Apply a cold pack. This can help reduce swelling, bruising or itching. Never apply ice directly to the skin as it can cause tissue damage.
If some swelling/redness is present the day after your tattoo, and it is uncomfortable or bothering you, it is appropriate to use ice (20 minutes) and/or an NSAID (ibuprofen, Advil, aleve, naproxen) to help bring the swelling down.
This is completely normal. My tattoos frequently get puffy and lumpy to where you can run your fingers over them and feel the outlines.
After getting a tattoo, it's common for the area to be raised and swollen. Typically, this swelling can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Most people notice that the swelling decreases significantly within 2 to 3 days.
How Tattoo Blowout Can Be Fixed. Unfortunately, once blowout occurs, there's nothing you can do to reverse it. In order to “fix” the blurry ink, you can try to correct it with additional tattooing, or opt to remove it altogether.
SANDIDERM / TEGADERM / TATTOODERM / SECOND SKIN:
During this time, the tattoo may look blurry due to excess blood and/or plasma that may leave the skin. It may look like a blob of ink, but this is totally normal!
Avoid Popping
One common mistake is picking or popping blisters. This significantly increases the risk of infection and scarring. It's vital to let them heal naturally. If a blister accidentally breaks, clean the area gently with mild soap and water.
It's normal for a new tattoo to be raised while it's healing. It may appear the most raised the morning after your tattoo and gradually lower a little more every day until the surface of your skin is completely flat. Swelling is a normal part of the process. A tattoo is technically a wound until it fully heals.
Take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and swelling. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Silicone sheets or gels: Silicone sheets or gels are commonly used for scar treatment and may also be effective in reducing the raised appearance of a tattoo. These products create a protective barrier over the tattoo and help retain moisture in the skin, potentially minimizing the raised texture.
You Can Also
Ice your tattoo to reduce swelling. Elevate your tattoo, to reduce swelling. Take short showers.
Many people experience a slight inflammation, but if symptoms persist, a person should see their doctor. Antibiotic treatment can usually resolve a tattoo related infection. Without treatment, complications of a skin infection, such as a deeper infection, and, rarely, sepsis may occur in some people.
Tattoos tend to peel without any ink underneath as they heal normally. In rare cases, they can have missing ink due to an artist's error. Peeling tattoos with missing ink aren't usually anything to worry about. It's normal for a tattoo to peel and lose a little bit of ink as your skin heals.
In some cases, a tattoo blowout may resolve itself as the tattoo heals. But if, after your new tattoo healing, it is still looking funky, you may need to have it removed by a specialist. It's often the best way to get rid of a tattoo blowout.
Your new tattoo will be red, irritated, swollen, warm-to-the-touch & possibly bruised; this is all NORMAL. This will normally last 1 to 3 days.
Yes, you can be allergic to certain brands of tattoo ink. Allergic reactions generally occur due to ingredients in the ink, such as pigments or metals. Symptoms can include itchiness, redness, swelling, or rash at the site of the tattoo, and can occur immediately or years later.
If you're having an allergic reaction to your tattoo, you might get a rash that's red, bumpy, or itchy. These symptoms can crop up in the days after you first get your tattoo or can appear months or years later. You can most likely treat the area with a steroid ointment.
What NOT to do? DON'T re-bandage your tattoo, rub, scratch or pick at your new tattoo. DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal).
Keep this first bandage on for up to 24 hours, depending on how much the tattoo site weeps blood, plasma, and excess ink. Fluid will always pool into an “ink sack” underneath the bandage, but if this pooling becomes excessive or starts to compromise adhesion, simply remove and reapply.