How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo To Heal
After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.
Skin around larger tattoos takes longer to recover and certain factors, like picking at the scabs, not moisturizing, forgoing SPF, or using a lotion with alcohol may slow the process.
Generally speaking, the stages of tattoo healing can be divided into four distinct stages, and the care for your tattoo changes slightly depending on the stage.
Signs That A New Tattoo Isn’t Healing Properly
Some common signs that your new tattoo isn’t healing properly are:
- You may experience a fever or get the chills
- It’s normal for your skin to be red, slightly swollen, and puffy, but the skin around the tattoo shouldn’t be. If the skin around your tattoo is swollen after 4-5 days, call your tattoo artist for some advice.
- Prolonged red, irritated skin
- If you see a scar-forming, it could be a sign that you need to be taking better care of the tattoo
- If your tattoo itches or you have bumps lasting 2+ weeks after getting a new tattoo
- If you are experiencing oozing liquids from the new tattoo after 7-8 days, it might be time to call a doctor
How To Take Care Of A Tattoo Instruction And Tips 2021
After getting your dream tattoo, that you always wanted, you may have a question on your mind, like what next? How to take care of a tattoo? How to heal a tattoo? What kind of ointment is safe for a tattoo? Etc.
Usually, it is very important to use ointment on a new tattoo, immediately after obtaining a tattoo. Because tattoo ointment helps to lesion healing and also prevent tattoo infection. Read our aftercare guidelines, tips and learn how to take care of a tattoo to keep tattoo healthy and hydrated.
Contents
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How To Cure A Tattoo Infection At Home
An infected tattoo can be serious and should be handled by a doctor. The area surrounding the tattoo will become painful, swollen, red, and hot if infected. Here are some things you can do to take care of an infected tattoo at home:
- Take antibiotics or antibiotic cream as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the instructions as presented by your doctor. If no instructions were given, you can follow this general advice:
- Wash your tattoo with mild soap and warm water 2x a day
- Pat to dry
Wash The Tattoo Carefully
Yes, you read that right. It is important to gently wash your tattoo to remove the dead skin and even the bacterial buildup. However, you must wash the tattoo with an antibacterial soap to keep infections and itching at bay. And it isnt enough to just wash the tattoo as you need to periodically clean up the adjacent area as well.
However, keep in mind that you should not wash your tattoo immediately after getting inked. The initial bandage must be kept as it is for hours, and only then should you remove it and properly wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap and lukewarm water.
Experts Recommended Best Tattoo Cleanser for Better Healing
However, too much ointment isnt good as it might then clog the pores and cause skin irritation. Only a thin layer needs to be applied to work on the dead skin and keep the skin moisturized for hours at once.
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Consequences Of Improper Care
Remember, the tattoo master is not responsible for the tattoo if you have not taken care of it correctly, and he is not obliged to monitor you and to remind about the necessity of treatment of a tattoo and about abstinence from alcohol. If due to neglect of the master’s recommendations problems occurred – it is entirely your fault, and the consequences of this can not always be easily eliminated. And the consequences can be very serious, both for you and for the tattoo. For example:
- Discoloration of the tattoo, in some places a complete loss of pigments
- large scars
- The blurring of the design’s contours
- An allergic reaction that can last for years without treatment.
Keep Your Tattoo Covered
Before you leave the shop, your tattoo artist will clean the area and slather it with antibacterial lotion before covering it with plastic wrap or bandage.As a benchmark, keep the covering in place for five hours before washing it. Whatever you do, resist the temptation to peel back the bandage and check out your new design.Take the bandage or wrap off as advised. If you leave it on for too long, the ink might bleed out, and youll actually heighten the risk of infection.
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How Will It Feel After The First Week
Awesome, because you finally have a rockin’ tattoo! The swelling should be completely gone as well as the scabs and peeling. The pain is behind you and only awesome times of showing off your wicked body art lay ahead.
Don’t panic if there are a few lingering scabs: Some people just take longer to heal. Do panic if the area around the scab is red and weepy or you see any sign of infection. It is always better to be safe than sorry with your health, so go see your doctor.
After About 2 Weeks Resume Your Normal Routine
You made you have successfully healed your tattoo! It took 2 weeks, but you persevered. It may have been a bit itchy, a bit difficult getting comfy in bed, and there might have been a couple times you doubted yourself..
But, you did it!
