What most people don’t realize about getting a tattoo is what happens after the tattoo is the most important part of the tattoo process. Most people are worried about the pain to really focus on the tattoo aftercare portion. Yes, the pain that comes from being pierced is something that a lot of people should be concerned about. But what people don’t realize there will be pain while the tattoo is healing after getting it done!
So what does a healing tattoo look like? The tattoo heals in stages, going through many changes along the way. The changes make a lot of people very scared. Some might want to get a touch-up after 2 weeks of getting the tattoo while others take medication such as ibuprofen to stop the pain. That is why before you get a tattoo, it is important to learn the different stages of healing, what they look like, and what you should be doing. That way, you are fully prepared for the whole tattoo experience, and not just the tattoo appointment itself!
Key Takeaways
- There are many stages of the tattoo and it is important to know what they look like and what type of aftercare you should be doing.
- Everyone has different rates of healing. That is why it is important to understand the signs that show that your tattoo is not healing properly.
- The tattoo aftercare is the most crucial part of the whole tattoo process. For that, there are some dos and don’ts that you should be aware of.
5 Stages of Tattoo Healing and What It Looks Like
Right after getting the tattoo, the area may appear swollen and red. The tattoo will discharge ink, plasma, and other bodily fluids during this time. As it heals you will see clear or white scabs forming over it. These scabs are a sign of a healing tattoo. But the area may still feel tender until it completely heals.
As I have mentioned before, a new tattoo heals in stages. The appearance of the tattoo will drastically change over the course of its healing. So let’s go into more about tattoo healing stages and what aftercare you should be doing for each stage.
Day 1 to 3: Fresh Wound and Oozing
This stage will start within hours of getting the tattoo. Your body will produce and send plasma to clot and heal the wound. Your tattoo artist may apply Saniderm or a plastic film over the tattoo. For this stage of the healing, you may notice that there is an ink sac forming underneath the tattoo.
This oozing is completely normal, the body is trying to push out just excess ink and blood which is what makes up the ink sac. The tattoo will also regularly ooze ink and blood so make sure you are keeping your clothes and bed sheets safe from getting ink on them. This oozing is the first part of the healing process.
Aftercare: For this period, you will have to remove your Saniderm wrap or the plastic film within 12 hours and gently wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap about 3 to 4 times a day. You should be washing your tattoo with your hand under running lukewarm water to remove the blood and ink.
Afterward, you should pat the skin dry with clean paper towels and then apply an A+D ointment like Aquaphor or a reputable tattoo balm. Then you can wrap the tattoo for the second time using Saniderm.
Day 3 to 14: Scabbing
After the oozing phase, the skin on your tattoo will start to form a scab which is the second sign of healing after the oozing. Scabbing is a part of healing skin.
This will include your skin appearing red and swollen. But the redness and swelling should go away within 7 days of getting the tattoo. The tattooed area will feel tender to the touch.
Aftercare: For this stage, you will only be touching your tattoo whenever you are cleaning or moisturizing the skin. Same as before, you should only be washing with antibacterial soap under running water.
Some scabs may come off on their own. This is still normal as it means the tattoo healing phase is preparing to go to the next stage. Keep your tattoo dry and then moisturize with a fragrance-free lotion, cream, or moisturizer for the best aftercare practice.
Day 14 to 17: Shiny Tattoo, Dryness, and More Peeling
The really cool and weird part of the tattoo healing process is the shiny tattoo appearance that you get after the scabs fall off. However, soon after your tattoo will start looking really dull and cloudy again as it dries up. With more drying, your tattoo will start to peel even more at this point of the healing.
Aftercare: For tattoo aftercare, you should wash your tattoo less (about twice a day should do it) and make sure that it is moisturized. Not much is new for this phase except you should be using sunscreen if you are going outside. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs so make sure to use a fragrance-free mineral sunscreen to cover your tattoo as lightly as possible. Preferably, the SPF rating of the sunscreen should be about 30 to give your tattoo the best type of protection.
Also, keep your tattoo covered as best as possible during this phase as the new skin is pretty tender and can hurt with the slightest of touches.
Day 17 to 30: Dull and Cloudy Appearance
At this point of the healing phase, your tattoo will have all the signs of redness and swelling gone. What will remain is a dull and cloudy-looking tattoo instead. Most people get really worried at this point of the tattoo, especially for colored tattoos which lose their vibrant colors completely. But this stage is the final stage of tattoo healing and soon you will notice your tattoo becoming more and more vibrant!
Aftercare: We are almost near the end of the aftercare! Here, you should be focused on keeping the tattoo moisturized whenever it feels it is drying up and becoming tight. You will notice this more around the areas where the muscles move most.
Tattoos near or on joints and the chest will feel really tight during this stage. Keep continuing to moisturize and use sunscreen on your tattoo whenever you go out as clothes only provide partial protection against direct sunlight.
Day 30+: Continued Dull Appearance or Vibrant Appearance
For some people, the dull appearance will continue past the 30-day mark, usually, the epidermis or surface layer of the skin heals completely before this line length. But for some individuals, the dull appearance may last more than a month. No need to worry, it will go away very soon.
After the dull appearance is gone your tattoo will look sharp and vibrant. Your top layer of the skin is completely healed!
Aftercare: If your tattoo continues to look dull then you should continue with the normal aftercare that you have been doing. When the tattoo will start to look sharp and vibrant, that is when your tattoo is healed.
The aftercare is technically not over as your tattoo still needs to be protected from the sun and other factors as long as you live. So keep your tattoo moisturized at least twice a day and use sunscreen to protect it whenever you go out. For now, you are free to use most products that you were prohibited from using as your tattoo has healed perfectly! You can exfoliate the tattoo as well to get rid of any dead skin from the area.
