rash after new ink

[prinsissamanda]

i got a tattoo (sun flowers, just the outline and grey-wash on my R ancle) on memorial day 2010 and the day after there were a couple red spots above the tattoo i hardly noticed them b/c my foot & ancle was so painfully swolen that i couldn't stand on it, and i belive the tat itself was a little weepy the swelling lasted a week. the next day (day 3 after the tat), there were hundreds, and the older ones had a white center,and raised. the 4th day, most of the rest of them had a white center too. i feared that it was spreading. the itching was** HORRIBLE** and i felt that crawley sensation, like fire ants, the bumps were/are painfull to the touch.i started useing cortozone 10 gel immeaditly!!!! WHAT SWEET RELIF!!! but no change in the rash.
i went to the doctor that monday. she labeled it folliculitis, gave me orial
1)prednisone 20 mg tab 2  po qam x3d.
2)nystatin/triamcinolone cream TID
basically to cover all the baces, she gave me rx antibiotic or anti fungal cream to treat what might be growing in my skin, and the prednisone, in case it is an allergic thing. telling me she dnk what it is.
i have been on the rx for  days, no change and i am sure it is spreading to my L knee and on the outside of my L wrist, i am running into the 11th day of irritation now, my tattoo has healed and turned out great, there is hardly a spot on the tattoo itself. any info to a cause or cure will be greatly appreachated!

my artist and i would love to find out what went wrong and what caused it he is extremly stressed that he might of done this to me and i NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS AILAMENT IS! dr. please help

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms since the rash is swollen and not itchy, hence the possibility of infection is more likely. I suggest you to get an evaluation done from a dermatologist and get topical and oral antibiotics prescribed.

Please keep the area clean and apply some topical antiseptics. Also wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and use an antibacterial soap or mild soap like dove. Avoid any kind of cosmetics. Topical antibiotics such as mupirocin or neomycin containing ointment are also useful. In case the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[martikadragoon]

it sounds like you may have gotten an infection of some sort. it takes more than a few days to have the meds work their magic sometimes and if it's fungal even longer.

OR you could be allergic to something in the disenfectant they use, or a number of things. your doctor is doing the right things to treat you by going both the antibiotic route and the anti fungal route.

if it's fungal you could've spread it before taking the med's and cream so just use the cream on the new area that's got symptoms and go see your doctor.
You may need a blood test to check for infections of some sort. sometimes the problem just takes a while for the meds to have full effect.