August 8, 2025 | Personal Injury

Tattoo Infections
Most people expect some soreness and peeling after getting a tattoo. But sometimes what looks like a minor irritation turns into something far more serious. If you suffer from lasting pain or discomfort after getting a tattoo, you may have a tattoo infection.In severe cases, infections can spread through the body and require hospitalization. What should’ve been a personal expression becomes a medical problem — sometimes with legal consequences, especially when someone else’s mistake caused it. Continue reading to learn about tattoo infections and when they can lead to a personal injury claim.

How a Tattoo Infection Starts

Tattooing involves needles repeatedly puncturing the skin. This opens a direct path for bacteria to enter the body. A professional studio should have strict procedures in place to avoid this. However, when poor cleaning practices, reused tools, or contaminated ink are involved, an infection only takes a moment to start.Here are some common causes:
  • Dirty Equipment: Tools must be properly sterilized between clients, and if they’re not, bacteria from another person can be transferred directly into the skin
  • Contamination: Sometimes artists dilute ink using water that isn’t sterile; there have also been recalls involving tattoo inks that were already contaminated before being used
  • Unclean Environment: A shop that doesn’t sanitize work surfaces, change gloves, or maintain hygiene standards puts every customer at risk
  • Lack of Aftercare Instruction: If you weren’t told how to care for your tattoo or received poor guidance, that could put you at risk of infection
Even when a client does everything right after the appointment, infections still happen when the environment or tools aren’t safe.

Signs of Infected Tattoos

It’s normal to feel some discomfort after getting a tattoo. The area may feel sore or slightly raised. But when symptoms worsen instead of improve, that’s a red flag.Look for these warning signs of infected tattoo complications:
  • Swelling that doesn’t go down after a few days
  • Thick discharge, especially yellow or green
  • Warm or hot skin around the area
  • A foul odor from the tattoo site
  • Hard lumps under the skin
  • Fever, chills, and body aches
These symptoms could point to a deeper infection that needs medical care. If left untreated, the bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and become much more dangerous.

Liability for Tattoo Infections

Legal responsibility depends on what went wrong. If the artist didn’t follow health regulations — like using sterile needles, clean gloves, or disinfected surfaces — they could be held liable. The business could be held accountable if the shop failed to train staff or allowed unsafe practices.In some cases, the issue starts with the ink. If a company sells a contaminated product to the business, they may be legally responsible under product liability laws. The ink may even have been recalled or already under investigation for safety concerns.Even if you signed a waiver, it doesn’t give a free pass for negligence. Businesses still have to meet health and safety standards. Legal action may be possible if they don’t and someone gets hurt.

Contact the Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC for Help Today

A tattoo infection isn’t just a skin problem. It can affect your health, finances, and daily life. Medical bills add up fast. Missed work turns into lost income. And the emotional stress of dealing with it all can take a toll.Legal options are available to hold them accountable if someone else’s failure caused the infection. Contact a Nashville personal injury attorney at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC for a free consultation.If you’ve been injured in an accident in Lexington or Bowling Green, please contact our car accident lawyers at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC  for a free case evaluation.Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC – Lexington, KY Office 325 W Main St #210, Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 550-2900Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC -Bowling Green, KY Office 814 State St. suite 100, Bowling Green, KY, 42101 (270) 517-2014Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC – Nashville Office49 Music Square W #504, Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 676-7060