Your skin sheds dead and damaged cells as part of its healing process. This happens when you have wounds or sunburn blisters. It also happens when you have a new tattoo.
Your tattoo may start to peel within the first week. It should not affect your tattoo in the long run. You can make this phase go more smoothly by following some aftercare tips. This way, you can enjoy your new ink for years to come!
Cleanliness
Your new tattoo will form scabs in the first week or so. You don’t want thick, ugly scabs to develop and spread under your skin. This routine is quick and easy. It only takes 5 minutes twice a day for several days. You should also use high-quality and safe tattoo products to keep your tattoo looking its best.
Moisturize
Most tattoos start to peel after a few days. But if your tattoo peels too much, it could be a sign of infection or another problem. If this happens, you should see a dermatologist or a tattoo artist immediately.
It would help to use a fragrance-free and colorless ointment to moisturize your peeling tattoo. Fragrances can irritate your skin and cause itching or infection. Alcohol-based soaps can also make your peeling worse. It would help if you avoided them during this phase.
Don’t Scratch
Scratching your tattoo when it is peeling can cause scabbing. Scabs can pull away the skin still attached to your tattoo design. This can make your tattoo look patchy and distorted.
Scratching can also introduce bacteria from your nails into your open wound. This can lead to infection. Moreover, itching can make your scabs peel off too soon. This can damage your tattoo design permanently.
It is usual for your new tattoo to peel, flake, and scab in the first few weeks of healing. But if the flaking lasts longer than two and a half weeks, you should contact your artist immediately.
