When Is My Tattoo Fully Healed?

After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks. While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal.

Contents

- 0.0.1 How do you tell when your tattoo is fully healed?

1 Is a tattoo fully healed after 6 weeks?
2 Do tattoos darken as they heal?
3 How long do linework tattoos take to heal?
4 Why does my tattoo look like it’s cracking?
- 4.1 What happens if you don’t moisturize your tattoo enough?
- 4.2 Is it normal for a new tattoo to flake?
  - 4.2.1 Why is my tattoo GREY instead of black?
  - 4.2.2 What should tattoos look like when healing?
5 Is a tattoo healed after it peels?
- - 5.0.1 How long do linework tattoos take to heal?

How do you tell when your tattoo is fully healed?

You will know that your tattoo is completely healed when there are no scabs, the texture of your skin where the tattoo was placed is the same as a similar surface of skin, and the colors on your tattoo are no longer faded.

Is a tattoo fully healed after 6 weeks?

Weeks 6-8: You’re fully healed – Congratulations are in order yet again! The waxiness, or shininess, of your tattoo should disappear after six to eight weeks, at which point you can usually consider yourself fully healed. Regardless of the fact that you’re healed, you should continue to care for your tattoo though.

Can I have a bath 3 weeks after a tattoo?

– Nope. Your tattoo is an open wound, and soaking in water could expose it to bacteria and increase the risk of infection. Soaking can also dry out the skin, leading to cracking and making it more susceptible to infection and scarring. You need to avoid submerging your tattoo in water or keeping it wet for a prolonged period of time.

Is it possible to over moisturize a tattoo?

What Are The Risks of Over Moisturizing a Tattoo? – By applying thicker layers of lotion or ointment, several times a day (or every hour or two as some people do), you’re risking over-moisturizing a tattoo. By over-moisturizing a tattoo, you can cause the following problems;

Due to excess moisture, the tattoo won’t be able to dry and heal
Excess moisture can create a perfect environment for bacteria and germ growth
Over moisturizing can lead to tattoo inflammation and infection
Excess moisture can cause clogged pores since the moisturizer prevents the skin from breathing
Excess moisture can cause the tattooed skin to break out

To avoid these issues, make sure to follow the moisturizing rules we mentioned before. However, make sure to not under moisturizing your tattoo as well. Some people are afraid they might over-moisturize their tattoo, so they leave it dehydrated, which results in heavy scabbing and tattoo dryness. So, make sure to stay in the middle and simply apply a thin layer of lotion/ointment twice a day.

What is an overworked tattoo?

Natalia Lebedinskaia/Shutterstock New tattoos usually take two to three weeks to fully heal, and with good aftercare, they should heal perfectly, per Glamour Magazine. However, there are times when the healing process of a new tattoo doesn’t go as smoothly as it should. This can be so in the case of overworked tattoos. Otherwise known as a tattoo blowout (via Healthline ), an overworked tattoo is what happens when a tattoo causes scarring or when the tattoo ink goes past the dermis layer and reaches the hypodermis, per Demi Ink.

An effect of this is that the tattoo begins to look blurry, per Byrdie. Overworked tattoos are more likely when you patronize beginner tattoo artists, and the problem with overworked skin is that it only becomes truly apparent to the client once the tattoo begins to heal, per Saved Tattoo.

The discolored skin that slowly forms is a big hallmark of a tattoo blowout. It can be the result of the high voltage on the machine affecting its speed, per Tattooing 101. A tattoo artist going over a patch of skin more than once can also result in a tattoo blowout.

Do tattoos darken as they heal?

Reasons Why a Black Tattoo Might Fade – A black healing tattoo turning gray is perfectly natural and isn’t necessarily something to worry about. Most tattoos will darken again once healed, but some will remain lighter, and this is completely natural.

How long do linework tattoos take to heal?

Days 1-4: It’s going to feel like a sunburn. These first few days are the most important to pay attention to your tattoo as you’re going to have to care for an open wound of art. Wash your tattoo twice a day and apply a THIN layer of ointment a few times a day or as needed.

Keep your tattoo moist, but not oily or over-saturated. It should feel soft to the touch and not dry or crusty. +Bandages: If you get a traditional bandage (usually a pad and tape), keep it wrapped for a minimum of 2 hours and maximum or 8 hours (or overnight).

If you get a clear-adhesive wrap called Saniderm, you can keep it on for up to 4 days as long as your tattoo does not become uncovered. REMOVE this bandage if the bandage is falling off your tattoo, is leaking, rips open, or is unbearably uncomfortable.

