Not getting a tattoo and body piercing infection is the first lesson you should learn.

A greater risk in getting an infection is from body piercing because this method invades the layers of the skin such as epidermis and dermis. Because of this, to prevent the infection you need to be extremely careful. Your professional piercer or tattoo artist must use a cream and a well maintained work area.

Body piercings usually tend to get infected if they were clumsily done. To avoid this, you should make certain that you go to a highly regarded piercer that provides you with disinfected needles and materials. This is the first preventive step you can take to avoid infection.

Tattooing on the other hand is less likely to get infected due to the way tattoos are given. The ink is only introduced into the upper layers of the dermis. Yes bleeding can occur and this is normal, but tattoo needles are shallow needles and hold less risk of infection.

Make sure that your tattoo artist is highly regarded and uses disinfected equipment. Majority of the experienced artists have their own autoclave to disinfect their own equipments. Hepatitis C is the main risk infection caused by a dirty needle in tattooing.

Some signs of infection might be inflammation, cloudy seepage, greenish scabbing, redness and tenderness of the site. There may also be signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling, redness and itching of the area. You should alert your piercer or tattoo artist to any allergies to any products they may be using such as latex. Even an allergy to inks can cause such reactions.

Although most piercings and tattoos are painful to begin with, this pain should subside within a few days to a week. If yours shows no sign of healing, you should contact your piercer or tattooist and let them look at it. In many cases they can tell you what you need to do to clear up any minor infection.

Finally, if you do, subsequently, get an infection that goes deeper into the skin than the normal minor skin irritation, you should seek the advice of a physician. You may require antibiotics to help rid your body of the infection. Many times this can be done without losing the piercing and without marring of your tattoo.

Tags: Art, artist, body art, culture, design, health, Health and Well Being, hobbies, hobby, piercing, recreation, tattoo, wrist tattoo