Why Is My Tattoo Dry?
Your skin is lacking nourishment and hydration If your tattoo begins to dry out, this is when you need to work fast to give the area some moisture before any cracking commences.
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What do I do if my tattoo is dry?
– Here are some tattoo aftercare tips to keep the skin healthy and a tattoo looking its best:
- Use water-based cream: If the tattoo and surrounding skin feel dry, use a water-based lotion or cream to moisturize the area. Avoid petroleum-based products, as these may cause the ink to fade.
- Protect the tattoo from the sun: Sunlight is UV light that may cause tattoos to fade. Individuals with exposure to the sun should protect their tattoo with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or above. Remember to apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before sun exposure and to reapply it every 2 hours.
- Avoid tanning beds: Sunlamps and tanning beds can also cause tattoos to fade and increase skin cancer risk. Some individuals may find that this UV light causes a painful reaction on the tattooed skin.
- Avoid moles: When an individual is considering getting a tattoo, they should choose an area of skin with no moles. Tattoos can mask early symptoms of skin cancer. People should note that when doctors treat skin cancer in its earliest stages, success rates are higher.
- Washing the tattoo: It is important to wash the tattoo regularly but gently with fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial soap. A person should also gently pat the skin dry with a paper towel, before applying a cream.
- Seek advice: If the skin reacts or changes, a person should visit a board certified dermatologist to avoid complications. The skin can react immediately or years following a tattoo. A dermatologist can diagnose and treat the issue.
Get more tattoo aftercare tips here.
Why is my tattoo looking dry?
When does a tattoo begin peeling? – Most tattoos usually start peeling by the end of the first week. This part comes after the initial bandaging required after you first get your tattoo done. You might also have scabs that peel off on their own into the second week of the healing process.
- You may also notice that your tattoo ink looks a little “dull” after your session;
- This has nothing to do with the ink itself;
- Rather, it’s attributed to the dead skin cells that have accumulated on top of your tattoo;
Once your skin has completed the natural peeling process, your colors should look fresh again.
How long will a tattoo be dry?
– A tattoo will usually take 2–4 weeks to heal. During this time, it is important people closely follow aftercare guidance to ensure their tattoo heals and to avoid complications. If the tattoo develops an infection or excessive inflammation, it can slow the healing process.
Is dry healing a tattoo OK?
– Tattoo dry healing is an acceptable part of a tattoo aftercare routine as long as you follow all other aftercare instructions closely. Not taking extra care of your tattoo can lead to scabbing or scarring. And if you’re concerned that dry healing won’t work for you, feel free to use a safe, chemical-free moisturizer to prevent any reactions or interactions with your skin or the tattoo ink.
What happens if I don’t moisturize my tattoo?
It’s a tricky line to tread, looking after your new tattoo and making sure it doesn’t get infected, while also leaving it alone to do its healing without being fiddled with! Too much balm can be problematic, as skin needs to breathe while healing, but what happens if you don’t put any on at all?
- Itchiness Without moisturiser, there’s a risk that healing skin will get very dry, tight and itchy, and itchy skin that you can’t scratch – that in fact you shouldn’t touch at all – is not much fun! If you do itch then you risk damaging the new tattoo.
- Tightness and Scabbing Dry skin can also cause very tight scabs to form; these can flake and fall off easily, pulling the ink away with them, which you also really want to avoid.
- Infection Lastly, uncovered skin can be more open to infection, which can also damage the design; a fine layer of breathable balm works like a sticking plaster to protect against irritants and microbes.
Your skin needs to be looked after whether it’s been tattooed or not; it goes through the same natural cycle of repair and regeneration every 3-4 weeks, rebuilding its outer layer so that it can provide a robust barrier to the outside world.
Should my tattoo feel dry?
DAY 1 ( SANIDERM): If your artist bandaged your tattoo with a clear adhesive film like SANIDERM or TEGADERM , you can leave the film for up to 3 days. There may be a lot of fluid that builds up in the film and that’s okay as long as nothing leaks in or out of the film.
Dont worry, the film is shower proof, but still be careful that no water gets inside. If fluid leaks out or water leaks in, you must remove the bandage immediately and instead follow STANDARD AFTERCARE instructions below.
If no leaking occurs, remove the film on day 3 and wash the tattoo thoroughly then apy a thin coat of unscented hand lotion. Skip below to the DAYS 3-14 instructions for next steps. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE THE TATTOO. DAY 1 ( STANDARD AFTERCARE): 1. If your artist bandaged your tattoo with ointment, plastic wrap, and tape then REMOVE THE BANDAGE AFTER ONE TO TWO HOURS and be sure to take it off before you go to bed! 2.
