IANAD, but I would think a shallow, surface infection wouldn't be a big deal at all. Only if you ignored it and it went deeper would it be a problem. Also, it could just be irritated and not infected, right? Since you say there's no fever in it, nor discharge.

Totally worth a trip to the doc-in-the-box, though. Let us know how it turns out!

How many days is it since you got inked? Ever get allergic reactions to stuff?

When I got my tattoo I was told to swab it with surgical spirit for a week or so afterwards. Have you been doing that?

Since you say there's no fever in it, nor discharge.

Yep. Dry as a bone. If I run my hand over it it feels no different from the other side, which is normal as can be for a tattoo at this stage of healing. But, it hurts to the touch more, and is more red. Now, does it hurt more because I decided it hurt more and have been washing it every two hours and checking for warmth, now there's the question!

How many days is it since you got inked? Ever get allergic reactions to stuff?

It was done on Saturday evening, and I am allergic to damn near everything under the sun. However, half a dozen previous tattoos haven't caused allergic reactions (including two from the same artist, working at the same shop, with the same brand inks).

When I got my tattoo I was told to swab it with surgical spirit for a week or so afterwards. Have you been doing that?

No, I've never been told to, though, either. Every artist I've seen has said to wash with Dial or a similar antibacterial soap, pat dry, don't soak in the tub, and keep it covered with a couple applications of A&D a day (I can't use tattoo goo, H2Ocean, etc since I'm allergic to the botanicals in them).

Everything will be okay. That's the important thing.

My lower back tattoo got slightly infected in one place. It was no big deal. I didn't go to the doctor - it just hurt, was red, oozed a bit, itched: I ended up using betadine or some other antibiotic ointment on it - I mean more antibiotic than A&D (that's what I usually use for my tattoos too.) So anyway, the only problem was that after it healed, which it did pretty quickly, the ink in that one place was kind of screwed up. Sort of missing & blurry, if that makes any sense. It's hard to describe and also of course it's on my back so I can't see it. I've thought about going and getting that one little place fixed but I've never bothered. HOWEVER. If I were you I'd call my artist before I went to the doctor. S/he'll probably know exactly what to do. It's totally common for small infections to set in and seriously, you probably don't have anything too terrible or scary and it will be better in a few days.

I know a girl that gets an infection pretty much every time she gets a tattoo. Her doctor has now asked her to stop getting tattoos. :) But usually she just goes to the doctor and they give her some antibiotics and she's ok.

So yeah, I'm infected. Got pills. Will fill the script tomorrow since the pharmacy counters here all close by 8 or earlier.
Goddamnit.

But, I got it before it got gross and pussy, so hopefully the design won't be wrecked.