Getting a tattoo is one of those really big life decisions. However, it is equally important to know the healing process so that your new ink may stay in the best way possible for many years to come. Much will depend on individual factors, i.e., size and complexity of the body, location of the tattoo concerning the body, and whether aftercare instructions are well adhered to or not. In general, the healing process may consist of three healing stages: initial healing, peeling, and complete healing.
The Initial Healing Process — Days 1-6
In general, the first healing stage begins right after completing the tattoo. During this period, the surface is an open wound with ink on it, and your natural body system gets busy ensuring protection against infection and facilitating recovery.
Days 1-2: Your artist will have you put a bandage on your tattoo for the first few hours; those few hours are important for healing and avoiding bacteria coming in contact with your tattoo due to friction. After a few hours, you will remove the bandage carefully, wash the area lightly with mild unscented soap, and pat dry with a clean towel. The most certain reaction after getting a tattoo may include redness and a level of swelling, and blood, plasma, and ink might also be present. These are typical processes of a healing tattoo.
Here, redness and swelling gradually subside, although days 3 to 6 may find the part after tattooing still sensitive. The tattoo should be clean, and a very thin layer of indicated tattoo ointment or moisturizer can lightly be applied to soothe the skin while it heals. Keep the tattoo out of water, sunlight, and friction.
The second stage is characterized by skin peeling and itching, which represents the way a sunburn recovers.
Days 7-10: As the first week comes to an end, your tattoo should have some peeling or flaking. This occurs because of the regeneration happening as your skin sloughs off the dead cells. Do your best to resist the temptation to pick or scratch at the peeling skin, which would equate to damage to the tattoo and, quite possibly, scarring or coloring loss.
Days 11-14: Peeling will continue, and the tattoo could look dull or misty. This is because a new layer begins to form over the tattoo. Continue to keep the area well-moisturized and keep clear of any sort of irritation by the tattoo, such as excess sweating or direct sun exposure.
The Full Healing Stage: Days 15-30
The last stage involves all the healing processes that entail repairing and regeneration of the deeper layers of the skin.
By the third week, most of the peeling should have been completed and the tattoo should start to look bright and settled. The deeper layers of skin, meanwhile, are still in the process of healing, so it remains important to continue caution by following aftercare instructions and keeping off activities that could irritate the tattoo.
Days 22-30: Into the fourth week, the tattoo, for the most part, is not sensitive at all, whereas the texture of the skin begins to look normal. At this point, the tattoo is healed on the surface, and may take anywhere from months to years for the texture of the skin in the lower layers to completely regenerate.
Factors That Influence Healing Time
Several factors have the potential to impact a tattoo’s healing time, either extending or decreasing it:
- Size and Complexity: Larger and more intricate tattoos take a longer time to heal, as there is more skin trauma that has to be healed. The more extensive and complex the tattoo is, the longer it will take to heal.
- Location: The location of a tattoo—these will require more time for healing: thinner or more moved parts of skin; for instance, joints, hands, or feet.
- Aftercare: This is relevant. Follow the aftercare instructions from your tattoo artist to the letter. You have to make sure that your tattoo stays clean, and there are activities you have to avoid that might hinder the healing process, if possible.
- General Health and Lifestyle: General health, strength of the immune system, and lifestyle choices, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can adversely influence this process.
Summing Up!
The average tattoo requires 2-4 weeks to heal at an outer level, whereas the inner skin needs several months to a year for proper healing. Only in being aware of the processes of healing and taking care of the good aftercare will you be assured that your tattoo is healed well and remains colorful for years to come. So remember, patience and diligence in caring for your new tattoo will pay off by rendering a beautiful and lasting piece of body art.
This post was written by J Michael Taylor. J Michael Taylor is an artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery. Black Amethyst is the best among the tattoo shops in Clearwater Florida. They provide an art-first approach to custom tattooing in a gallery setting.