Now, its time get you next tattoo, you can check out some guides on that by
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Tattoo Aftercare Routine: Caring For Your New Tattoo After Removing Saniderm
Once the final Saniderm bandage is removed from your tattoo, continue to care for it by gently washing it with unscented antibacterial soap and pat or air dry. After, apply a layer of aftercare moisturizer 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks or until the tattoo is not peeling, dry, or cracked.
Keep in mind that the tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once your second Saniderm bandage comes off. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for 2-4 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this entire period. Our product Sanibalm was formulated specifically for this purpose.
Tattoo Aftercare Myths And Facts
Some common myths and facts about new tattoo aftercare are:
- Common soap is good for you NO! Make sure to use a tattoo aftercare soap and avoid bar soaps.
- Avoid chemical products, and avoid using Neosporin and Vaseline! Make sure you’re using proper tattoo aftercare products that are specifically designed to give your tattoo the moisture and nutrients needed to help your tattoo recover!
- “I can stop doing tattoo aftercare once my tattoo is healed” FALSE! If you’d like your tattoo to stay vibrant for years to come, take care of it! Use a tattoo aftercare cream to keep the colors bright and keep it moisturized. If you have a good tattoo aftercare regimen, your tattoo will stay healthy and vibrant for years to come.
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How To Identify An Infection
Well, the infection will give itself away. Firstly, an unattended tattoo is a sign for the bacteria to come in with an army. And while a bit of pain and redness is common, you might be looking at an infection if the area keeps swelling with each passing day.
But there here are the more direct signs to look for to understand that the tattoo might be infected:
- Oozing liquid courtesy of bacteria build-up
- Puffy skin surface
- Chills, fever, and other deteriorating health conditions
How Often Should I Clean My Tattoo What Kind Of Soap Should I Use
The tattoo should be thoroughly cleaned immediately after removing the bandage, and cleaned daily from there on out. We recommend cleaning it multiple times on the first day. Pat the tattoo dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towel to avoid irritation, and let the tattoo air out for 20-30 minutes before applying moisturizer. We recommend using a gentle, liquid antibacterial soap, such as Dial Antibacterial Soap, though other hand or body soaps can be used as long as they are thoroughly rinsed from the tattoo. You want to avoid excess absorption of water by the tattoo, so washings should be efficient and deliberate to minimize time. You can use antibacterial soap for the first 3-5 days and then regular soap or body wash is fine.
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What Does A New Tattoo Feel Like
Pain: When the tattoo-euphoria has lifted, the area might feel like pulverized meat or a hundred bee stings. Ibuprofen may take the edge off, but not entirely.
Heat: Your tattoo also may be throwing off a lot of heat. Don’t worry, this is normal and not a sign of infection. It may throw off heat like this for several days as your body is healing. An ice pack will help, but be sure not to get water on your tattoo.
Note: If the heat and pain don’t start subsiding after a day or two or increase in this time frame, go to the emergency room. You may have an infection.
Remove The Bandage And Wash With Antibacterial Soap Only
The original bandage your tattoo artist employs to wrap you up post-ink session can be removed within two to three hours after completion, or however long your tattoo artist recommends. Do not re-bandage. The plasma from the original tattoo may surface after the first couple of hours, and then its time to clean the art and allow it to breathe.
To cleanse the tattoo, use antibacterial soap, such as Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Liquid Soap or any unscented antibacterial liquid. Avoid using any type of cloth to cleanse the tattoo because it will exfoliate the areawhich, remember, is a wound. Next, rinse with warm-to-mild temperature water and pat the area dry with a towel. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before proceeding.
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Leave The Tattoo Wrapped For 2
After you get your tattoo, the tattoo artist will wrap your tattoo . The first part of healing your new tattoo is to leave the tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours before removing, this will help prevent infection.
Then, after 2-4 hours remove the wrap, and clean with a mild soap and water. Remember just wipe it lightly, you are not trying to scrub it off, all vigorous scrubbing will do is impede the healing process and make your new tattoo heal slower. We have a perfect All Natural tattoo aftercare soap available by
Finally, after the wrap is removed and the tattoo has been lightly cleaned, apply a tattoo aftercare ointment. The best tattoo aftercare ointments are designed for tattoos, such as Hustle Butter or Fisticuffs Tattoo Balm . These are the best tattoo aftercare products because they are petroleum free, so they wont clog your pores or make your new tattoo more itchy. If you are in a pinch common products like, Aquaphor and Vitamin A& D ointment will work, but like I said about petroleum based products, they will clog pores, cause extra itching , and are not ideal for healing your tattoo.
