, anything plain and unscented, basically) on it to keep it from scabbing. You're 3 days in? Watch out, it WILL be very itchy, very soon. Do anything you can do avoid scratching or even rubbing it, just remember that will bring out the ink and possibly cause scarring. Try to keep it out of the sun while it's healing. And always remember with tattoos, piercings, anything really... generally, you will KNOW when it's infected. It'll be red, feverish, possibly throbbing, and usually there will be a darker yellow or greenish pus. Clear, white, or very light yellow is normal, it's your white blood cells trying to heal the area.
i generally just clean mine with water.. and as it starts to scab i put unscented moisterizer on to keep the scab soft.
