Getting tattoos is a hobby and passion for many people. But it is not so easy as you have to think twice because of various skin conditions associated with tattoos. Ringworm is a skin disease that affects children, adults, and animals. Nearly everyone is susceptible to ringworm, which is caused by fungi that are present in the soil. Once the fungal spores are bonded to the skin, the disease can spread to other people or animals even before symptoms show. If you are wondering Can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm, thus write-up will assist you along with how to treat ringworm.
can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm?
So, can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm? The answer is no. If you get a tattoo while you have ringworm, it can cause several complications like:
- Increased Risk of Infection
Tattoos involve breaking the skin’s protective barrier, making it easier for infectious agents, including the ringworm fungus, to enter the body. If you have an active ringworm infection, the tattooing process can potentially spread the fungus to other parts of your body or even introduce it into the bloodstream, leading to a more severe and widespread infection.
- Delayed Healing
Ringworm can impair the body’s ability to heal properly. The fungal infection can weaken the immune system’s response and disrupt the natural healing process. When you get a tattoo, your skin needs to heal and form new, healthy tissue over the tattooed area. If you have ringworm, the healing process may be prolonged, increasing the risk of complications, such as infection, scarring, or poor ink retention.
- Ink Rejection and Distortion
Ringworm can cause the skin to become inflamed and irritated, which can lead to ink rejection or distortion during the tattooing process. The fungal infection may cause the skin to react abnormally to the tattoo ink, resulting in uneven distribution, patchiness, or even the complete rejection of the ink in some areas. This can significantly affect the appearance and quality of the tattoo.
- Scarring and Skin Discoloration
Ringworm infections can cause scarring and skin discoloration, which can affect the appearance of a tattoo. If you have active ringworm lesions or scarring from previous infections, these areas may not accept the tattoo ink properly, leading to uneven coloration or distorted designs.
- Increased Pain and Discomfort
If you want to know can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm, you must know that tattoos are already a painful process, but the presence of ringworms can exacerbate the discomfort. The infected and inflamed skin can become more sensitive, leading to increased pain during the tattooing process. Additionally, the tattoo needle may irritate the ringworm lesions, causing further discomfort and potential bleeding.
- Transmission to the Artist
Tattoo artists are at risk of contracting ringworm from clients who have active infections. If proper precautions are not taken, such as using disposable equipment and sterilising surfaces, the artist may become infected, potentially spreading the fungus to other clients.
Treatment of Ringworm
Now that you know can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm or not, let’s have a look at the treatment options for ringworm.
- Topical Antifungal Medications
Topical antifungal medications are usually prescribed to treat different forms of ringworm that are mild to moderate in severity. Medications may be available in many different forms, among which you can find creams, ointments, powders, and solutions, just to name a few. Some of the commonly prescribed topical antifungals include:
- Azoles: Clotrimazole, miconazole, and ketoconazole are azole antifungals that act through the disruption of the fungal cell membrane, thus killing the fungi.Â
- Allylamines: Terbinafine is an alkylamine antifungal, which prevents the formation of ergosterol, the key constituent of the cell membrane of the fungal cells.
- Other topical antifungals: Ciclopirox, undecylenic acid, and tolnaftate are also very active for use in tinea infections. Topical antifungals should be applied once or twice a day on the area plus the surrounding skin, following the instructions of the health care provider.
- Oral Antifungal Medications
In more serious or widespread attacks of ringworm, oral antibiotics are usually prescribed. These drugs circulate through the body and thereby reach the fungus from within to destroy it. Common oral antifungals include:
- Terbinafine: This is regarded as the gold-standard treatment of ringworm infections. Mostly, terbinafine is prescribed as a single dose daily for several weeks or months.
- Itraconazole and fluconazole: These are a category of drugs called azole antifungals that work through the inhibition of ergosterol production in the fungal cellular membrane.
- Griseofulvin: An antifungal older mediation which is sometimes used for resistance to recurrent cases of ringworm. The intensive antifungal drugs can develop potential side effects.
- Adjunctive Treatments
Besides the antifungal drugs, other treatments can also be used to facilitate the management of ringworm:
- Antifungal shampoos: For ringworm affecting the scalp, antifungal shampoos with active ingredients of ketoconazole or selenium sulphide may be prescribed to be able to reduce fungal load and prevent the spread of infection.
- Keratolytic agents: Hydrocortisone or urea-based creams and ointments can soften and help remove scales from the skin, thereby increasing the effectiveness of antifungal medicines.
- Corticosteroids: In certain situations, doctors may write a prescription of topical corticosteroids for a short course to alleviate the symptoms of inflammation and itching due to ringworm infections.
- Preventive Measures
It is highly important to maintain good hygiene and follow some preventive steps like:
- Continue to keep the affected area clean and dry, and never itch or scratch on the lesions.
- Disinfect surfaces and objects which could have come into contact with the infected area.
- Wash all bedding, towels, and clothing in hot water and dry them on a high heat setting.
Conclusion
This shall clear your doubts on can i get a tattoo if i have ringworm or not. You have to keep the complications in mind before getting a tattoo. As many people get ringworm every year, it is easy to treat. You can try any of the above mentioned procedures to get rid of it and get a tattoo.
