There are only a few possible healing problems associated with the tattoo. The first obvious one is infection. Tattoos may be red or irritated, but the infection is a green or brown discharge. Infections do not come out of the workshops, normally the client has gotten into something that they should not or simply has not taken care of the tattoo. If you see a tattoo getting infected, you should ask what the client is using for care. Rubbing alcohol and peroxide will only make the infection worse. Rubbing alcohol will dry out the skin and cause it to heal more strongly, and the peroxide will kill the infection and cause new skin to grow back.
The worst thing you can do on an infected tattoo is any kind of ointment. The ointment will seal the infection and make it worse. Instead, you need to dry out the infection. The best thing you can tell your client is to only wash the tattoo two or three times a day for two days. If the infection improves, continue until the tattoo is completely healed. If the infection stays the same or gets worse, you should tell them to go to the hospital, where the wound will be washed and antibiotics prescribed.
Never diagnose an infection over the phone. Tell your client to come by, so you can see the tattoo first hand. If it has already progressed, you should tell them to see their doctor. Most of the time it will be red or sore to the touch and people will just assume it is infected. Everybody loves to panic.
Allergic reactions are common in the tattoo field. If someone has an allergic reaction to a tattoo, it had better not be the pigment. Again, find out what they are using for aftercare. Most of the time, the culprit will be a lotion that is perfumed or made for tattoo aftercare. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are small red bumps around the tattoo, the area around the tattoo may be red, the tattoo will be more painful than normal, and sometimes you will see a clear or white discharge.
The best thing you can do is tell them to discontinue the aftercare they are using and to wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap to kill bacteria and prevent it from turning into an infection. If it progresses to an infection, follow the instructions above. Don’t tattoo diabetics unless you know them personally. Diabetics are more open to infection due to the lack of circulation associated with the condition. This means that the tattoo will heal much more slowly as well as having a higher risk of infection. Remember that the general health of your client is infinitely more important than the result of the work. You can always touch up a tattoo after it heals. Don’t take any risk.
