Scratchy, rough loofahs exfoliate the skin and may cause infection or bleeding on the tattoed area. Here's what they might tell you that you need to do: The infection may present at the surface of the tattoo or underneath the skin, deep within the wound. This happens when there is trauma and open areas to the skin. Is my tattoo infected? I got my first tattoo 4 days ago, it is swollen and red and hurts quite a lot. You can also use. It was her second tattoo, the first being completed some years earlier without incident. However, this swelling can make the. Help! The agony was unbelievable. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency. In general, it's normal to have swelling and redness around your tattoo for about 48 hours after you first get it done. If you have redness that extends outside the tattoo area or severe pain, contact your tattoo artist right away or seek medical help. Only use a tiny amount, enough to leave a very thin, almost nonexistent layer. The color of the ink may be related to the risk of inflammation, allergic reactions, and hypersensitivity, because of certain ingredients, including chromium in green ink, cadmium in yellow ink, mercury salt in red ink, and cobalt in blue ink. The incidence of hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation following laser tattoo removal with a quality-switched Nd:YAG laser. People who have had keloids in the past may be at risk for developing one after receiving a tattoo. Youll likely be removing your bandage on day 2 of your tattoo healing process (if you didnt already on day 1). There are many different methods for caring for a new tattoo. I haven't seen this in any of my previous tattoos. It is the body's natural defense system. If your tattoo shows any of these signs, see your doctor immediately because it may be the sign of an infection. Any advise. Shaving over your new tattoo is never a good idea for many reasons. Whitney (author) from Georgia on May 25, 2010: Soreness will vary on location and person. I've had other tattoos,but never experienced a muscle pain like this, but granted this is also my largest. Everything that comes into contact with human skin, blood, and fluids needs to be properly sterilized.