After plenty of careful thought, planning, and painstaking design choices, you’ve finally taken the plunge and gotten the tattoo you’ve been dreaming about for years. But what happens when you wake up one morning, and instead of being able to admire your new ink, you find a swollen red mess?
Though they’re not incredibly common, tattoo infections can happen, and when they do, you need to act fast.
How Does a Tattoo Get Infected?
Though it might sound odd at first, a tattoo is a controlled wound. Your tattoo artist is using needles to break through your skin barrier and deposit ink into your dermis (the second layer of your skin).
If you’ve ever slipped and fallen and gotten a scrape, cut, or any other kind of injury as a result, you know why first aid is so important: Namely, it’s to prevent infection. Any time you break the skin barrier, you create a potential entry point for bacteria.
Harmful bacteria can come from many sources, such as:
- Equipment that is contaminated as a result of negligence (i.e., unsterilized needles)
- Contaminated ink
- Poor aftercare (touching the area with unwashed hands or dirty towels)
Perhaps one of the most surprising sources of bacteria, though, is your skin. We all have naturally occurring bacteria living on our skin, and it isn’t usually a problem. That is, of course, unless it ends up in the wrong place.
In any case, as long as you go to a reputable tattoo parlor, the first two entries on the above list aren’t likely to affect you. Infected tattoos almost always come down to not properly taking care of your new ink after it is applied.
Signs of Infected Tattoos To Look for
It’s normal for the area where your new tattoo is placed to be a little red, swollen, and tender shortly after the fact; as alluded to earlier, it is still a form of trauma to your skin. However, there are certain signs to be aware of that aren’t part of the healing process and might indicate the start of an infection in a tattoo.
These include the following:
- Increased redness and swelling, especially of the skin beyond the tattoo area
- Pus or discharge that is yellowish or greenish
- Increased pain, especially if intense or throbbing
- Fever and chills
- Red streaks on the skin extending away from the tattoo
If you notice any of these signs, you don’t need to panic, but you do need to take action.
Seek Medical Attention
Don’t hesitate to see your doctor, especially if your symptoms are severe or worsening. They can check you out and prescribe antibiotics if necessary. Getting treatment early on is key; a small infection might be easily contained and cured, but letting it fester could lead to serious systemic illness.
Additionally, follow all medical advice. Not following instructions from your artist might be the reason your tattoo is infected in the first place, so make sure to do as your doctor tells you to quell the infection and get your new ink back to healing.
Take Care of Your Tattoo
A tattoo can be a memory, a memento, or simply a great work of art. At the very least, though, it’s something you intend to keep on your body forever, so it should be treated accordingly. Once you’re inked up, make sure to follow your artist’s instructions for taking care of your new tattoo: Keep it clean and covered, and don’t pick at or scratch it.
Taking good care of your tattoo now means it’ll heal up beautifully and be ready to show off to all of your friends before you know it.
Learning to drive is a rite of passage for teenagers that confers a new level of freedom. Operating a motor vehicle is also a huge responsibility, with serious consequences for making mistakes.
Each year, more than 2,000 young drivers aged 15 to 20 lose their lives in car crashes nationwide, with more suffering outcomes like whiplash or traumatic brain injury. While teens make up just 5% of licensed drivers, this group accounts for 12% of drivers involved in car accidents and over 8% of drivers in fatal accidents.
Many states, including Texas, have phased licensing programs designed to support new drivers as they learn the rules of the road and gain experience. Although residents of Texas must be 18 or older to obtain a full license, teens can get behind the wheel sooner to start learning. What are the licensing phases, and how do they keep Texas roadways safe?
The Two Phases of Licensing in Texas
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, young drivers under the age of 18 must complete two phases of licensing before obtaining a full license.
Phase one is getting a learner license available to teens aged 15 and older. The second phase involves a provisional driver's license, which cannot be obtained until at least age 16. Here’s what you should know about the requirements for each phase.
Phase One: Learner License
At the age of 14, teens may begin the classroom portion of driver’s education, which could come from a:
- Certified driver training school (classroom or online)
- Parent-taught driver education (PTDE)
- Public school course
Once students complete either the first six hours of concurrent method classroom instruction or 32 hours of block method instruction, they may apply for a learner license, provided they are 15 or older. This license must be held for a minimum of six months before applying for a provisional driver's license unless the driver turns 18 first.
Phase Two: Provisional Driver License
At age 16, teens become eligible to apply for a provisional driver's license. Before this license is granted, drivers must observe an instructor in a car for seven hours and complete seven hours of driving under instructor supervision. An additional 30 hours of practice driving with a licensed passenger aged 21 or over is required, including 10 hours of night driving.
Drivers must also complete the Impact Texas Teen Driver Program within 90 days before taking a skills test, and they must pass the driving test. A provisional driver's license expires at age 18.
Restrictions For New Drivers
In Texas, new drivers may face various restrictions intended to keep them and others on roadways safe. According to NHTSA data, teen car crashes are most prevalent at night.
Teens with a learner or provisional license may not drive between the hours of midnight and five a.m. Exceptions include driving to work, attending school-related activities, and emergencies. Teen drivers may not have more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle, aside from family members.
Distracted driving plays a role in about 7% of teen crashes, according to the NHTSA. In Texas, drivers with learner or provisional licenses may not use wireless communication devices (even hands-free) unless there is an emergency.
Why Are There So Many Requirements and Restrictions For Teen Drivers?
New drivers lack essential knowledge and skills that help to prevent mistakes and accidents that could lead to catastrophic injury or even death. With a phased licensing program, Texas aims to provide teens with opportunities to learn and develop their skills free of the most common and detrimental distractions until they’re ready to operate vehicles safely and responsibly on their own.
Contact the Dallas Personal Injury Law Firm of Bush Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers LLC Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Dallas personal injury law firm of Bush Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
Our office is conveniently located in Dallas, near the Dallas Downtown Historic District. We serve statewide throughout Texas.
Bush Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers LLC
701 Commerce Street, Suite 703
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 615-6394