After receiving your tattoo, your body may react in various ways to heal itself from its injuries.
Stage 1: Redness
If your tattoo occurs alongside other symptoms such as fevers, chills, pus, or skin that feels hot to the touch, this could indicate infection.
Over the next couple of weeks, your tattoo may begin to peel, and this should be considered normal behavior as long as excess plasma and ink are removed as part of the healing process.
Stage 2: Scabs
As your tattoo heals, scabs may form. It’s important not to scratch or pick at these scabs to avoid scarring and color loss. At this stage, washing your tattoo at least twice daily and treating it with fragrance-free anti-inflammatory ointment or balm is essential.
If your tattoo doesn’t heal by the end of this stage, schedule a follow-up visit with either your artist or doctor to evaluate and make adjustments to its aftercare routines.
Stage 3: Dry Skin
As your tattoo starts to heal, you may experience dry skin patches, which is normal and allows for proper repair.
Stage 4: Complete Healing
At this stage, plasma, blood, and ink may leak beneath your skin onto a bandage. While the appearance may be unpleasant, it is considered normal.
Maintaining a proper cleansing and moisturizing routine for your tattoo at this stage is crucial. Use gentle soap in lukewarm water and hydrating lotion twice daily to keep the ink healthy and prevent itching or dryness.
By this stage, scabbing should have subsided, and itching should have significantly reduced. If not, it may indicate an infection requiring immediate medical care.
