Accidentally Ripped Off Tattoo Scab

Scabs are a natural process of our body to heal wounds. If you notice scabs forming on your newly done tattooed area, it means your tattoo is healing properly. Scabs can be a bit itchy and annoying but you must not pick not them. Even if you do not scratch or peel scabs, there is a chance the scabs may get accidentally ripped off from your tattoo. Ouchy! That would be quite painful.

Picking scabs or causing them to fall off prematurely can lead to multiple issues. That is why you should be careful so that the scabs do not fall off prematurely. But accidents occur in life despite you being careful. And the scabs on you tattoo may get accidentally ripped off. What should you do in such circumstances? I have explained everything you need to know regarding scabs getting ripped off and more in today’s piece.

Key Takeaways

• Tattoo scabs are a natural part of your body healing the tattooed area.
• Ways your tattoo scabs can get ripped off are wearing tight clothing, getting smudged, excessive moisture, physical activity, impact or bumping into something, and bad aftercare.
• Issues you may face if your tattoo scab gets accidentally ripped off are infection, fading and ink loss, delayed healing, irritation & pain, scarring, and tattoo distortion.
• Things you can do after you get your tattoo scabs accidentally ripped off are avoid doing anything drastic, use lukewarm water to clean, soak the area dry, apply antibacterial ointment, resume proper aftercare, avoid touching the area unnecessarily, look for signs of infection, see a doctor & your tattoo artist.
• Ways to avoid getting your tattoo scab ripped off accidentally are not to over-moisturize, avoid tight clothing, apply moisturizer, avoid impact, be mindful of physical activity, wash gently, pat dry,  and do not rub.

Understanding Tattoo Scabs

If you get any sort of wound on your skin, you will see some scabs forming over it within a few days. Scabs are not the prettiest thing, I know that, but it is surely a necessary healing process. Your body forms those crusts or scabs over the wound while working to heal or fix the damaged skin. You could say these scabs are a way for your body to let you know that a specific area is under construction. A tattoo is a form of skin wound so you will get scabs over your healing tattoo.

Scabs may start to form over your tattoo after a day or two of getting the tattoo. Scabs may last for about 3 to 5 days and then fall off on their own. If you pick on the scabs or if they fall off accidentally then you could face many complications regarding your healing tattoo.

6 Ways Your Tattoo Scab Can Get Ripped Off Accidentally

There are many ways your tattoo scabs may get ripped off accidentally, a few such ways are:

1. Wearing tight clothing

You should avoid wearing tight clothing while your tattoo heals. Tight clothing may cause fabric friction which could make the scabs get ripped off accidentally.

2. Getting smudged

While you are going about your daily life, you may get your healing tattoo smudged with something. It may cause the scabs to fall off accidentally.

3. Excessive moisture

If your scabs get over moisturized or you soak them in water for too long then the sabs may get thicker and bigger. Scabs becoming heavier and bigger could cause them to fall off accidentally when you make any sudden movement.

4. Physical activity

Your tattoo artist recommended limiting your physical activity during the healing phase of your tattoo, right? Well, there is a legitimate reason behind it. Playing outdoor sports or doing exercise can cause your tattoo scabs to fall off accidentally.

5. Impact or bumping into something

While you are going about your daily life, you may get bumped into something and your healing tattoo could face impact. This impact can accidentally get your scabs ripped off.

6. Bad aftercare

Proper aftercare ensures your tattoo heals properly. But not taking properly could cause your scabs to fall off accidentally.

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7 Ways To Avoid Scabs Being Ripped Off Accidentally

Just because accidents happen, does not mean there is nothing to do about it. There are plenty of things you can do to minimize the chance of your scabs being ripped off accidentally. I have listed some of them below, make sure to follow them to avoid any accidents regarding your tattoo scabs in general.

1. Do not over moisturize

Just because your tattoo artist recommended moisturizing the healing tattoo does not mean you should overdo it. Overdoing anything good can turn bad. Likewise over moisturizing could make those scabs thick and heavy. As a result, they can get accidentally ripped off easily.