- WASH THE TATTOO;
- Using a mild anti-bacterial soap (such as Dial or Provon) and warm water;
- Reduce scabbing by carefully removing all traces of blood and plasma while washing;
- Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth or other abrasive material during the healing period;
Pat it with a clean soft cloth or paper towel and let it air dry for 10-20 minutes or until the skin begins to feel tight. This allows for excess moisture to evaporate out. It is very important to let the tattoo “breathe”. Once dry, APPLY A VERY THIN COAT OF OINTMENT to the tattoo.
We usually recommend using Vitamin A&D or Aquaphor as ointment, or other such tattoo aftercare products as recommended by your artist. Apply only enough ointment to give your tattoo a matte photo finish, not a glossy shine.
A little goes a long way and gently dab off excess with a clean paper towel. There should be just enough ointment to keep it moist to prevent scabbing, but too much ointment traps in germs, which can cause breakouts, rashes, or lead to infection. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE THE TATTOO.
DAYS 2-3: REPEAT the cycle of washing, drying, and applying a thin layer of ointment to the tattoo about 1-3 times per day for the first 2-3 days. It is always important to keep your healing tattoo clean, but keep in mind that these first few days are when your tattoo is the most vulnerable.
During these first few days, it is normal for your tattoo to feel sore and tender. You may also see redness, swelling, and some mild bleeding. DAYS 3-14 (or until healed): After the first 2-3 days, your tattoo should begin to feel dry and tight. At this point DISCONTINUE APPLYING OINTMENT AND SWITCH TO REGULAR FRAGRANCE-FREE HAND LOTION such as Eucerin, Lubriderm, Curel, or any other over the counter mild “Fragrance Free” moisterizer.
- Do not use lotions that contain color or fragrance at all until healing is complete;
- APPLY LOTION TWICE A DAY or whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry;
- But DO NOT OVER MOISTURIZE! Continue applying lotion for the remainder of two weeks or until the tattoo is fully healed;
During this phase of the healing process it is normal to experience dryness, itchiness, scabbing, peeling (like a sunburn), and flaking. It is very important to NEVER SCRATCH OR PICK at a healing tattoo. DO’S AND DON’TS DURING THE HEALING PROCESS
- KEEP YOUR TATTOO CLEAN and only touch your tattoo with clean hands. Only touch your tattoo if you are cleaning it or applying ointment/lotion. DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE TOUCH YOUR TATTOO , this includes children and pets. And do not let your tattoo come into contact with any public surface (like gym equipment, keyboards, countertops, etc. )
- Please REFRAIN FROM SCRATCHING OR PICKING at the tattoo. It is normal for your tattoo to become very itchy during the healing process, but you must avoid scratching or picking at scabs if they form. Scratching, scrubbing, or picking will irritate the tattoo and can prolong the healing process or cause scarring and loss of ink. Plan your wardrobe accordingly!
- NO SWIMMING POOLS, NO OCEAN, NO HOT TUBS, NO BATH TUBS, AND NO SAUNAS until your tattoo is fully healed. Short showers and gentle washing should be your only water activity during the healing process.
- THE SUN IS BAD FOR YOUR TATTOO! Excess sun exposure on a healing tattoo can cause burning, scabbing, loss of color, prolonged healing, and scarring. Once fully healed, apply a high quality sunblock to your tattoo whenever you are in the sun or tanning bed. But DO NOT APPLY SUNSCREEN TO A TATTOO BEFORE IT IS FULLY HEALED and always WAIT UNTIL THE TATTOO IS FULLY HEALED BEFORE GOING INTO THE SUN.
- Most tattoos heal within 10-30 days, please note that the healing process may be different for every person and for every tattoo session. Some body parts or tattoo styles may experience more swelling than others, more bleeding, more scabbing, etc. Color tattoos may take longer to heal than black or black and grey tattoos. Areas with more movement or stretching of the skin during the healing process may be more prone to scabbing or longer healing time.
- And lastly, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR ARTIST’S AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS. Do not listen to any other healing advice and do not consult your friends or the internet. If you have any questions, please call your artist or any artist at our shop and we will be happy to assist.
FOLLOWING ALL OF THESE SIMPLE STEPS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT YOU END UP WITH THE BEST RESULT WITH MINIMAL COMPLICATIONS AND YOUR TATTOO WILL STAY LOOKING BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL FOR MANY YEARS TO COME..
How often should I moisturize my tattoo?
How Often Should You Moisturize Your Tattoo? – Professional tattoo artists always recommended one moisturizes their tattoo(s) once or twice a day. The best way to moisturize a tattoo is by doing it in the morning and in the evening. It is also important to apply lotion or ointment after taking a shower, to protect the tattoo from drying out.