Overall, even though there are distinct phases of healing, these stages have a chance to overlap. Don’t be alarmed if you see stage redness and scabbing simultaneously. Everyone has a different rate of healing and it will look different for everyone.
What is important is to understand the different phases and make sure you are following the guidelines set out by your tattoo artist. They will know the best way to take care of your tattoo during this first month of getting it!
6 Ways To Know Healing Process Is Complete
If you are not sure about the healing process of your tattoo being complete, then you follow the below signs to know for sure if it is healed or not.
1. No more tenderness
Your tattoo may feel tender to touch even during the scabbing phase. If you do not feel any tenderness when touching the tattooed area and it feels like regular skin then the healing process is complete my friend.
2. Normalization of skin texture
Your skin has a specific texture, right? When the healing process is complete the tattooed skin would look just like your normal skin. The skin texture would be normalized.
3. No redness or swelling
Redness and swelling can occur during the first stages of the healing process. It should be minimized during the scabbing and completely gone after the end of the scabbing phase.
4. No oozing or weeping stopped
Oozing and weeping will stop in the first healing stage or within the first 2 to 3 days of getting the tattoo. If your tattoo is still weeping or oozing after 1 month then am afraid your tattoo is infected and the healing process got delayed because of that.
5. No itchy feeling
A healing tattoo may feel a bit itchy. But once the healing is complete you will not feel any itchiness.
6. Vibrant tattoo
During the healing phase, your tattoo may not look the best because of the scabs. The vibrant and natural color of the tattoo can mean your tattoo is fully healed. The dullness will go away on its own.
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6 Distinct Signs of Tattoo Not Healing Properly
Proper tattoo aftercare can ensure optimum healing. But if you are worried that your tattoo is not healing properly, then you can confirm it by checking the 5 signs I have provided below. Apart from an allergic reaction, any of the below signs can mean your tattoo is not healing the ideal way.
1. Infection
Infection is the worst possible thing that can happen to a new tattoo. It can completely ruin the skin and the tattoo itself because the tattoo remains an open wound for the first month of getting it.
During the healing time, you can expect to get infected if you aren’t careful. The signs of an infected tattoo can be:
- Fever
- Oozing puss
- Brown, or dark or yellow scabs
- Skin feeling hot
- Fever
If you notice any of these signs, be sure to seek help from your tattoo artist and medical expert. If not treated in time, your fresh tattoo can fade or be distorted. And even if it is a mild infection, it will not let your tattoo heal.
2. Severe itching
Itching is very common for new tattoos. However, what you should be concerned about is severe itching. This type of itching will feel like something is eating away underneath the skin.
Severe itching can also be a sign of your tattoo being infected so make sure to not itch your tattoo and show it to your tattoo artist to get their idea on it.
3. Prolonged redness
The redness on the tattoo should be gone by the 2nd week of the tattoo. It is mostly the reaction of the skin that has been inflamed. But if the redness stays past the 2nd week, you will know that your tattoo is not healing the way it should.
4. Pain
There is some pain associated with a new tattoo. But some types of muscle pain are very uncommon for tattoos! Most of the pain is localized on the tattoo itself so if you start feeling pain around the tattoo and other parts of the body, it could be a definite sign that your tattoo is not healing correctly.
5. Swollen skin surrounding the tattoo
The skin of your tattoo is where everything will be going down. At most, the edges will look a bit more swollen than the center. A new tattoo may have a bit of swelling or puffy skin during initial healing.
But if the whole surrounding of the tattoo is starting to look puffy, then you know that your tattoo is not healing properly! Healing tattoos after a week or two should not appear swollen.
It is a bigger issue if the skin starts to swell past the shiny phase of the healing. At that point, the inflammation of the skin should have subsided. If it has not, then your tattoo is not healing as it should.
6. Fever
If you feel like you have a fever while your tattoo is healing, then it is not a good sign. It can mean your tattoo is infected.
When your body is unable to get rid of the bacteria or fix the infection issue then it may increase the body temperature to fight the infection. If you have a fever then the tattoo infection could be in bad condition and you should seek medical advice.
Tattoo Aftercare: Dos and Don’ts
For tattoo aftercare, there are a lot of dos and don’ts associated with it. You have to remember, that your fresh tattoo can get easily damaged if you do not follow your tattoo artist’s advice. That is why I have made a table of dos and don’ts you should be following for your tattoo aftercare. Remember, to take long-term tattoo aftercare just like you would for a healing tattoo.
| Dos | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Keep the tattoo clean | Use products that constraints fragrance and harsh chemicals |
| Cover the tattoo when you are outside and use sunscreen | Exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight for an extended period of time |
| Tap on the tattoo if it feels itchy | Scratching the tattoo |
| Take acetaminophen for pain during the healing phase of the tattoo | Submerging in water to reduce pain |
| Let your scab and peeling skin fall off naturally | Picking on scabs |
| Keeping the skin moisturized | Letting the tattoo to become dry and flaky |
Final Thoughts
The healing of a new tattoo will look slightly different for different people. The body’s immune system varies and that will ultimately determine how long your tattoo will remain in the healing phase and when it will be completely healed. The healing timeline can not be controlled. What you can control though, is the aftercare that you need for each stage of the healing phase.
Follow your tattoo artist’s aftercare instructions as it can make your tattoo heal faster and keep your tattoo safe from possible issues like infection, fading, and tattoo distortion. Never hesitate to ask questions about new tattoos and consult with your tattoo artist if you have any problems. When it comes to a tattoo, there will always be people to help you!
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