The healing time for a tattoo can range from two to four weeks, depending on the size and location of the tattoo. Individual healing times may vary based on skin type and overall health of the tattoo wearer.
Tattoos typically take two to four weeks to heal on the surface, but it can take three to six months to fully heal. The tattoo healing process typically involves a week of redness and oozing, followed by two to three weeks of itchiness and peeling. After about a month, the skin still internally heals.
Totally normal. Your Tattoo is basically a graze/abrasion with some ink in it. As you heal (and grow new skin, thus sealing the color underneath it), the remains of your old, damaged skin will be peeling.
Even after it's done peeling on the surface, it's still healing underneath, so you should avoid scratching for 4-6 weeks until it's fully healed. Like, you'll feel that it hurts a lot more than scratching normal skin for a good while until it's really settled in, so try to leave it alone as much as you can!
How fast can a tattoo get infected? Some infections occur shortly after getting a tattoo. Others develop over time, and you might not notice them until months later.
Do not take a bath and fully submerge your tattoo for 3-4 weeks after getting a tattoo. The larger the tattoo, the longer we recommend you wait to fully submerge your tattoo in water. You should never submerge a new tattoo in water for any length of time directly following a tattoo.
Your tattoo will go through a number of stages as it heals. In the first few days, redness, oozing fluid and swollen skin is common. If this carries on however for more than a few days this could be a sign of an infection. After two weeks, your skin may begin to peel.
Pain, Swelling and Scabbing (Days 3-6) – The first several days will go by with your tattoo essentially still being a raw open wound. It will likely be painful during cleaning or when clothes/other body parts rub against it. Scabs will start to form towards the end of this stage.
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.
Days 4 to 6:
The redness should start to fade, and light new skin will be noticeable over the tattoo. If scabs form, do not pick at them as it can cause scarring and damage your tattoo.
On average, new tattoos begin peeling around day four or five. This will vary from person to person. Some may experience peeling as early as day two and others may not experience it until about a week later. Once the peeling begins, it usually subsides within a week or two.
Fresh tattoos will be swollen and not 'settled in' yet
If your tattoo is very new, it is likely that the lines feel raised and swollen simply because they are a bit swollen. Your new tattoo is an open wound, and the impact of the tattooing process will usually result in some swelling.
Wait 4 to 7 days before you sleep on your tattoo.
Your tattoo will ooze and bleed for a few days after you get it. Avoid sleeping on the tattoo at this point since it needs air circulation. Once the new layer of skin has formed over your tattoo, usually after 4 to 7 days, you can begin to sleep on it.
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.
Natural migration of pigment in the skin is manifested by: lines become visually wider; a small (about a millimeter) shadow may appear near the tattoo lines; there will be less empty space between the lines.
A thin layer is strongly suggested, too much aquaphor can pull out the ink and damage the quality of the tattoo, which results in a higher chance the tattoo will need a touch-up.
Over-the-Counter Treatments. Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid-based creams can help reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. However, it's crucial to select products specifically formulated for tattooed skin to avoid any adverse effects.
Worsening red, itchy bumps at the tattoo site. Redness and swelling: remember that mild redness is to be expected the first two to three days after getting a tattoo. If it progresses, worsens or accelerates three to five days after getting the tattoo, you need to take action due to high likelihood of a skin infection.