What is the plasma bubble on my tattoo?

Author: Caitlyn Farrell  |  Last update: Sunday, August 17, 2025

Plasma is the fluid that may leak from the skin after getting a tattoo and is a normal part of the healing process. This plasma is rich in white blood cells that fight off infection and trigger the body's immune response and healing. Allowing the tattoo to “marinate” in its own plasma can benefit healing.

Should I drain the plasma from my tattoo?

Your skin will reabsorb the plasma; it helps the tattoo heal (think of it as a huge weird blister). Definitely don't poke a hole in it, as bacteria will get in. But yeah contact your artist if you feel like you have an absurd amount of liquid on your chest and can't live with it.

What is the liquid bubble on my tattoo?

Is tattoo bubbling normal? Bubbles on tattoos, while not necessarily a ``normal'' part of the tattoo healing process, are more common than you think and are easy to develop. A bubble on your tattoo is caused by too much moisture in your tattooed skin.

What is the plasma coming out of my tattoo?

It is totally normal for it to leak blood/plasma within the first 24-48 hours. The second skin or saniderm is keeping the plasma trapped, which will actually help speed up healing since the plasma is essential in the healing process. As long as it is not leaking out of the sides of the second skin, you should be fine.

Why did my tattoo turn into a blob?

In a lot of cases, it's poor placement of the ink. If the ink is deposited too deep, then it bleeds into the fat tissue, casing it to look like a blob. It could be that the design is of poor quality. If the lines are too close, they will bleed together, causing it to again, look like a blob.

How to PROPERLY USE Saniderm on a NEW tattoo (ft. instructions from a representative)

How do you fix a blob tattoo?

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.

What is the fluid sac after a tattoo?

A tattoo ink sack is a buildup of ink-stained plasma fluid underneath the clear protective sheet (called Saniderm) that your tattoo artist applied to your tattoo at the end of your appointment. It might look like a big blister, but it's not your skin.

Does plasma from a tattoo smell?

However, the cells in your plasma are only viable for about 24 hours. Once these cells begin “dying” or losing viability (one reason why we recommend removing the first Saniderm bandage and reapplying a new one after the first 24 hours) they can start to cause the wound site to smell unpleasant.

What should a 3 day old tattoo look like?

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.

Can I pop a tattoo bubble?

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.

How long do you leave an ink sac on a tattoo?

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.

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.

Should you wipe blood off tattoo?

Be sure to wash off any blood/plasma residue that has surfaced, until the tattoo appears clean and feels smooth, not slimy. We prefer to let it air dry, but if you're in a hurry, you can use a fresh/clean paper towel and gently dab the moisture.

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.

What color is plasma?

Blood plasma is the yellow liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells in whole blood are normally suspended. The color of the plasma varies considerably from one sample to another from barely yellow to dark yellow and sometimes with a brown, orange or green tinge [Figure 1a] also.

Why do tattoo lines get thicker?

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.

Why does my tattoo look smudged while healing?

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.

Should I wipe the plasma off my tattoo?

Use your clean hands, not a washcloth or towel. Chances are, it's a gross, gooey mess of blood, ink, lymph, and plasma. It's important to clean all of this off, as the plasma will harden and cause excessive scabbing on your tattoo, which might complicate the healing process.

What does plasma look like coming out of a tattoo?

Plasma is a yellowish-clear fluid that is a natural part of your body's healing process and helps regenerate your tattooed skin. Pus, on the other hand, is thicker and has increased redness around the tattoo, swelling, pain, and a foul odor. These are a sign of infection.

What is the plasma build up on my tattoo?

The following morning (i.e., before the 24 hours has passed), the second skin will be filled with excess ink, blood and plasma and your tattoo will probably look like it is covered in black goo. That is completely normal, so do try to keep the second skin on for the full 24 hours.

How long does plasma come out of a tattoo?

A common, normal occurrence with fresh tattoos is known as “weeping”. This is when some ink or plasma (fluid) may come out of the tattoo and form a thin, moist coating on the skin. (Note: This typically can last anywhere from 24 hours to about a week or so.

What is tattoo cyst?

During tattooing, the introduction of pigment into the skin may cause disruption of the epithelium, leading to the occurrence of these cysts. Larger epidermal cysts are removed by simple. excision, or incision and expression of the cyst. contents together with the wall.

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