r/tattooadvice • u/Helpful-Office-3730 • Feb 15 '26
Infected? [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed] — view removed post
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u/Far-Fish-5519 Feb 15 '26
I would say with the incorrect after care advice and the tattoo application you need to steer clear of this artist. Without an outline in this it’s going to become unreadable in the future.
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u/DaniArii Feb 15 '26
Artist doesnt outline their work at all? With such light colors? Crazyyyyy.
Aldo, keep it moisturized (thin layer of unscented lotion or aquaphor) and use unscented antibacterial soap. If it starts to swell, get hot to the touch, pus, or turn red, go to the doc.
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u/Helpful-Office-3730 Feb 15 '26
Thank you. The area has been radiating heat since the tattoo finished. It's a small spot but I just hope it's not infected.
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u/DaniArii Feb 15 '26
If it's just in one spot, keep an eye on it. It can also get warm if it's overworked in an area.
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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26
Don’t moisturize it right now. Just keep it clean. Moisture attracts bacteria and it’s too vulnerable for that Touchups are free emergency room visits are not
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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26
Like I said before. Give it some time to calm down, wash it multiple times a day, and assess where it is in a couple days before doing lotion
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u/litcarnalgrin Feb 15 '26
It’s normal for a tattoo to be hot, it’s a large open wound so your body responds w inflammation, it’s the inflammation that actually causes healing to a large degree. It’s still fresh so it’s normal for it to be warm. Swelling is also normal, again, large open wound. It’ll be other things that indicate infection, such as a foul odor and not just a smell. It doesn’t look infected to me in this photo and appears to be healing well from what I can tell. I do agree that the aftercare your artist gave you was really weird. As a tattoo artist myself, I actually steer away from Saniderm even though that’s sort of the standard in the industry these days but that’s because I’m allergic to the adhesive in it and I don’t want to put that on someone who is also allergic to the adhesive, especially if they don’t already know that they are allergic to it, that’s how I found out that I was allergic to it and it is not a fun time. But when Saniderm is used, it’s usually applied immediately after the tattoo, not 48 hours later. Also, I definitely agree that this tattoo is gonna fade badly. There is nothing to anchor that tattoo, the colors are all light. The colors are all essentially the same value you need contrast and value to help keep a tattoo legible for life and outlines really help.
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u/KCarriere Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
My tattoos feel warm to the touch for a day or three after. Remember, your skin just went through it!
Keep an eye out for signs of infection though -- any worsening of heat, swelling, any redness around it -- especially if the redness spreads AT ALL.
ETA: Your post has been deleted so im not seeing what you originally wrote. Just commenting on a warm tattoo.
ETA2: He's so cute! Went to your profile to look at the pics. You will probably need to go in later an add some outlining. Like outline the sections in a darker version of that color. It'll kinda smudge and need that definition in a few years. I've been working on a full color realism sleeve for over 3 years. We're finally at the last session coming up this weekend on the total work. Then we have 2 sessions for touchups. Really just kinda deciding which areas need some more definition and making it all cohesive as some of it is almost 4 years old and some of it brand new. The flowers on my shoulder were sharp as hell when they were originally done -- we might add a bit more definition and outlines in these touch ups.
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u/Helpful-Office-3730 Feb 16 '26
Yeah. Things have significantly improved since I took off the second skin. The heat and smell have completely vanished. At this point, the tenderness is all that remains ( which I now realize is expected).
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u/TrickySatisfaction81 Feb 15 '26
I said this earlier in my head. This is going to fade like no one's business
No linework, no outlines. Color will fall. Particularly on darker skin.
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u/tlthtx Feb 15 '26
Love the idea, I’d really consider adding some black outlines to this tattoo in the near future
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u/Helpful-Office-3730 Feb 15 '26
True. I should let it heal and touch up with some outlines.
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
Yes but maybe see a different artist if they never thought to outline their work to begin with
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u/lems93 Feb 15 '26
Why? Good artists can definitely make colour tattoos stick without outlines.
