Aftercare
&
Healing
Healing process
Because the dermis (the area of skin where the pigment is being deposited) contains nerves and blood vessels, tattoos can be painful and bleed. You may notice some light bleeding for the first day or so as your skin begins to recover from the trauma. Oozing a clear fluid is also normal. That's plasma, and indicates that your body is working to heal the area. You may even see a little bit of excess ink coming out of your fresh tattoo, which is also totally normal and won’t affect the appearance of your tattoo. Over the next few days, your immune system will continue to respond to the punctures as a wound, resulting in swelling and some inflammation, both of which should resolve pretty quickly. A little bit of redness and tenderness is perfectly normal and to be expected.
The possibility of infection—which can occur anytime you’re breaking the skin—is the number one potential risk. This could be either bacterial infections or blood-borne viral infections. Signs of an infected tattoo include redness, swelling, and bumps on or below the skin that sometimes contain pus.
An allergic reaction is also possible, as some people are allergic to the substances used in tattoo ink. This is especially common with red, blue, and yellow ink, as the ingredients used to achieve these colors tend to be more allergenic than the carbon used in black ink. Signs of an allergic reaction include redness, swelling, itching, or a rash at the site.
Your tattoo artist will handle the immediate tattoo aftercare, applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and a tattoo wrap or dressing before you leave the shop. A tattoo wrap serves two functions: It will shield your skin both from bacteria that can cause infection as well as from irritation from clothing, bedding, or other possible irritants in your environment. Once the tattoo wrap comes off, keeping the area clean and moisturised is the name of the game.
Aftercare
Wash the area daily
Keeping the area clean is the most important thing you can do to stave off bacterial infection. We suggest to wash the area only with a warm water for first two days and then using mild soap. Antibacterial soap is always a safe choice, but a Neutral soap without perfumes might serve as well.
Keep the skin moisturised
Follow the instructions of your tattoo artist and put the aftercare ointment as instructed. The golden rule is to apply always a thin layer, in the morning, after shower and before going to the bed. You can also apply an ointment when you see the area is super dry. Do not go too crazy, in this case the more is not the better.
How long it takes to heal
It typically takes about two to three weeks for the surface of the skin, the epidermis, to heal. That means there’s no residual scabbing, open areas, or dry or peeling skin.
Still, keep in mind that the healing of the wound that was created deeper in the dermis, where new collagen and connective tissue need to be formed, can take anywhere from three to six months.
While there won’t be any visible signs of this healing, your skin may continue to feel a bit more sensitive during this time. You’ll also want to continue to be especially diligent about sunblock in order to support the best healing environment possible, both for the health of your skin and the final look of your tattoo.
The size and location of your tattoo also play a role in healing time. As you might expect, smaller tattoos will heal faster, as will those that are placed on areas with thicker skin, like your back or quads.
No matter how long it takes to heal, though, as long as you take care of your new tattoo with the steps above, your new body art should end up feeling as good as it looks—and it’ll be well worth the initial discomfort.
While your tattoo heals, you should:
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wear sun-protective clothing whenever you go outside
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Prevent yourself from too much sweating (gym)
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call your tattoo artist or doctor if you experience any symptoms of infection or other problems
What should you NOT do after tattoo:
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cover your tattoo with sunblock until it’s fully healed
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scratch or pick at the tattoo
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wear tight clothing over the tattoo
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go swimming or immerse your body in water (showers are fine)
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Rub the tattoo with the towel