I recommend removing it slowly in the shower and WASH your tattoo after you take off your bandage. NEVER re-cover your tattoo with another bandage. Air is best for your tattoo, try to wear loose fitting clothing around the fresh tattoo for best healing.

+ Some ink loss is normal , do not worry about it. You will find it on your bandage and on your paper towels while washing. You may get ink stains on your sheets, clothes, or where you sleep. + Wear loose clothing around your tattoo or keep it out and uncovered.

Be aware of waist bands/belts, wrist cuffs, jewelry, bras/binders/holsters, and tight socks that may come into contact with your tattoo;
Days 5-8ish: Linework heals very quickly and easily, so if your tattoo is just linework, you have the option of drying out your tattoo at this point;

There is such a thing as too much moisture in healing , so I tend to recommend only a few days of ointment/washing. If you live in a dry climate, have chronic dry skin, or simply can’t handle the itchy feeling, you can continue using ointment. + Around this time, your tattoo may itch like hell.

Don’t itch it, don’t pick at it;
Rub or tap your tattoo gently if you must;
+ Your tattoo may also look different at this stage as it is changing from an open wound to a healing ink scar;
Your tattoo may look light (the top layers of your skin are shedding, like when a snake looks different when it’s about to shed) or wrinkly in the skin (scabs will tighten the skin around it for healing);

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+ Wait about 10 days after your appointment to start using any moisturizers (lotion). Moisturizers can include coconut oil and shea butter ( watch for irritation if they have fragrances or essential oils). If you have ANY questions or concerns during your healing process, ASK! If something is unusual or doesn’t feel right to you, ASK! +The number one recommended ointment from me is Eucerin’s Aquaphor.

Two other alternative options are Vitamins A&D ointment and generic triple antibiotic ointment (tho some people are allergic, avoid Neosporin, see Ointment Guide above!). +SOAP: Get a simple soap to wash your tattoo.

Make sure it is free of fragrance and essential oils , these things can irritate your fresh tattoo. Antibacterial soaps will work. You will want to lather into bubbles and gently rub over your tattoo with your hand. Don’t scrub or leave the soap on too long! + Cold water can feel good but won’t wash away the grime.

Too hot water has the potential of hurting your tattoo (remember that it is an open wound for a couple days). Showers are okay, expect to not submerge your tattoo under water for at least 2 weeks. Avoid swimming pools or saunas in those 2 weeks.

+ It is recommended to use paper towels instead of a cloth towel. Cloth towels can shed fibers that get stuck in your tattoo. It can also carry a lot of other bacteria, which is a thing to keep in mind if you’re using a communal towel or repeatedly using a towel.

+ Working out? Depending on the size of your tattoo, I would give yourself at least 2 days of no hard workouts/excess sweating if you can help it. If you are sweating a lot in the area of the tattoo, make sure to wash afterwards during the healing process.

+Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks. After it is healed and there are no visible scabs after 2-3 weeks, you can start using sunscreen. Sunscreen is a choice. Sunburning/tanning your tattoo will make it fade quicker. Aging is a natural part of life, so naturally your tattoo will change, shift, and age with you in it’s own ways.

When should I start moisturizing my tattoo?

Week one – 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.

For the first couple of days, the tattooed skin may feel warm to the touch and have a reddish appearance;
The colors may also appear very bright against the rest of the skin;
The tattoo will become less vibrant as the healing process continues;

A person should avoid submerging the tattoo in water or getting the tattoo wet during the first 3–6 weeks, except for when washing it. A person can continue using the washing technique above throughout the first week when needed. How often washing is necessary will vary depending on a person’s activity levels and environment.

Someone who is sitting in an air-conditioned office all day may only need to wash the tattoo once a day;
However, someone who is working in a hot or dirty environment and sweating may need to wash the tattoo every few hours;

It is best to wash the tattoo with clean fingers only and not a cloth or towel, which may irritate the skin and prematurely remove any scabs that may have formed. Scabs will often form in the first few days, and ink may still come up through the skin and need to be washed away.

It is important not to pick the scabs or scratch the skin. In general, Scabbing is not a sign of improper wound care. Scabs will form anytime the skin is injured, and can be a sign of healthy tissue forming underneath the wound.

Keeping some form of antibiotic ointment or moisturizer under occlusion (as long as there is no known allergy) on the wound can help it heal better and the sooner this is done the better healing will happen with less chances of scarring. Any redness or mild swelling usually goes away near the end of the first week.

When can I shave over my tattoo?

