Getting an ombre brows tattoo can enhance your facial appearance, but like any cosmetic procedure, there are risks, including the potential for infection. If you’re concerned about an infection after your tattoo procedure, it’s essential to know the signs to look out for and take action promptly.
In this guide, we will explain the specific symptoms of infection in ombre brows tattoos, and what you can do to prevent complications.
Let’s get straight to the point
After getting ombre brows, it’s important to watch for signs of infection. Normal healing includes mild redness, swelling, and slight discomfort, but if these symptoms worsen or persist beyond a few days, it could indicate infection.
Key warning signs include intense redness, increasing pain, heat, or yellow/green discharge. Fever and chills signal a more serious infection that may have spread.
If your tattoo takes longer than 4 weeks to heal or scabs become thick and don’t heal, seek medical attention. Keep the area clean, avoid touching it, and contact a professional if symptoms worsen.
Persistent Redness And Swelling
Redness and swelling are common immediately after getting your ombre brows tattoo. However, if these symptoms persist beyond three to five days or worsen, this could be a warning sign of infection.
How To Spot Abnormal Redness And Swelling
- Normal healing: Slight redness and swelling right after the procedure.
- Infection warning: Redness that becomes more intense and spreads beyond the tattooed area.
- Prolonged swelling that lasts longer than a week and continues to increase instead of subside.
What You Should Do
If you notice excessive redness or swelling that doesn’t subside, it’s best to contact your tattoo artist or a healthcare professional. They may suggest keeping the area clean, applying cool compresses, or seeking further medical treatment if necessary.
Pain That Worsens Over Time
Some discomfort is to be expected after an ombre brows tattoo, especially during the first 48 hours. However, persistent or increasing pain could be a red flag.
Normal Pain Vs. Pain From Infection
- Normal discomfort: Mild soreness or tenderness during the first few days.
- Infection indication: Sharp, throbbing pain that doesn’t improve or gets worse over time. If your brows feel excessively painful to the touch, this could signal a deeper issue.
What You Should Do
Do not ignore intense pain. Reach out to your artist or a medical professional for advice. Persistent pain, especially if paired with other signs of infection, requires prompt medical evaluation to prevent the infection from spreading.
Heat And Warmth In The Tattooed Area
An infected area of skin may feel warmer than the surrounding skin, a symptom often caused by inflammation. If you feel that your brows are unusually hot to the touch days after the procedure, this is a strong indicator of infection.
Signs Of Heat-Related Infection
- Normal healing: A mild increase in warmth around the tattoo area during the first day.
- Infection warning: Ongoing heat or a rise in temperature of the tattooed area after the first few days. The area may feel hotter than other parts of your face, even after the swelling has gone down.
What You Should Do
If you notice persistent heat in the tattooed area, contact your tattoo artist. They may advise cleaning the area or applying topical treatments to reduce inflammation. In severe cases, you may need to see a doctor.
Unusual Discharge
One of the clearest signs of infection is discharge from the tattooed area. The healing process may cause light scabbing or peeling, but any fluid leaking from the brows is abnormal and concerning.
Normal Healing Vs. Discharge
- Normal healing: Minor peeling and scabbing during the first week.
- Infection warning: Discharge that is yellow, green, or brown. If the discharge has an unpleasant smell, this is a definitive sign of infection.
What You Should Do
Immediately contact a healthcare professional if you see pus or unusual discharge. Cleaning the area gently with a mild, fragrance-free soap may help, but you should follow up with your healthcare provider for proper treatment.
Fever And Chills
Fever and chills are more severe signs that indicate the infection may have spread beyond the local area of your tattoo. This is known as a systemic infection, and it can be dangerous if left untreated.
Systemic Infection Indicators
- Normal healing: No fever or body-wide symptoms.
- Infection warning: A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, along with shivering or a feeling of being cold, despite the fever.
What You Should Do
If you experience fever or chills, seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms indicate that the infection may have entered your bloodstream, which requires urgent care and may need antibiotic treatment.
Hardening Of The Skin Around The Tattoo
Another sign of infection is hardening or lumpiness around the tattooed area. This can happen if the infection causes the tissue to swell and form hard nodules under the skin.
How To Identify Abnormal Skin Hardening
- Normal healing: Soft or mildly sensitive skin as the area heals.
