For the first three or four days, your new tattoo will ooze a little bit of plasma discharge. If it's leaking a clear fluid, it's likely not pus and therefore, probably not infected.
'Oozing/Weeping' - which is typical for the first day or so. Sometimes this can last for up to 3-4 days after being tattooed, depending on the size, colour and location.
Leaking Plasma During The Healing Time
Your body is recognizing an open wound and trying to close it off with white blood cells and lymph. Always wash your tattoo gently, blot dry, and air out prior to adding more ointment. You only need a little bit a few times a day.
Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel. Press the paper towel to the skin and remove.
Typically, the scabbing phase tends to last about a week. After this, your tattoo may begin to peel and flake. And after about 10 days most scabs should have flaked away, although thicker scabs may take a little while longer to go - usually the thicker the scab, the longer it takes to heal.
There's usually some peeling, which is pretty much a given, but you still need to keep your tattoo protected, and of course, moisturized, to prevent anything more serious from happening.
While a new tattoo can push out ink, along with blood and plasma, it typically does no harm and doesn't lead to a tattoo blowout. This leaking typically lasts no more than 48 hours. However, bruising from a new tattoo can make it look a little blurred or smudged as it goes through the healing process.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
Days 2 to 3:
During these days, your tattoo may look dull and cloudy as your skin heals and new skin starts to form. Excess ink and plasma may still ooze from your skin.
Severe Infections
Mild skin irritation is typical with tattoos. However, seek medical care if you experience signs of infection at the tattoo site (e.g., pus, rash, worsening redness, or swelling).
Use only your fingers, and with a gentle circular motion to rub off excess ink and crusties, rinsing as you go. Use a mild, fragrance-free antibacterial soap to help prevent infection for the first week or until oozing stops to allow your skin to completely heal from the needlework.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
That's why it's important to get medical care if you think your tattoo is infected. Will an infection ruin my tattoo? If the infection is mild and treated early, it most likely won't ruin the tattoo.
2-6 Days After Your New Tattoo
It may also look red, swollen and still ooze blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid and ink. Not to worry! This is normal.
Your body excreting plasma and “weeping” is a completely normal beginning to the tattoo healing process. However, excessive weeping may negatively affect the adhesion of the bandage. If you are experiencing excessive weeping, you will simply need to clean the tattooed area more often than normal.
Keeping your new tattoo covered for at least the first night or two will help reduce the risk of it leaking onto your bedding and lower the risk of infection. After your tattoo has been finished, it may have been wrapped in some form of protection, such as cling film or other protective material.
Dr. Paviol says that when trauma occurs in the skin (like getting ink injected via needles), the body sends signals in the form of cytokines, which cause increased vascular permeability. “This results in increased plasma in the tissue and swelling to help the tissue heal and may cause the area to 'weep,'” he says.
Yes, it is totally normal for fluid and excess ink to leak from your freshly tattooed skin. This fluid is called plasma and it is part of the body's natural healing process. It forms a protective layer over the tattoo and helps keep dirt and bacteria away while also aiding in its recovery.
How Often Should I Moisturize a New Tattoo? According to tattoo artists and skincare experts, you should moisturize a new tattoo three times a day. While this might seem excessive, it's important to remember that your skin is still healing and will be very tender from the process.