When Can I Shave Over a Tattoo? – After getting inked, you can’t shave over the area of your new tattoo until it’s fully healed. This could take two to three weeks. During this time, you need to keep your ink protected to allow it to heal properly, so shaving is out of the question. Every Gillette Styler comes with a ProGlide Razor Blade , which will help you to make sure your tattoo is left looking super smooth after its first shave. Keep it looking that way by signing up to Gillette’s shave club for fresh razors delivered to your door every few weeks. Remember: newer, sharper razors are always best for avoiding shaving cuts – the last thing you want to be worrying about spoiling your new tattoo.

What can’t you do after getting a tattoo?

Why does my tattoo look like it’s cracking?

Tattoo cracking is most commonly caused by very dry skin during the healing process. A tattoo that drys out too much can produce thick scabs that are susceptible to breaking open in multiple areas. Scabs that crack can lead to bleeding, infection, and possible fading or scarring.

What happens if you don’t moisturize your tattoo enough?

– Tattoo dry healing isn’t risky in itself, but there are some risks and side effects that you should be aware of before trying it out:

Your skin may itch or burn because of a lack of moisture in the area, so it may feel impossible to ignore the urge to scratch.
Larger areas of your skin may get extremely dry, scabbing more deeply and cracking open over large swathes that can affect how your tattoo looks when the healing process is done.
Dry skin may tighten up, making it easier for skin to crack and affect how your tattoo looks after it heals.

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Is it normal for a new tattoo to flake?

Tattoos are a form of permanent body art that an artist creates using a needle to insert ink into the skin. Although peeling may be alarming, it is a natural and normal part of the tattoo healing process and not a cause for concern. After getting a tattoo, it is essential to understand the correct aftercare process and what to expect during healing to reduce potential risks.

Peeling is a part of the early stages of normal tattoo recovery, as the body rids itself of dead skin cells;
Although seeing flakes while washing a tattoo can be alarming, it is normal;
It is important for people to follow through with their aftercare routine and use skin-sensitive antibacterial soap and suitable moisturizing lotion to help the healing process;

This article will explore tattoo peeling and the tattoo healing process. It will also cover aftercare tips and when a person should contact a doctor.

Why is my tattoo GREY instead of black?

How the Healing Process Turns a Tattoo Gray – Since the skin goes through trauma when your new artwork is adorned on your body, there’s no single part that is at a healthy stage immediately. This includes your new black tattoo. As the healing process takes shape, a new tattoo healing and turning gray is very common.

Over a few weeks, the new tattoo will form a scab, like any other wound. This scab is just a layer of dead skin, however, and will flake off on its own once the tattoo site is fully healed. The only scarring left behind will be the tattoo itself.

Even so, as the scars begin to heal, the appearance of your tattoo is distorted as the skin pigmentation changes. Such graying is normal, and once the healing process is fully complete, your black tattoo will reveal its dark, rich appearance once more. It should be noted, however, that it’s likely your tattoo will never appear quite as vibrant as it was the second you left the tattoo artist’s chair. The tattoo you saw then was fresh with no skin covering the dark pigments. After healing, that same tattoo will now have several layers of skin protecting it from outside elements, meaning the vibrancy and sharpness will have visually toned down slightly, and your tattoo may look slightly lighter.

What should tattoos look like when healing?

Because we’re a skincare company for the tattooed, we often get questions about the tattoo healing process. A tattoo is essentially an open wound, and but it’s a little different in the sense that this particular wound was most likely expensive, plus there’s ink in the wound, and we want that ink to stay put, heal beautifully and ensure both our investment and our skin is protected.

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to healing. And as you’re reading please note that if you have a question or concern about your healing tattoo, listen to your artist, or consult with a medical professional to ensure you’re getting the best advice for your healing ink.

How long does it take a tattoo to heal? It depends on the person and the location of the tattoo. Sometimes a tattoo can look healed on the surface but the layers under the skin are still being repaired. Two months is on the longer spectrum of healing time by most standards, but it’s a good rule of thumb to make extra sure your skin has fully healed — we say this because products with SPF can irritate healing skin, so the two-month mark is a good rule of thumb to be extra-sure your skin has fully recovered.

My tattoo is peeling and itching. Is that normal? Yes! It’s perfectly normal for a tattoo to peel like a sunburn — and itch like a sunburn. Make sure you resist the temptation to scratch or peel off the skin as that can pull out your ink.

Rather, let the skin flake off on its own. To help with this maddeningly itchy, peeling phase, our Tattoo Goo Lotion has an ingredient called Panthenol that helps relieve the itch. You can learn more about our lotion here. The skin that is peeling is colored like the tattoo—is my tattoo coming off? No, this is a natural part of a healing tattoo.

