FAQs

Tattoo Aftercare

Dermal bandage

Leave the Recovery Derm Shield on for 4-5 days as recommended by your artist. It will protect your tattoo during its healing process. After the 4-5 days, gently peel away the Derm Shield back over itself. This will work best while under warm, running water. Once it has all been removed, wash your tattoo with unscented soap and warm water. Use thin layers of unscented lotion for the remainder of the healing process.

Traditional Healing

Carefully wash your tattoo area three times a day with unscented antibacterial soap and water, and gently pat it dry with a paper towel. Apply a very small amount of 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.

Tattoo aftercare during the first 30 days and beyond

How quickly you heal depends on the size of your tattoo and how intricate it is. Bigger tattoos will stay red and swollen longer because they cause more trauma to your skin.

Day 1

You’ll come home from the tattoo studio with a dressing over your tattoo. Your artist should tell you how long to wait before removing the dressing.

Plastic wrap and gauze should be removed within a few hours. Medical-grade adhesive, known as “second skin,” is designed to last several days.

You’ll probably notice fluid oozing from the tattoo. This is blood, plasma, and some extra ink. Your skin is expected to be relatively red and sore and might feel slightly warm to the touch.

When it’s time to remove the dressing, wash your hands thoroughly before gently peeling back the wrap.

Use warm water and fragrance-free soap to cleanse the area. Rinse well before lightly patting the skin dry. Wait a few minutes before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Days 2–3

By now, your tattoo will have a duller, cloudier appearance. This happens as your skin heals. Scabs may start to form.

If you’ve already removed your dressing, continue to wash your tattoo once or twice a day. You might notice some ink running into the sink. This is just excess ink that’s come up through your skin.

Allow the skin to dry before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Days 4-6

“Second skin” is typically removed during this time. Some artists recommend running the area under water while you peel back the adhesive layer. Make sure your hands are clean before getting started.

Cleanse the area and allow the skin to dry before applying whatever ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

Any redness should start to fade. You might notice some light scabbing over the tattoo.

The scabs shouldn’t be as thick as the scabs you get when you cut yourself, but they may be raised. Don’t pick at the scabs — this can cause scarring.

Keep washing your tattoo once or twice a day, and apply ointment or lotion as needed.

Days 6–14

By now, any scabs have hardened and will begin to flake off.

Don’t pick at them or try to pull them off. Let them come off naturally. Otherwise, you could pull out the ink and leave scars.

At this point, your skin may feel very itchy. Gently rub on a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer several times daily to relieve the itch.

If your tattoo is still red and swollen at this point, you might have an infection. Go back to your tattoo artist or consult with a healthcare professional.

Days 15–30

In this last stage of healing, most of the big flakes will be gone, and the scabs should be going away. You might still see some dead skin, but it should eventually clear up, too.

The tattooed area might still look dry and dull. Keep moisturizing until the skin looks hydrated again.

By the second or third week, the outer layers of skin should have healed. It may take 3–4 months for the lower layers to heal completely.

By the end of your third month, the tattoo should look as bright and vivid as the artist intended.

Tips for long-term tattoo aftercare

Once your tattoo has healed, you move into maintenance mode. Although you don’t have to worry about infection after the first 3–4 months, there are things you can do to prevent the ink from degrading.

Here are some tips for caring for a new tattoo during the healing process:

  • Avoid the sun

    Sun exposure and pool chemicals can damage healing skin, so keep your tattoo out of the sun for at least two weeks, or until it's completely healed. You can cover your tattoo with clothing or sunscreen.

  • Avoid water

    Submerging your tattoo in water, including swimming, soaking in a hot tub or bath, or lounging in a pool, can interfere with healing and lead to infection. The tattooed area should stay dry for at least two weeks to prevent scabbing, which can damage your tattoo by pulling out pigment and leaving white spots.

  • Avoid touching

    Avoid touching the tattooed area, even if it's itchy, and wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water before touching it. You can apply tattoo aftercare ointment to help with itchiness.

  • Moisturize

    Apply moisturizer once a day, or as needed, to prevent cracking and bleeding, but allow the tattoo to dry out before applying more.

  • Don't pick scabs

    Scabs are meant to heal, so picking them can promote bacteria growth and delay healing, which can lead to scarring. Instead, you can apply a moist compress once or twice a day to help regenerate the skin underneath. 

    With proper care, a new tattoo should heal in 4 to 6 weeks.