Whether it's lyrics, a portrait or a dedication to your mum - tattoos have gone from subculture to pop culture.

Inking your skin is growing ever popular across the UK, with one in three young adults having at least one design etched into their skin.

The aftercare advice given by reputable tattoo artists should be followed religiously after getting inked, at least to preserve the quality, and at worst to prevent infection.

But the dangerous risks of ignoring the guidelines have been highlighted as a young man has died after reportedly ignoring crucial advice given to him after having a tattoo.

The unnamed 31 year old had a pair of hands praying and a crucifix inked on his leg shortly before contracting a deadly flesh-eating bug.

Experts usually advise that people with new tattoos should wait at least two weeks before entering pools or sea water due to the risk of infection. But reportedly the man had a dip in the sea in the Gulf of Mexico only five days afterwards.

According to a British Medical Journal report, the day after his swim the man developed a high temperature and red rash close to the site of the tattoo.

As his condition deteriorated he was admitted to hospital where doctors raised concerns about his symptoms. His limb was swollen and had patches of discoloured skin which had turned purple - a common symptom of infection.

Doctors confirmed he had contracted vibrio vulnificus, a rapidly progressive bacterial infection that causes pain, swelling, redness within a matter of hours. The fatal infection can also cause blistering and disfiguring skin lesions, often leading to amputation.

Those with a weakened immune system are most susceptible to catching the bug, but certain lifestyles can also increase likelihood.

The man was already suffering from cirrhosis of the liver caused by years of heavy drinking.

Just a day after being taken into hospital, his organs began to fail and the he was put on a life support machine. He developed septic shock and cellulitis - an infection of the skin and the underlying tissue.

He eventually succumbed to the infection after the sepsis caused his kidneys to fail, two months after initially being admitted to hospital.

Vibrio vulnificus which is related to Cholera and is usually found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is more commonly contracted when eating infected shellfish. Although there was an outbreak of the disease following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 and several reported cases in Florida.

Among healthy people, ingestion of the bacteria can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. But those with a compromised immune system, particularly those with liver disease it can be life threatening.

Wound infections have a mortality rate of 25% if caught early enough. If the bacteria has enough time to cause septicemia, the rate doubles to 50%.