2. Avoid tight clothing

Wearing tight clothing while you have scabs over your tattoo is a big no. Tight clothing can cause fabric friction which will increase the chance of your scabs getting ripped off accidentally.

3. Apply moisturizer

Over-moisturizing can cause the scabs to get ripped off accidentally, the same thing can happen if you do not apply moisturizer. If scabs get too dry they will likely get ripped off even by the smallest impact.

4. Avoid impact

Make sure to avoid any major impact on the tattooed area. If you get bumped into something it would put an impact and the impact can cause the scabs to get ripped off accidentally.

5. Be mindful of physical activity

Some sports and mild forms of exercise are allowed during the scabbing phase of your tattoo. But be sure to be mindful of your physical activity. Doing something physically intense can cause the scabs to get ripped off accidentally.

6. Wash gently

Many people get their scabs ripped off while washing the tattoo. Make sure to be very gentle while you wash the tattoo.

7. Pat dry, do not rub

After washing, do not rub the area. It could cause the soft scabs to get ripped off accidentally. Gently pat the area with a paper towel or clean towel to avoid friction.

6 Issues You May Face If Tattoo Scab Gets Accidentally Ripped Off

Healing tattoo is very delicate. When the scabs from the healing tattoo get ripped off for some reason it can lead to multiple issues. I have elaborated on a few issues you may face below:

1. Infection

The primary role of scabs is to protect the damaged or healing skin from any external harm. Scabs can protect your tattoo from bacteria, germs, dirt, etc. But when the scabs get ripped off accidentally, it leaves the healing tattoo unprotected. Which may lead to tattoo infection. Scabs getting ripped off and getting a tattoo infection on top of that is quite troublesome.

2. Fading and ink loss

Tattoo fading is really stressful. Spending loads of money, going through the painful tattooing procedure but later seeing that precious tattoo color fading can put anyone into depression. If your scabs got ripped off accidentally then you may face ink loss or a little bit of fading. Scabs may absorb some tattoo ink and before they naturally fall off they release the ink back into the skin. But if you deliberately or accidentally cause the scabs to fall off prematurely then surely you can face a bit of ink loss.

3. Delayed healing

Scabs falling off or getting ripped off can disrupt the healing phase of your tattoo. Which could lead to delayed healing. Even small friction or impact has the potential to delay the healing. Just imagine how much delay you could face if the scabs get ripped off for some reason.

4. Irritation & pain

Slight pain or irritation during the healing of your tattoo is fine and considered normal. But scabs getting ripped off from your tattoo could cause a lot of pain and irritation. It will make the healing tattoo more sensitive. Whenever you make the tattooed skin stretch it causes pain, even just breeze or washing the tattoo with plain water could cause a lot of irritation.

5. Scarring

Scars on tattoos can be a bit critical. Tattoo scabs getting ripped off may cause a chunk of your skin to get ripped off along with it. It could cause scarring on the tattooed area. And sometimes these scars could be permanent as well.

6. Tattoo distortion

Scabs may get ripped off with a chunk of your ink along with skin. Not only it can fade or cause a scar, but also distort your tattoo. A distorted tattoo looks weird and some distortion can be difficult to fix.

Accidentally Ripped Off Tattoo Scab: 8 Things to Do Afterword

There are many things you should start doing right after the scabs get ripped off accidentally. I have listed them below, make sure to follow them properly.

1. Avoid doing anything drastic

Accidents happen in life, do not panic, and do not do anything too drastic. By drastic I mean some people start applying abrasive solutions to ensure the tattoo does not get infected and may even bandage the tattoo with something that could end up damaging the tattoo. So, the first thing I need you to do is calm down and avoid doing anything drastic.