- Infection warning: Firm, lumpy patches of skin that are tender or painful to the touch.
What You Should Do
Contact a healthcare provider if the skin around your tattoo feels unusually hard or lumpy. They may need to examine the area to assess whether the hardening is due to an infection or other complications.
Scabs Not Healing Properly
Scabbing is a normal part of the healing process for ombre brows tattoos. However, if the scabs do not heal or begin to crack open, exposing fresh wounds, this could be a sign of infection.
Scabbing Issues
- Normal healing: Light scabs that form and fall off within a week or two.
- Infection warning: Scabs that become thicker, ooze, or do not heal after several weeks. Scabs may also crack and expose raw skin underneath.
What You Should Do
If you notice your scabs not healing properly or breaking open, contact your artist or a healthcare professional. Avoid picking at the scabs, as this can introduce bacteria and worsen the infection.
Delayed Healing Process
The healing process for ombre brows tattoos typically takes around 2 to 4 weeks. If you notice that your tattoo is taking significantly longer to heal or the healing appears to stop altogether, this could indicate an infection.
Normal Healing Time
- Normal healing: Brows begin to heal and form scabs in the first few days, and the healing completes within 4 weeks.
- Infection warning: Healing that stops midway or areas that remain open, raw, or prone to repeated scabbing beyond the expected timeframe.
What You Should Do
If your tattoo is still not healing after several weeks, reach out to your artist or a medical provider for guidance. An infection may have interrupted the healing process and will require treatment to resolve.
What To Do If You Suspect An Infection
If you suspect an infection, it is essential to act quickly to prevent complications. Follow these steps:
- Contact Your Artist or Healthcare Provider: Reach out to your tattoo artist for advice. If the symptoms worsen, contact a medical professional immediately.
- Keep the Area Clean: Use a fragrance-free soap to gently clean the area. Pat it dry with a clean towel, and avoid using any alcohol-based products that may further irritate the skin.
- Apply Prescribed Ointment: If advised by your healthcare provider, apply an antibiotic ointment to fight the infection. Only use ointments as directed by professionals.
- Avoid Touching or Picking the Area: Do not touch, scratch, or pick at the tattooed area, as this can introduce bacteria and delay healing.
- Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep track of the symptoms and document changes by taking photos. This will help your healthcare provider assess the situation accurately.
Conclusion
Recognising the signs of infection early is essential for preventing complications with your ombre brows tattoo. If you notice persistent redness, swelling, increasing pain, unusual heat, or discharge, it’s important to act quickly by contacting your tattoo artist or a medical professional.
Fever, chills, and delayed healing are more serious indicators of infection and require immediate medical attention. Always keep the area clean, avoid touching it unnecessarily, and follow your provider’s guidance regarding antibiotic treatments if needed.
By staying vigilant and taking prompt action, you can ensure your tattoo heals properly and avoid long-term issues.
FAQs About Ombre Brows Tattoos
What Are The First Signs Of An Infection In My Ombre Brows Tattoo?
The initial signs of infection include increased redness and swelling around the tattooed Area, pain or discomfort that doesn’t subside, unusual warmth to the touch, and any discharge, especially if it’s yellow, green, or brown.
Can An Ombre Brows Tattoo Infection Cause A Fever?
Yes, in some cases, an infection from an ombre brows tattoo can lead to systemic symptoms such as fever and chills. This indicates that the infection might be more severe and requires immediate medical attention.
What Causes Infections In Ombre Brow Tattoos?
Infections can be caused by several factors, including improper aftercare, using unsterile equipment, insufficient artist training, inappropriate aftercare products, touching or picking at the healing brows, and exposure to water and sweat.
How Can I Prevent An Infection After Getting An Ombre Brows Tattoo?
To prevent infection, follow your artist’s aftercare instructions carefully, ensure your artist uses sterile equipment, avoid touching or wetting your brows unnecessarily, and use any recommended aftercare products as directed.
What Should I Do If I Suspect My Ombre Brows Tattoo Is Infected?
If you suspect an infection, contact the artist who performed your tattoo or seek medical advice. You may be advised to clean the Area gently and apply the prescribed ointment. Avoid picking at or applying pressure to the Area.