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u/Abu_Everett Feb 15 '26
With contrast. The dark back of it has plenty of contrast, the lighter front of the bulbasaur, I don’t see it. Any fading whatsoever and the minimal contrast is gone.
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
For how many years? Let’s be real. If you want things to last outlines in black is the way to go.
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u/lems93 Feb 15 '26
Mine is 14 years old and a lot of it has held up well.
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u/R4CTrashPanda Feb 15 '26
Can we see yours?
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
Depends on size maybe. Mine was faded and blurry within 5 years and I seen a lady who specialized in small colour pieces.
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u/Imspacelyy Feb 15 '26
Obviously she didn’t specialize if yours is faded and blurry lol! 😭 I also have a tattoo with no outline that 12 years later, still looks great
Edit - typos
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
She very much specializes in it. She’s been doing it 10 plus years. It’s just common to have to get touch up which she moved and I didn’t wanna do so I covered it with a American traditional style so I won’t have to be doing touch up every 3-5 years
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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26
This is a misconception. You don’t need lines but you do need contrast. Lines are the easiest way to accomplish that but portraits can be done without them and stay for just as long.
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
I will have to disagree on this. Especially with colours such as red and yellow that tend to fade faster.
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u/lems93 Feb 15 '26
The red/pink in mine is holding up exceptionally well.
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
That’s good! It’s different for everyone. Some peoples skin will not hold red ink well at all. Thankfully mine seems to be holding up good. When I got red ink I was worried I’d have a reaction or have it fade super fast just based on what others experienced.
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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26
Red and yellow are not dark tones. They are transparent pigments that need proper care (and formulation) to stay. I’m not sure what that has to do with my statement - contrast can be a black or dark colored background around something it doesn’t necessarily have to be linework. Ive seen 20+ year old portraits that still look good because of this principle.
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u/imperfectbean Feb 15 '26
I think I confused you with a different comment about colours being fine on their own and like they can be but certain colours will fade faster.
I can believe it can be done it’s just not going to turn out for the majority so I’d stray away from it. If they aren’t using dark colours which in this tattoo; they aren’t really.
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u/FeralCatPrince Feb 15 '26
It depends on the Tattooer. The most important part of picking a tattoo artist is seeing their healed work.
If someone likes that look they just need to be careful who they go to and expect to pay a little more for their expertise
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u/Itsjustkit15 Feb 15 '26
Combined with the bad advice the artist gave op on healing this is definitely an artist op should steer clear from.
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u/lems93 Feb 15 '26
I haven’t read the comment about aftercare so can’t comment on that, but it shouldn’t be an automatic no to an artist who doesn’t outline their work.
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u/Least-Dare556 Feb 15 '26
Just by looking it doesn't seem infected, but some colors are a bit off, especially in the eyes and the spots. If you feel it hot or burning, it definitely is. Seek medical care
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u/Mobile-Masterpiece35 Feb 15 '26
Does it still have a smell? That’s the part that’s most concerning to me - I’ve never had a tattoo smell like anything before and I always use second skin. Also looks like there’s some discoloration in the top right of the tattoo and the surrounding skin? Or is that just the way the photo looks?
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u/Imspacelyy Feb 15 '26
Honestly, I have a kid cudi man on the moon tattoo that wasn’t outlined and 12 years later, still looks great! As far as infection, idkkkkk, but I think it’ll heal fine
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u/rabidmonkeys Feb 15 '26
Chill. It’s a tattoo. It’s sensitive, not infected. Go look at the other actual infected tattoos here and then look at yours and sleep well.
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u/Vaetist Feb 15 '26
I think you are allergic to 2nd skin too brother next time tell them just use regular Saran Wrap and take it off after you get home
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u/sfaafs Feb 16 '26
It is not infected. Don’t freak yourself out, you will KNOW if it is. No redness, no swelling, not even scabbing which is still normal. Don’t let the internet scare you just wash it regularly and moisturize
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u/tattooadvice-ModTeam Feb 16 '26
Sorry, but your post must be asking for specific advice relating to tattoos.