Full arm dragon and phoenix tattoo at 'cheap price', young man gets infection and discharge

xăm hình - Ảnh 1. — Dr. Nguyen Tien Thanh examines a patient - Photo: BVCC

Mr. TNH (30 years old, Hanoi ) is a freelancer in the design field and decided to get a large dragon and phoenix tattoo covering his arm to show his personal mark.

"I saw a tattoo shop online that had many beautiful designs at reasonable prices, so I went to get it done. They didn't ask me anything or test the ink. It was a little sore for the first three days, but I thought it was normal.

But from Wednesday, the skin started to itch, swell and pus. I scratched a lot, then soaked it in leaf water, but it got worse and worse, spreading to my elbows and shoulders," said Mr. H. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he decided to go to the doctor.

Doctor Nguyen Tien Thanh, a member of the Vietnam Dermatology Association, who directly treated the patient, said: "Mr. H. suffered from acute contact dermatitis, accompanied by signs of secondary infection. The main cause was due to the tattooing process not ensuring sterility. The newly tattooed skin area had not yet healed and was invaded by bacteria through micro-trauma."

According to Dr. Thanh, in reality there are many small tattoo establishments where the workers lack expertise and have not been properly trained in hygiene procedures.

Tools such as needles and tattoo machines, if not properly sterilized, can easily cause skin infections, inflammation, and even form abscesses under the skin if not treated promptly.

"Tattooing is an invasive procedure that carries the risk of tissue damage and foreign objects being introduced into the body. When tattooing in a place that does not meet medical conditions, the skin may have to pay a very high price, not only in terms of scarring but also in terms of blood infection and the risk of contracting dangerous diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV if the shared tools are not sterilized," Dr. Thanh warned.

The patient is currently being treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc., combined with local care to prevent irritation and restore the skin barrier. After 5 days of treatment, the injury has improved but still needs to be closely monitored in the future.

Mr. H. is not an isolated case. According to Dr. Thanh, recently, he has received many cases of young people suffering from dermatitis, infection, swelling or severe allergies after getting tattoos at small, unlicensed establishments.

Some patients have swelling after getting a tattoo overnight. Some patients have infected tattoos, infected with viruses such as HPV - flat warts..., requiring medical intervention that lasts for a month.

"The common point is that they are all tattooed at shops of unknown origin, with uncontrolled techniques, and unsterilized tattoo tools," Dr. Thanh shared.

Doctors recommend that if people want to get a tattoo, they should choose a facility with a license to practice and a professional with a certificate of expertise.

The entire process must be strictly sterile, from the tools to the working space. Tattooists should request a thorough check before doing it and should not compromise their skin health for a cheap price.

In addition, before getting a tattoo, you should think carefully about deciding to "leave" a mark on your body. Besides, you can visit a dermatologist to assess whether your body is allergic, whether the skin area you want to tattoo is damaged and whether it is suitable for the tattoo procedure.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xam-hinh-rong-phuong-kin-tay-voi-gia-mem-nam-thanh-nien-nhiem-khuan-ri-dich-20250426131656824.htm