You want to avoid excess absorption of water by the tattoo, so washings should be efficient and deliberate to minimize time. You can use antibacterial soap for the first 3-5 days and then regular soap or body wash is fine.
Comments Section I started using regular body wash I think about a month after I got the tattoo. The tattoo was completely healed and it felt like normal skin. (Not a doctorHonestly once the skin has formed a new layer of skin covering the tattoo you can use it. Usually happens between 2-3 weeks if you healed fine.
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 using ointment for a new tattoo, you should wait until your tattoo has completely healed before switching to lotion. This typically takes about 2-3 weeks (1).
You should be doing normal washing at this point. I wash directly right away, that results in the best heals for me. Then I use normal soap (not tattoo wash) after about 4-5 days depending on the size of the tattoo. I start using my loofah sponge on tattoo area lightly by day 7.
Wait Until the Tattoo is Fully Healed
This is generally accepted to be around 4-6 weeks, but healing times can vary depending on the individual and the location of the tattoo.
Using a mild, fragrance-free soap (Dove, Dial, and Neutrogena); gently wash all excess blood, ointment, ink, and plasma from your tattoo. Only use your hand – DO NOT use a washcloth or loofah as they can harbor bacteria.
According to tattoo artists, you should begin using lotion on a tattoo once it begins to dry. It is a waiting game, in a way. You don't want to apply lotion while the ink is still wet. How long it takes the ink to dry is dependent on your body, the size of the tattoo, and environmental factors such as humidity.
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.
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.
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.
Tattoos are essentially open wounds, and exposing them to water too soon can lead to bacterial infections, skin irritation, and even damage to the tattoo design. Therefore, tattoo artists recommend waiting at least 2-4 weeks before submerging your new ink in swimming pools, hot tubs, or open water.
Some tattoo artists recommend waiting between 24-48 hours before applying moisturizer, though others recommend doing so as soon as the first wash. A person with a fresh tattoo should follow their tattoo artist's instructions on when to start using moisturizer.
How Long After A Tattoo Can You Wash It With Soap? Though you can rinse your new tattoo within 3-4 hours, it's best to wait 24 hours to gently wash it with hypoallergenic soap.
NEVER rub a wet tattoo with a washcloth, sponge, or towel when it is still in the healing stages. When the protective scab is wet it is at risk of being rubbed away, resulting in loss of ink. *Scabs will often form in the first few days. It is important not to pick the scabs or scratch the skin.
This process should be followed EXACTLY for the first 72 hours (3 days). After the first 72 hours uncover your tattoo, and continue to wash your tattoo every 4 hours and continue to apply a thin layer of Aquaphor ointment after washing until your tattoo is fully healed (2 weeks).
Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean your tattoo to keep it moist. After 5 days, you can switch from an antibiotic ointment to a gentle fragrance-free body lotion.
If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. It's important that they're allowed to dry out completely, and not get waterlogged at any time. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed.
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.
Use lukewarm water, not hot, and get your tattoo wet using your hands. Gentle rubbing with your fingers is all the abrasion your new ink needs. Pat dry with a paper towel or let air dry to keep things clean.
Please refrain from using any soaps that contain aloe, oatmeal, exfoliants, tea tree oil, or fragrance. All petroleum jelly needs to be removed in this process, so apply a heavy layer of soap, firmly (not roughly) wash your tattoo, then rinse off all of the soap.
According to Jaliman, you will want to use a gentle, hydrating cleanser on freshly tattooed skin. She recommends Cerave Hydrating Body Wash to her patients because “it has ceramides which are used to protect the barrier of the skin and it locks in moisture.