Should my tattoo still be sore after 5 days?

Author: Vidal Tromp DDS  |  Last update: Sunday, March 30, 2025

The scabbing stage can last a few days. The tattooed area is unlikely to still feel sore after about two weeks.

Is it normal for a tattoo to be sore after 5 days?

A new tattoo typically remains sore for about 3 to 7 days after the tattooing process. During this time, you may experience tenderness, redness, and some swelling.

How to tell if a tattoo is infected or just healing?

What Does an Infected Tattoo Look Like?
  1. A rash that can be itchy with scaly, raised, or swollen bumps.
  2. Excessive redness or discoloration, where the skin beneath the tattoo becomes darker instead of lightening up as it heals.
  3. Pus that oozes from blisters on the skin.
  4. Open sores that may have crusting.

How should my tattoo look after 5 days?

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.

How to tell if your body is rejecting a tattoo?

You may notice one or more of the following:
  1. Redness: It becomes darker or spreads instead of lightening and diminishing.
  2. Pain: It continues or worsens instead of subsiding.
  3. Rash of itchy, red, and painful bumps develop within the tattoo.
  4. Fever.
  5. Chills and shivering.
  6. Pus in the tattoo.
  7. Open sore(s) in the tattoo.

Is this HAPPENING TO YOUR NEW Tattoo?! Is this Normal or is it RUINED?

What does a failed tattoo look like?

Wonky lines are a big indicator of an unskilled artist. How a tattoo heals is a huge sign of a good tattoo vs a bad tattoo. If a tattoo scars, blows out or straight up falls out of the skin, it's a bad tattoo.

How to tell if a tattoo is over moisturized?

Signs of an Over-Moisturized Tattoo
  1. The moisturizer you've applied isn't absorbed in the skin. ...
  2. Your skin looks or feels irritated. ...
  3. The tattoo isn't scabbing or the scabs don't fall off.

When to stop using Aquaphor on a tattoo?

Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. 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.

Can I touch my tattoo after 5 days?

Days 5 Through 7

Avoid direct sunlight and keep applying an artist approved ointment or balm to keep your tattoo from drying out. You might notice some scabs or flaking patches, and this is normal. Don't touch them. If you pick or scratch at them, there's a good chance a chunk of your tattoo will come off with them.

How long is a tattoo at risk of infection?

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.

How to soothe tattoo pain after?

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may help ease the pain following a tattooing procedure. However, it is unclear if acetaminophen can effectively prevent pain from tattooing procedures. Instead, some tattoo artists recommend topical skin-numbing products.

How should a tattoo feel after a week?

Week 1. After a few days, the tattoo should begin to feel less sore and red. A person may notice their tattoo appears duller than it did initially. This appearance is not a cause for concern but a sign that the tattoo is healing.

When can I stop washing my tattoo with antibacterial soap?

It is considered fully healed when all scabs have fallen off, and the skin has regenerated and closed up. This process generally takes between 2 to 4 weeks. At this point, you can stop washing your tattoo with soap, as it will be protected by its own layers of skin.

Should my tattoo hurt after 5 days?

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.

Does shading or outlining hurt worse?

Tattoo Shading

Unlike outlining, shading isn't necessary for every tattoo. Color and shading simply provide more dimension than line work. Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo.

Can I lightly rub my tattoo?

Do not rub it. It is common that a new tattoo may be sensitive, red or slightly inflamed.

Can too much Aquaphor fade a tattoo?

There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo. In the interest of fairness, plenty of tattoo artists claim that they've never experienced ink loss in their clients that use Aquaphor.

How long after a tattoo can you shower normally?

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.

Should I let my tattoo dry out?

You can pat the tattoo gently with a clean paper towel, but you must let the tattoo dry, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes after each cleaning. Any extra moisture trapped by immediately covering the tattoo is an invitation for bacteria to multiply.

What causes a tattoo blowout?

One of the most common reasons for tattoo blowouts is the incorrect depth of needle penetration. The skin has three main layers: Epidermis: The top layer, where ink will fade quickly if deposited here. Dermis: The middle layer, ideal for holding the ink.

What are the stages of tattoo healing?

While there's some variability to the healing process, generally, there are three broad stages of tattoo healing:
  • Inflammation (Days 1-3) ...
  • Visible recovery (Days 4-14) ...
  • Invisible recovery (Days 14-30) ...
  • On the day. ...
  • 1-48 hours. ...
  • 48hrs – 14 days. ...
  • The sun. ...
  • Scented soap.

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