2. Use lukewarm water to clean

Now, use lukewarm water and an antibacterial soap to clean the tattooed area. Using water that is too hot may burn the sensitive tattooed area. Make sure to get the right temperature of water before using it on your tattoo. Choose an antibacterial soap that does not contain fragrance or any harsh chemicals on it. No need to use a washcloth, just a gentle rub using your finer is good enough. Remember healing tattooed area is sensitive and it got even more sensitive after you got the scabs ripped off accidentally.

3. Soak the area dry

Do not leave the delicate area wet for too long. It could cause oversaturation and lead to infection. Use a clean towel or paper towel to gently tap over the tattooed area to soak it dry.

4. Apply antibacterial ointment

Because your tattoo is in a super delicate situation after you get the scabs ripped off accidentally, you should apply antibacterial ointment instead of regular lotion. The antibacterial ointment will ensure the exposed tattooed area does not get infected. It will get rid of any bacteria or germ that is trying to cause an issue.

5. Resume proper aftercare

Just because your tattoo scabs got ripped off that does not mean you should stop doing the things you were doing to take care of your healing tattoo. Resume proper aftercare such as:

6. Avoid touching the area unnecessarily 

It may be a bit tempting to touch and feel the area sometimes after the scabs get ripped off. However, doing so will only increase the irritation and increase the chance of getting an infection. So, make sure to avoid touching the area unnecessarily.

7. Look for signs of infection

As I mentioned earlier, after the scabs get ripped off, your tattoo will become prone to get infected. In most cases, healing tattoos get infected if the scabs get ripped off for some reason. So look for signs of infection after you get the scabs ripped off accidentally. You should look for signs such as:

8. See a doctor & your tattoo artist

After getting the scabs ripped off your tattoo accidentally, if things do not get better within a few days even after you have done everything I have mentioned above, then it is time to seek professional help. Not to mention if you notice any sign of infection then you should seek professional help as well. First, go see a doctor for the infection and then consult with your tattoo artist regarding how you should take care of the tattoo from here on.

FAQs

What are tattoo scabs and why do they form?

Tattoo scabs are crusty or dry patches that form over a new tattoo or healing tattoo. They form as a natural healing process of the skin and to recover the damage done to the skin by the tattooing procedure.

What if I accidentally rip off some of my tattoo scabs?

Ripping off tattoo scabs accidentally could expose the raw healing skin underneath. And it could lead to many complications such as:

• Infection
• Delayed healing
• Tattoo fading
• Tattoo distortion
• Scarring
• Irritation

Can I prevent my scabs from getting ripped off accidentally?

While accidents may happen, you can apply some preventative measures to avoid getting into such accidents. To avoid getting your scabs ripped off accidentally you can:

• Avoid over moisturizing.
• Apply a moderate amount of moisturizer.
• Avoid wearing tight clothes.
• Pet the area dry instead of rubbing.
• Avoid impact on the tattooed area.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing.

Why is my tattoo scab itching?

Tattoo scabs tend to be a bit dry hence you will feel an itchy feeling on the scabbing area. Do not worry as the itchiness is completely normal and more or less anyone who gets a tattoo goes through this mildly annoying period.

Can I scratch my scabs if they itch?

No, you should not scratch over your scabs. Scratching over the scabs could make them fall off prematurely. It could lead to many issues. You can apply healing ointment to reduce the itchiness and pat the area gently instead of scratching.

Final Thoughts

Scabs are not something pretty but they are essential for a healing tattoo. If your tattoo scab gets ripped off accidentally then it can lead to many issues. You could face tattoo fading, infection, tattoo distortion, increased pain & irritation, etc. It is better to take preventive measures so that you can avoid getting into such accidents. To avoid getting your tattoo scab ripped off you can avoid wearing tight clothes, wash the area gently, pat the area dry instead of rubbing, avoid impact, etc.

If your scabs got accidentally ripped off already then instead of getting stressed over it, wash the area gently and apply antibacterial ointment. This will prevent any possible infection. Take usual care of your tattoo and if things do not get better then visit a doctor and consult with your tattoo artist.

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