Why does my new tattoo look smudged?

Author: Miss Daphney Deckow DVM  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

A: Tattoo ink bleeding, often referred to as a blowout, does not go away on its own. This occurs when the ink spreads into the surrounding tissue, causing a blurred or smudged appearance.

Do tattoos look smudged when healing?

Yes, tattoos can appear blurry while healing. This is a normal part of the healing process, which typically lasts about two to three weeks. During this time, the skin may be red, swollen, and covered with a thin layer of scabbing or peeling.

Why does my new tattoo look blurry?

Sadly, the body is great at healing itself and as your skin cells naturally die, the trapped ink gets released and is absorbed by the surrounding cells. This is why your tattoo will tend to blur over time.

Why does my new tattoo look blown out?

Blowouts happen when ink is injected too deeply into the skin. When the ink hits the fat layer of the skin, it spreads and creates a blurry look outside of the line drawn. To my knowledge this often is visible the day of, but it can appear during the healing process if you aren't careful while it heals.

Are tattoo blowouts permanent?

Tattoo blowout is one of the most frustrating and disappointing conclusions to the tattoo process, leaving a blurred, diffused mark permanently in its wake. Unfortunately, tattoo blowout cannot be fixed unless it is removed. However, it can be prevented.

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

Why does my tattoo look messed up while healing?

Pieces of dry, dead skin saturated in tattoo ink will come off the tattoo, and it will look pretty ugly for a while. This is normal. Just continue to care for the tattoo as usual and after about 2-4 days the peeling should stop. This is also just about the time when the tattoo will often become very itchy.

How long will my new tattoo look cloudy?

2. Stage Two (Days 7-14) – Itching and flaking begins, and this continues until layers of dead skin and scabs have fallen off. 3. Stage Three (Days 15-30) – Tattoo looks fully healed but may look slightly cloudy for a few weeks.

How do I know if my new tattoo is ruined?

  • How do I know if my tattoo is infected?
  • The tattoo is red and swollen for a long period of time.
  • You have a rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo.
  • The tattoo is still oozing plasma after a couple of days.
  • You feel unwell and feverish.
  • Infection is treatable.

Why does my tattoo look like it's missing ink?

Your tattoo is going through the normal healing process.

This milky skin sticks around for 1-2 weeks, and it might make your tattoo ink appear less vibrant. A lack of ink isn't a problem if your tattoo is still peeling and healing.

How do I make sure my tattoo doesn't smudge?

Use the Primer Wipe before applying your tattoo to make sure your skin is exfoliated and prepped for application. Don't reposition or reapply the tattoo once it's on your skin. Once the tattoo is developing: Avoid any excessive movement and heat.

Why does my new tattoo look like the ink is bleeding?

A blowout is usually described as “fuzzy” or “blurry.” It might even look like there's a puddle of ink in the wrong place, or that the tattoo is “bleeding” into the skin around a new tattoo. It will show up when an artist tattoos lines too deep in the skin during the tattooing process.

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 a tattoo should not look like when healing?

Persistent redness: Skin shouldn't stay red for weeks or start to darken or spread. Green or yellow fluid: Pus oozing from your tattoo is a sign of infection. Persistent swollen skin: Skin on or around the tattoo shouldn't look puffy for weeks, which indicates an allergy to tattoo ink.

Why does the ink look smudged under my second skin?

While you're wearing the second-skin, you might notice the surface underneath accumulating slight moisture, which can make the tattoo look blurry. This is plasma building up from your skin and pulling up micro fragments of ink – it's a completely normal part of the healing process.

Is tattoo blowout my fault?

More often than not, this situation arises due to poor execution of the tattoo. By saying it's poorly executed, we don't mean that it's poorly designed or aesthetically unappealing, but rather that the technique used during the tattooing process was flawed. In most cases, the responsibility lies with the tattoo artist.

Can you mess up a tattoo while its healing?

Picking or Scratching Itchy or Peeling Skin

Itchy and scabby skin can be annoying during the healing stages. But remember, don't pick or scratch it! This can potentially damage the color and lines of your new tattoo.

How can you tell if your tattoo artist went too deep?

In addition to excessive pain, bleeding, and scabbing, a tattoo that is too deep may also have a blurred or distorted appearance. When the needle goes too deep, it can cause the ink to spread beyond the intended area, leading to a smudged or blurry appearance.

Do tattoos 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.

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.

Does a tattoo blowout ever go away?

Sadly, the answer is no, tattoo blowout will not go away on its own. Tattoo pigment particles are too big for the body's immune system to process away, so the blowout will remain, as if it were intended to be there.

What does poor tattoo aftercare look like?

First, your tattoo will have some irritation around it. After you remove your bandaging after the allotted amount of time recommended by your artist has passed, your skin around the tattoo may be red. It may also be secreting a fluid, or ink may be dripping off of it.

How often should I moisturize a new tattoo?

How Often Should I Moisturize a New Tattoo? According to tattoo artists and skincare experts, you should moisturize a new tattoo three times a day. While this might seem excessive, it's important to remember that your skin is still healing and will be very tender from the process.

Why do tattoos look bad at first?

The top layer of dead skin has been colored or dyed during the tattooing process. That outer layer will fall off revealing the fresh skin underneath. My tattoo looks like it's fading.

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