It's recommended you wait at least 24 hours before showering after getting a new tattoo. This allows the tattooed area to begin the healing process and reduces the risk of infection. Showering too soon after getting a tattoo may expose the open wound to bacteria and increase the chances of complications.
Wait 24-48 Hours: After getting your tattoo, wait at least 24 to 48 hours before showering. This allows the initial healing process to begin and reduces the risk of infection.
After usually no less than 5 hours, it is safe to remove the bandage and wash the tattoo.
Your artist should've given you post care tips though. Usually you're meant to avoid submerging the tattoo in water for a few weeks, getting it a bit wet in the shower is fine after 24 hours though.
You should keep your new tattoo covered for a minimum 8--10 days. The fabric should be cotton as would absorb any perspiration from around the tattoo and also help the skin breathe to heal. Close fitting or tight clothes will rub against the skin and cause irritation, maybe even infection.
Unfortunately, there's no way to control what your body does while you sleep, but keeping your new tattoo covered during the night will help mitigate the risk of causing any injuries by scratching it.
Skin irritation – New tattoos can be painful and irritating while they heal regardless, and submerging them in water–especially salt or chlorine–can cause stinging, burning, and even contact dermatitis. Tattoo damage – Water can cause fading and discoloration for new tattoos.
It is advised to wait for your tattoo to fully heal, which can take at least two to four weeks before swimming in any kind of water. Going into the pool or ocean before then may put you at risk of infection due to bacteria or germs that can enter an open wound.
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.
After you leave the studio you will have been cleaned and bandaged; remove the bandage after 3-4 hours. Don't remove the bandage until you can properly clean the tattoo with mild soap and warm water.
Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a bandage. Remove the bandage after 24 hours (or sooner, if your tattoo artist recommends it). Wash your hands before taking off the bandage. Gently wash the tattoo with soap (antibacterial if available) and water, and pat dry with a clean paper towel.
Wash your new tattoo within five hours of completion and continue washing it a couple of times a day until fully healed. Use clean hands and gentle, antibacterial soap to wash your tattoo. Rinse thoroughly and ensure all soap is removed. Let your tattoo air-dry or gently pat it dry with a clean cloth.
Just a heads up water touching your tattoo is fine, you just don't want to be soaking it in a bath tub or similar. 2 weeks is a pretty safe time frame, unless it is clearly still flaking or you're having a difficult heal.
Use lukewarm or cold water, and keep the tattoo from heavy shower flow, instead opting to gently rinse the area of your tattoo. Make sure the bandage is secured to your skin before you expose it to water pressure from the shower.
It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing. When you do shower, try to minimize direct contact with the tattooed area and limit its exposure to water.
Eucerin Aquaphor's gentle and non-irritating formula helps to alleviate discomfort, itchiness, and redness associated with brand new tattoos. By providing a soothing and calming effect, it allows the skin to heal undisturbed, promoting a smoother and more comfortable recovery.
If your tattoo is on the right side of your body, sleep on your left — always the opposite side. Besides creating unwanted pressure, lying on your tattoo with all your weight can restrict the necessary airflow that helps your tattoo breathe, a key element of the healing process.
To aid the skin healing process, the tattoo needs to be kept moist. You can use a very thin layer of hypoallergenic ointment or fragrance-free lotion like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion, or Vaseline® Healing Jelly Original. Repeat daily for 2-3 weeks to help wound healing.
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.