Get into a solid tattoo care routine with the right products on hand for every stage of the healing process. After a week or when oozing has stopped, switch to a gentle soap and wash twice daily.
This could take less than a week or a few depending on how fast your body heals, in my experience it has been around 9 days before I have been able to use a light body wash by hand and about 12 days before using abrasives. Hope that helps even though its just my experience and opinion, I'm sure people will disagree!
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.
When the peeling begins, switch to a regular FRAGRANCE FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance free brand for an additional 2 weeks. Your tattoo should be completely healed within 2-4 weeks. If you have extremely sensitive skin, the lotion may cause breakouts.
A two week period is about the time that a tattoo needs to heal to be ready for a touch-up. You may see some skin peeling for months, but it should not be anywhere close to the degree during the first two weeks. A little lotion on a regular basis during the life of your tattoo will only help maintain it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Immediately wash the tattoo with a mild soap. Any unscented soap will do! If you don't have a liquid soap, make sure not to put bar soap directly on the tattoo – lather in your hands, and use the underside of your fingers or your palm to wash the area. Do not scrub!
Make sure to wash your new tattoo several times a day with a soft, non-scented, antibacterial soap (Dial Soap Gold is a great brand to use) to keep it clean and avoid potential infection. Make sure to do this for two to three weeks or until the tattoo is more or less healed.
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.
48 HOURS AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You may shower normally, DO NOT use any scented soaps, acne washes, or exfoliants.
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.
Tattoo aftercare is an important part of preserving a tattoo. A person should gently wash and moisturize the tattoo regularly, and avoid sun exposure until the tattoo is fully healed.
If you've somehow got your tattoo wet by submerging it in water, there are steps to take that can potentially help. Dr. Shirazi recommends cleansing it with a gentle cleanser, patting it dry, and applying a healing ointment from Aquaphor or CeraVe.
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.
If your artist puts on a Saniderm bandage, you'll be able to skip the first few days of care, but don't leave it on for more than four days and begin moisturizing and washing as soon as you remove it. Once healed, daily moisturization will keep your tattoo looking fresh.
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.
The general rule of thumb is to wait at least 24 hours after getting a tattoo before showering or washing your tattoo.