Can inner lip tattoos get infected

Using ice on the lip can help with the swelling and pain, but be sure to wrap it in a clean cloth to avoid burns. The risk of infection can be higher than other types of tattoos, such as those on the arms or legs, as the lips come in contact with saliva, food and drink. Also, the moisture and bacteria inside your mouth increase the chances of infection. Make sure to have a safe and healthy healing process by strictly following aftercare guidelines to avoid this issue.

As the lip is a very sensitive area, consider asking your tattooer to use allergenic ink, especially if you have sensitive skin or a history of skin allergies. Even so, we hear of many customers that love their new inner lip ink, despite the pain. Close X. Click to scroll back to top of the page Back to top. Posted March 19, am. Updated March 19, am. Smaller font Descrease article font size - A. Share this item on Facebook facebook Share this item via WhatsApp whatsapp Share this item on Twitter twitter Send this page to someone via email email Share this item on Pinterest pinterest Share this item on LinkedIn linkedin Share this item on Reddit reddit Copy article link Copy link.

Story continues below advertisement. Leave a comment Comments. Sponsored content. Flyers More weekly flyers. Report an Error. You also have to hold your lip out at a weird angle during the inking process, King says. Thanks to that speedy cell turnover rate in the mouth, you can expect your inner lip to be back to normal in about two weeks , says King, especially if you take really good care of the area while it heals.

See the recommended protocol below. As with all tattoos, aftercare is super important. Not only does it help speed up the healing process, but proper aftercare will preserve the integrity of your fresh piece of body art. To ensure everything cleans up nicely, King recommends rinsing with an antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash twice daily to keep bacteria at bay.

You should also avoid eating foods that are spicy or acidic, as this can aggravate the wound. Another thing to keep in mind? Wait until your lips are fully healed before you make out with someone or do other mouth-related activities. The last thing you want is to introduce even more bacteria while your tattoo heals. Speaking of bacteria, one of the riskiest things about inner lip tattoos is the chance of infection.

If you swish twice daily with antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash, King notes you should be fine — but let a doctor know if the area is painful or appears infected. The more you do it, the larger it gets. That said, if you want to maintain that body art, you can expect to book an appointment every few months.