When you get a new tattoo, there are many things that you will be going through. Your new tattoo will be itchy, form scabs, redness around the tattooed area, etc. Even if these things are concerning, what you have to know is the fact these are all part of the natural healing process of the tattoo. One such thing that can occur on a new tattoo is that it might appear shiny.
So why is my tattoo shiny? Just like the natural healing process, you will start to notice your tattoo being shiny during the first two weeks. While this might be something to be worried about, it just shows that your tattoo is in fact healing. If you are concerned about your tattoo being shiny, then you should what the reasons are for tattoos becoming shiny and if you should remove it or not.
Key Takeaways
- Many things lead to your tattoo appearing shiny, but it is all part of your healing process of the skin.
- While you should not be concerned about a shiny tattoo, you should be concerned if the tattoo appears shiny before the usual time.
- You should take care of your shiny tattoo with the utmost care, as shiny skin is a new sensitive layer of skin required for healing.
- Some signs of your tattoo being healed can give you relief, but if you don’t see these signs you should contact a dermatologist immediately.
Reasons for Shiny Tattoo
After continuously getting punctured by a tattoo gun’s needles, your new tattoo is like an open wound. This wound will promote the circulation of blood and plasma to travel to the dermis of the tattoo where the ink is. These will leak onto your dermis to promote the healing of your tattoo by pushing out the old wounded skin and generating new skin.
This generation of new skin will cause your skin to become inflamed, which is what causes it to be itchy and red. This inflammation will cause the blood vessels around the tattoo to become dilated to promote more blood flow. This is to allow for more oxygen to be available for the skin to heal. This increased blood flow is why your tattoo becomes shiny as it heals.
So when there is more blood flow toward a wound, it will scab over to allow the skin underneath to safely form new skin. When the scab falls, it will reveal a new skin layer that will be shiny. And this is why your new tattoo is shiny! It is just a part of the natural healing process to repair the damaged skin on your tattoo.
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Concerns About Shiny Tattoos
Since shiny skin without using any product like oil or lotion might seem unnatural, you might be concerned about the shine that is on your tattoo. As I have mentioned before, the shine is all part of the tattoo healing to help set the ink in your skin. This will only start when after the scabbing falls off to reveal the new skin that is underneath.
So what if it appears before the scabbing and before the scab falls off? That is when you should be concerned about the shininess of your new tattoo! Your new tattoo will be leaking blood, ink, and most importantly plasma. The plasma contains platelets that will help the formation of the scab over the tattoo. The plasma itself is a yellow or straw-colored liquid and this might also make your tattoo appear shiny.
But if the plasma is not drying properly to form the scab, that is when you know that your tattoo is not healing properly. The plasma on top of the tattoo will block the skin from being able to gain oxygen from the surrounding and it will hinder the healing process of the tattoo! So if you see your tattoo is shiny before the scabs fall off, immediately contact a dermatologist about the situation.
Taking Care of a Shiny Tattoo
When the new layer of skin forms on the tattoo, it will look like the skin of an onion. This stage of onion skin is when your tattoo will be shiny. It is important to take care of the skin during this stage so let’s look at the ways you will need to take care of it.
Antibacterial neutral soap
As with any tattoo aftercare, what you should be using is antibacterial soap to prevent any infections from happening on the skin. You should also make sure that it is a neutral soap so that the slightly acidic nature of the skin is maintained for proper healing.
Only use hands
Only use your hands while washing your tattoo. The friction from washcloths or scrubbers will damage the skin of the tattoo. This skin will be sensitive as it is a new layer so always gently wash your shiny tattoo with your hand.
Limited shower times
Showering and washing the shiny tattoo should be kept to a minimum. You don’t want to make drowning the skin on your tattoo or it will start to lose its natural moisture and become pruned. Use only lukewarm water when washing and limit your showers to 10 minutes at most.
Pat and air dry
Pat dry, not rub, when you are drying the tattooed area. This is to ensure the new skin is not irritated by the friction caused by a towel because of how sensitive it is. After pat drying, make sure to also air dry your tattoo so that there is water remaining on the surface of the tattoo. You want the water to be absorbed and retained by the skin, not block air over the tattoo.
Moisturizing the tattoo
After the first two weeks of your new tattoo, make sure that you apply a thin layer of moisturizer on your tattoo to help it retain moisture. Ointments, lotions, and creams that have hydrating properties are more than welcome on the tattoo, bonus points for fragrance-free and soothing ingredients like aloe vera. Never apply any sort of cream on your tattoo when it is completely new, only after the first two weeks of getting the new tattoo.
Signs of the Tattoo Healed
When your tattoo is healed, it will stop looking shiny. This can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months at a time and is completely dependent on your aftercare and how your body reacts to the tattoo during the process. Around this time, your ink will have settled into your dermis nicely and give a sharp and vibrant look, but not shiny. Here are some of the signs that will help you to understand that your tattoo is completely healed.
- Your tattoo will not look blurry
- Smooth to the touch
- No redness or itching sensation
- No raised areas or peeling of the skin
If you notice any of these signs, you can safely assume that your tattoo is healed. However, if you still notice signs of the tattoo being itchy, red, or peeling even after 2 months, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. There might be an underlying condition that is making your tattoo not heal properly.
FAQs
How to remove the shine from my tattoo?
You can use baby powder or translucent powder on your tattoo to give it a matte finish so that you don’t have a shiny tattoo.
How long will a shiny tattoo last?
The shiny tattoo will last anywhere from 2 weeks to about 8 weeks. It will be dependent on your aftercare. If properly done, you can expect the tattoo to lose its shine sooner than later.
Will a healed tattoo be shiny?
After the scabs fall off, what is left on the skin is a new layer of skin that will be shiny. It will stop being shiny after a week when the skin layer is naturally exfoliated.
How can I make my tattoo darker?
There are self-tanning lotions and creams that you can use to help with the formation of melanin on your skin. This will make your tattoo appear darker and it will go away after a few weeks of initial use.
Final Thoughts
As you have now found out, a shiny tattoo just means that your tattoo is healing. The blood and plasma leaking from your new tattoo are also just part of the process to prepare your skin for scabbing. The new skin is what will make your tattoo look shiny and if you take proper care, in 4 weeks your tattoo should be fully healed! If that is not the case and there are still signs of your tattoo trying to heal, don’t wait and immediately get in touch with your doctor. When it comes to tattoos, you should never take any chances or risk damaging your tattoo as well as your skin!
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