Note : Make sure to wait between 10 and 20 minutes to apply lotion/ointment onto the tattoo after a shower. In that time, the tattoo will dry naturally, so when you do apply a moisturizer, it will soak into the skin nicely.
By applying lotion onto a wet tattoo, you’re risking overdoing it.
Why does my tattoo look like it’s missing ink?
You’ve recently had your first tattoo, and you’re doing everything your artist told you to do, following their instructions to the letter. But to your horror, you can see that the ink is coming off as you shower! Is this normal or is it the tattoo not healing properly?! – The quick answer is that yes, it’s perfectly normal for ink to come away as a tattoo heals.
Ink is driven deep into the skin by the tattoo needles, but some will be on the surface of the skin, and some others will collect in scabs above the tattoo. It is normal for some of this excess ink to be lost as the body tried to repair the wound that the needles made in your skin.
There will still be enough ink for your tattoo to look bright and intense, if you follow instructions carefully. Just remember to blot tattoos dry with a paper towel, rather than rubbing with a cotton one, and wear loose clothes over it, rather than anything tight.
Should I moisturize my tattoo while its peeling?
Moisturizing is Essential During the peeling process, unless you’ve decided to take on the dry healing method it’s essential that you keep your tattoo moisturized. For the first three days after you get your tattoo, you should be cleaning your tattoo and washing, drying, and putting ointment on it regularly.
Can you over moisturize a tattoo?
Can You Over Moisturize a Tattoo? – Moisturizing your tattoo is a great way to improve the healing process and give you a vibrant, long-lasting tattoo. However, if you use too much moisturizer on your tattoo or don’t dry it thoroughly after washing, it could hinder the healing process.
You can over-moisturize your tattoo, and this can lead to all kinds of issues. It can prolong the healing process and could even cause an infection. All of this can damage your tattoo and leave you with a less than perfect tattoo on your body that you have to live with for many years.
Your tattoo artist will discuss the tattoo aftercare regime with you before you leave the tattoo studio after getting your tattoo. They know what they’re talking about, so it’s best to listen and make sure that you understand what’s needed before leaving. 
This is FAR too much lotion and some should be blotted off with a paper towel.
Should I let my tattoo breathe?
Your tattoo needs to breathe, so once you remove the original bandage — usually it’ll be bandaged in clear plastic or surgical wrap by the artist — it’s best not to cover it. Wrapping it may result in extra moisture and a lack of oxygen, which can cause scabbing and slow healing.
Will my tattoo dry out overnight?
Clean Frequently – In the early days of the tattoo healing process, we can’t stress enough how important it is to clean your tattoo frequently, but also moisturize it with nutrients that your skin needs to heal faster. After you take your wraps off, there’s a chance that your bed and mattress could make your tattoo dry.
Always clean your tattoo and moisturize it with special and antimicrobial moisturizers with hypoallergenic materials. It’d be also good if the moisturizer is unscented so it wouldn’t bother you at the night.
Editor’s notes: It’d be also good to apply a painkiller cream without aspirin that will spread across your tattoo and minimize the pain you experience. This is probably something that will also make the sleeping process much easier. If your tattoo dries out and glues onto the bed sheet or pillowcase, don’t pull it out violently or cut the sheet off.
How do you know if tattoo is too dry?
Why Does Tattoo Cracking Happen? – When your tattoo begins to scab over in the healing process, the area around the tattoo generally becomes scaly , extremely dry, and also very itchy. Some tattoos will scab very lightly where the scabs are hardly visible, and some will scab heavily, with thick prominent crusts. 
A tattoo beginning to crack When the scabs lose moisture within them, they will become so dry that they begin to split, break apart, and often bleed. This is what is known as tattoo cracking. Below are the main reasons why your new ink may begin to crack:.
Why does my tattoo look dry after a month?
After-Ink Symptoms – Experiencing scaly skin, pus or red lesions might mean that the healing process isn’t going normally. Instead, you might be experiencing an allergy or infection, or most commonly, none of the above! There are some common symptoms you might experience while your skin is recovering.
- However, in case of doubt, consult with your tattoo artist, as he or she will be able to best know if what you’re experiencing is normal or not;
- If you’re particularly worried, you should always consult a medical professional;
Wrinkly or scaly-looking tattoos are completely normal as a tattoo moves through the healing process, and should be absolutely nothing to worry about in most cases. The scaliness will usually subside within 4-8 weeks after the tattoo has finished healing. 
Shiny and scaly – a common sight in healing tattoos Below are a few common symptoms that can accompany a scaly tattoo.