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;
Is that normal? A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process, it starts to look discolored and dull;

Don’t worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back. My tattoo is scabbing. Is that normal? Yes! Scabbing is typically normal and happens during the healing process of a tattoo. Just like any open wound, your body is creating its natural defense to guard it against infection while the skin underneath repairs itself.

If the skin does scab, it’s very important that you don’t pick or pull at the scabs since that can pull out your ink and in some extreme cases, lead to scarring;
What causes scabbing with a tattoo? Like with any open wound, your body responds by producing plasma A lack of moisture can also cause scabbing;

The philosophy behind all Tattoo Goo products revolves around the importance of replacing the moisture that’s lost in the skin during the tattooing process. By doing this, it can help prevent scabbing as well as speed up healing time. My tattoo seems to be losing ink.

It is runny, wet and it looks like the ink is coming out;
What should I do? It sounds like the tattoo is leaching;
When too much aftercare is applied, the body will naturally try to push whatever is on top off so it can breathe;

Wash the tattoo off and pat it dry. Do not put anything on it for one day. After that, start using Tattoo Goo® Lotion around three times a day—be sure not to over apply. Continue using the lotion until it heals completely. It may scab a bit, but do not pick the scabs—let them fall off naturally.

Can I wash my tattoo? Yes, you should wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day with a product such as Tattoo Goo® Deep Cleansing Soap. Do not use a washcloth, use only your hands, gently wash off the tattoo and pat it dry.

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Let it air dry for 10-15 minutes before applying aftercare. It is important that it is completely dry before applying aftercare. Do not soak the tattoo in water, swim, etc. until the tattoo is completely healed. Should I re-bandage my tattoo? No, once you’ve taken off the original bandage, you should not re-bandage your tattoo.

The tattooed skin needs to breathe in order to heal faster and more effectively. Can I use sunscreen on my tattoo while it is healing? Sunscreen should not be used on a healing tattoo as it has many chemicals that can cause adverse reactions.

You should keep the tattoo out of the sun until it is completely healed. Most artists recommend two weeks or more. After it is healed, you should always use sunscreen, such as Tattoo Goo Renew® SPF 50+ if your tattoo is going to be exposed. Tattoo Goo® Salve and Lotion contain no sunscreen.

Is a tattoo healed after it peels?

– Peeling is a normal and expected part of tattoo healing. Tattoo needles penetrate the epidermis , or the outer layer of skin, and the dermis, which lies beneath. This process creates thousands of small wounds that damage skin cells. Tattoos usually take about 2 weeks to heal, but it can take longer for the skin to fully recover.

Peeling usually occurs a few days after getting the tattoo, as the skin begins to heal and regenerate itself. The regeneration process involves the skin removing dead and damaged cells. As the skin exfoliates itself, a layer of dead skin cells and ink pigment peels off, allowing new cells to grow.

Although some peeling is normal, excessive peeling could indicate a problem, especially if there are symptoms of infection and inflammation.

How long do linework tattoos take to heal?

Keep your tattoo moist, but not oily or over-saturated. It should feel soft to the touch and not dry or crusty. +Bandages: If you get a traditional bandage (usually a pad and tape), keep it wrapped for a minimum of 2 hours and maximum or 8 hours (or overnight).

I recommend removing it slowly in the shower and WASH your tattoo after you take off your bandage. NEVER re-cover your tattoo with another bandage. Air is best for your tattoo, try to wear loose fitting clothing around the fresh tattoo for best healing.

Be aware of waist bands/belts, wrist cuffs, jewelry, bras/binders/holsters, and tight socks that may come into contact with your tattoo. Days 5-8ish: Linework heals very quickly and easily, so if your tattoo is just linework, you have the option of drying out your tattoo at this point.

Don’t itch it, don’t pick at it. Rub or tap your tattoo gently if you must. + Your tattoo may also look different at this stage as it is changing from an open wound to a healing ink scar. Your tattoo may look light (the top layers of your skin are shedding, like when a snake looks different when it’s about to shed) or wrinkly in the skin (scabs will tighten the skin around it for healing).

Two other alternative options are Vitamins A&D ointment and generic triple antibiotic ointment (tho some people are allergic, avoid Neosporin, see Ointment Guide above!). +SOAP: Get a simple soap to wash your tattoo.

Too hot water has the potential of hurting your tattoo (remember that it is an open wound for a couple days). Showers are okay, expect to not submerge your tattoo under water for at least 2 weeks. Avoid swimming pools or saunas in those 2 weeks.

+ Working out? Depending on the size of your tattoo, I would give yourself at least 2 days of no hard workouts/excess sweating if you can help it;
If you are sweating a lot in the area of the tattoo, make sure to wash afterwards during the healing process;

Julia