What To Expect After Your Tattoo
A tattoo causes trauma to your body. Depending on the placement, the size, and an individuals hygiene, and daily activities, healing is different for everyone. Because a tattoo is an open wound they are susceptible to infections, it is best to follow the aftercare instructions listed above to lower your risk of problems during the healing process.
You should expect your new tattoo to be red, irritated, swollen, and possibly bruised. These are normal reactions to the tattoo area. Usually, you can anticipate 1 to 3 days for red or irritated skin to subside. If swelling or bruising occurs, this could last for up to a week, especially if tattooed in a sensitive area such as the feet.
Scabbing is a result of the bodys healing process. For some, your tattoo may have some scabbing. If you experience any scabbing, it is imperative that you do not pick at it. Let the scab fall off naturally. You will also want to make sure that you keep the area clean as well as moisturized, but do not over moisturize, follow the instructions listed above.
During the final stages of the healing process, typically 3 to 10 days you can expect the skin to start to flake and peel. It is imperative that you do not pick or scratch at the area, this could remove ink from the tattoo and damage it. A light slap, preferable over clothed skin, will give you relief when itching occurs.
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Day 1 After Getting A Tattoo:
As soon as you get tattooed, the traditional process is to come home with plastic wrap covering the wound, however modern technology such as tagaderm or Ink Guard Spray on Bandage have found advanced ways to bio hack the recovery process to avoid some of the more painful and long healing time that the traditional method entails. We have a new article coming soon that goes into detail on these new tattoo recovery methods. However, for this article we’ll focus on the traditional plastic wrap process as it’s most common. In most cases, the plastic wrap comes off easily. Similar tattoo aftercare searches resemble:
After removing the pack, you might see leaking liquids. Don’t be scared or grossed out by this, as this is normal and expected. The liquid is a mixture of plasma, blood, and the extra ink that is inadvertently in our skin. It is recommended that you wash the area of the tattooed skin first with warm water. Always use a high-quality Tattoo Aftercare Soap, and afterwards be sure to gently pat dry with a paper towel or cloth that absorbs water and moisture. After all of the moisture is absorbed, keep the area dry for 20 to 25 minutes. As soon as your skin is dry from the wash, you should apply a very small amount of professional Tattoo Aftercare Cream but be sure to let the area have have plenty of air and ventilation. This process is a well known tattoo aftercare routine, and can help your skin recover faster.
The Importance Of Caring For A New Tattoo
People must understand that caring for a new tattoo is a serious matter. It would be best if you never put off watching for your contemporary body art. Because the tattoo needle punctures your skin, an infection can develop. However, while it is uncommon for a tattoo to become infected, it is possible if proper care is not taken. The most important thing to remember is that your tattoo artist should use disposable gloves when applying your tattoo. It is also critical to know and observe that they sterilize their equipment. If they do not do this, not only will it be unsanitary, but it will almost certainly result in an infection, not to mention some blood-related disease, such as HIV, AIDS, or hepatitis.
After your tattoo is completed, your artist should instruct you on properly caring for your new tattoo. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them. Several people have argued that you should not use Neosporin or even Vaseline on your new tattoo. Some artists, however, do recommend it. The best piece of advice is to do what your specific artist instructs you to do. Keep it clean is the general rule of thumb for tattoo aftercare. One or two times per day, wash your new tattoo with a bar of gentle soap and air or pat dry.
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Risk Of Having A Tattoo
There is a risk of having an infection and other physical complications after having a tattoo including
Allergic reactions Different color tattoo dyes may cause an allergic reaction on your body. For example, you may have an itchy rash at the site of your tattoo.
Skin infection and different skin problem after tattooing you may have an infection and also may have a skin problem like keloids and overgrowth of scar tissue, etc
Bloodborne diseases You may have blood born disease, if your artists used that equipment which is contaminated with infected blood, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc.
MRI complications as tattoo are permanent art, which may cause burning in the affected areas during the time of MRI exam.
So, if you experience any type of allergic reaction, infection and other types of skin problem, then you might need medication or other medical treatment.
What Not To Do
Heres what someone should avoid when it comes to tattoo aftercare:
- Soaps and moisturizers with any fragrances or harsh chemicals. Even if a product does not normally irritate the skin, it may irritate the tattooed area.
- Picking at scabs, as this can cause scar tissue to form.
- Scratching the tattoo even if it becomes itchy.
- Non-cosmetic grade petroleum moisturizers, which will clog the pores.
- Using sunscreen on the tattoo before it has fully healed.
- Swimming before the tattoo has healed.
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