Aftercare
Protect the Work
Your artist handled the tattoo. What happens next affects how it heals. Follow the instructions for your specific bandage, keep it clean, and leave it alone.
Your bandage comes first.
Medical film and traditional dressings follow different schedules. Leave the original covering on for the time your artist gives you. If the seal breaks, fluid leaks, or the adhesive causes a reaction, remove it, wash the tattoo, and contact the shop.
Everyday Care
- Wash Clean
- Wash your hands first. Use mild fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water. Don't scrub.
- Pat Dry
- Use a clean paper towel. Don't rub it and don't reuse a dirty towel.
- Light Moisture
- Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free lotion. More product doesn't mean better healing.
- Leave It Alone
- No picking, scratching, peeling, shaving, or tight clothing over the tattoo.
Until It's Healed
No Soaking
No pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, rivers, or ocean.
No Direct Sun
Cover it with loose clothing. Use SPF 30+ only after the skin has healed.
No Heavy Friction
Avoid anything that rubs, stretches, or keeps the tattoo heavily sweaty.
When healing isn't normal
Normal:
Light redness, tenderness, clear fluid, itching, flaking, and light scabbing that improve over time.
Call a medical professional:
Spreading redness, increasing pain or heat, pus, foul drainage, red streaks, fever, chills, or open sores.
Tell the shop what is happening, but don't wait on medical care if symptoms are getting worse.
Truth or Myth
Bad Advice Heals Badly.
Tattoo aftercare has collected a lot of hand-me-down advice. Here's what holds up, what doesn't, and what needs to die.
The Rule Beats the Rumor.
Follow the instructions for your specific dressing. Keep the tattoo clean, lightly moisturized, protected, and left alone.
The Common Ones
1. Second skin means I can swim.
MYTHShower-safe is not soak-safe. Stay out of pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, and the ocean.
2. Light peeling can be normal.
TRUTHFlaking, itching, and light scabbing can happen. Let the skin release on its own.
3. More lotion means faster healing.
MYTHUse a thin layer. Extra product can leave the skin overly wet and irritated.
4. Dark fluid under intact film can be normal.
TRUTHPlasma, blood, and excess ink can pool under an intact seal. A leak is different.
5. Neosporin prevents infection.
MYTHRoutine antibiotic ointment can trigger an allergic reaction. Use it only if directed.
6. A tattoo should stay bone dry.
MYTHClean and lightly moisturized is the target. Cracked skin is not better healing.
7. Mild redness that improves can be normal.
TRUTHSpreading redness, heat, worsening pain, pus, red streaks, or fever need medical care.
8. SPF 30+ matters after it heals.
TRUTHKeep fresh work covered and out of direct sun. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen after healing.
The Weird Ones
1. Slap it if it itches.
MYTHUse a clean, cool compress. Don't hit healing skin.
2. Let the dog lick it.
HARD NO.Your dog is adorable. Still not sterile.
3. The ocean is basically sterile.
MYTHThe ocean is not an autoclave. Open wounds stay out.
4. Rubbing alcohol makes it extra clean.
MYTHIt dries and irritates healing skin. Mild soap wins.
5. Sunlight sets the ink.
MYTHThis is skin, not screen printing. Sun fades and damages healed tattoos too.
6. Sweat pushes the ink out.
MYTHSweat does not eject pigment from the dermis. Don't trap it against fresh work.
When the Joke Stops
Get Medical Care:
Spreading redness, increasing pain or heat, pus, foul drainage, red streaks, fever, chills, or open sores.
Tell the shop what is happening, but don't wait on medical care if symptoms are getting worse.
Guidance informed by the American Academy of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, CDC, and dressing manufacturer instructions.