Can you use Silver Sulfadiazine on a new tattoo?

Answer 1

I have no idea, but I have a large tattoo and it's pretty seriously infected. I'm a dog groomer so keeping a forearm tattoo clean or dry is simply impossible. The one on my other arm I got about 9 months ago had a smaller but serious infection also. The tattoo I just got a couple of weeks ago that I'm concerned about is infected in several places. I happened to have a tube of Thermazene (brand name for Silver Sulfadiazine) so I've been treating the infection with that, have been using Bactine to clean it after washing it gently and also once a day I use hydrogen peroxide. I use the Thermazine only on the infected areas and then put a small amount of Eucerin on the healing spots to keep it moist. Every tattoo artist has a different answer to taking care of a tattoo which is really frustrating. The infection is mainly on the inside of my wrist where it bends so it's pretty painful. I am off to the store AGAIN to pick up some Neosporin with pain relief cream. Now you just have to make sure you only use one thing at a time and only a small amount and rub it in gently but completely so that it has room to breath. Unfortunately after my 3 day weekend for Christmas, I will need to start covering it at work again with plastic wrap and masking tape. I did that for two days after I got the tattoo since my job is so dirty. The place where the infection is the worst is the place that wasn't fully covered. I can't say if the Thermazine is helping...this seems to be taking a long time to heal. I had left over antibiotics and began taking those two days ago. NOW it's looking a little better. But this infection was so bad that I even have little red bumps in the areas surrounding the tattoo. I'm working on sleeves, and I'm really concerned this will keep happening every time I add to it. I have no health insurance so going to the doctor for infections is not in the cards. But if I ever get one like this again I may have to simply pay for a doctor's appointment and medication. Someday my sleeves will be finished and this will all be a distant memory. Hopefully I'll end up with both my arms still attached and some nice sleeves to show off. I know this wasn't really an ANSWER. I was a nurse for 8 years, and these are the only things I can suggest for caring for open wounds...such as tattoos and infections. Thermazine is mainly used for severe burns and we used it in the medical field. So I assumed it would be helpful with my tattoo infection.That's me professional opinion or theory. I would NOT use it unless it's infected. Just follow the instructions from your tattoo artist for a new tattoo.