Mark Roman | January 20, 2022 | Personal Injury
A tattoo should be a work of body art that expresses something about your unique identity. It should not be something that causes you harm.
Unfortunately, getting a tattoo can involve risks. For example, tattoo infections are fairly common. In many instances, these infections are minor. They may cause nothing more than minimal discomfort and will typically go away with basic care. However, some tattoo infections can be life-threatening.
How do Tattoo Infections Develop?
When a tattoo is applied, a foreign substance is inserted into the skin. Ideally, this will merely consist of ink, resulting in minor irritation and perhaps some redness for a brief period of time. These symptoms can usually be treated at home.
Sometimes, bacteria and/or viruses are also inserted into the skin during a tattoo. This often happens when the needles at the tattoo parlor have not been cleaned properly.
The Signs of a Tattoo Infection
Signs that your tattoo may be seriously infected include the following:
- Fever after getting a tattoo
- Shivering excessively or in situations when you normally wouldn’t shiver
- Swelling
- Pus around the tattoo
- Red lesions around the tattoo
- Tissue that is raised and hard
- Red streaks near the tattoo
It’s particularly important to seek immediate medical care if you develop any of these symptoms. If left untreated, your infection could put your life at risk.
Treating an Infected Tattoo
You should expect some discomfort or minor symptoms for a brief period after getting a tattoo. For example, you might develop a rash and/or some small bumps.
You can treat these yourself by cleaning your tattoo properly and applying antibacterial ointment. Of course, if you have any doubts about whether your body’s reaction to a tattoo is abnormal, you should contact your doctor right away.
If your tattoo infection does require treatment, a doctor may:
- Prescribe an antibiotic
- Drain the tattoo of pus or any other substances coming from the area of the tattoo
- Surgically remove your tattoo
It’s not common for tattoos to require surgical removal. This only tends to be necessary when an infection is so severe that the tattoo has essentially “died.”
Your Legal Rights
You may develop a severe tattoo infection despite having properly cleaned and cared for it. If this happens, you may have been the victim of negligence on the part of the tattoo parlor or artist.
You should be prepared to investigate the tattoo parlor’s health records. An attorney can assist you in this task if they believe you have justification to file a claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation for your medical bills and related losses. They will check the local health department’s records to learn more about whether the parlor where you got your tattoo has a history of complaints or infractions.
This first step will help you begin gathering evidence required to prove negligence if you do choose to file a claim to collect from the insurance of the tattoo parlor. Keep in mind, the parlor isn’t always at fault in these instances.
For example, perhaps the staff abided by all relevant cleaning and hygiene standards. You may have developed an infection because the products the staff used to clean their needles were ineffective. If this were the case, you could file a product liability lawsuit or claim instead.
The main point to keep in mind is that a tattoo that appears infected should not be ignored. If you develop an infection, review your case with an attorney after receiving proper medical treatment. They’ll determine whether you have a case and will help you pursue any compensation for which you may be eligible.
Contact the Clearwater Personal Injury Law Firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Clearwater. We have five convenient locations in Florida: Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442