The 3 Stages Of Tattoo Healing

Image courtesy of Mohamed Nohassi @ Unsplash.com

If you ask us, new tattoos are pretty frickin’ sweet!

But they’re also very finicky!

And if you don’t take proper care of your fresh ink, you can cause it to take longer than it should to heal, ink colors can fade or distort, and you can even risk it becoming infected!

And nobody wants that!

Whether this is your first simple tattoo or your twentieth leg tattoo, you might be wondering what the tattoo healing process is like, how long it takes for a new tattoo to heal, and what you can do to ensure your tattoo heals properly and looks great for years to come!

So let’s get right to it!

What Are The 3 Stages Of The Tattoo Healing Process?

The three stages of the tattoo healing process are the initial traumatic response stage, the intermediate epidermis recovery stage, and the final stage where the dermis and hypodermis heal.

This process generally takes a between two to four weeks to be complete.

But this process can take longer if don’t take proper precautions, if your tattoo gets infected, or even if you’re just a bit older as your skin will heal slower than a younger individual’s skin.

Either way, knowing and understanding these 3 stages can help you understand when your newly tattooed skin is fully healed.

#1 – The Initial Trauma And Recovery Stage

For the first few hours and days after getting your tattoo, you can consider yourself to be in the initial stage of the healing process.

During this stage, you’ll likely notice at least a little bit of redness, swelling, and inflammation, especially immediately after you get out from your tattoo appointment.

This is all perfectly normal and is simply due to your body reacting to the fact that you’ve just had your tattoo artist jab ink into your skin with a needle switched on to hyper-drive.

So expect a little bit of itchiness and soreness for the first couple of days, but this discomfort should subside on its own relatively quickly.

Image courtesy of Lesia @ Unsplash.com

And yes, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to a tattoo.

So if you do notice any signs of a more severe reaction, including hives, rapid heart rate, or difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible!

#2 – The Intermediate Epidermis Recovery Stage

The intermediate healing stage is when the top layer of skin, called the epidermis heal.

It lasts anywhere from about a week to two weeks, and is the most uncomfortable part of the healing process.

During the second stage of the tattoo healing process, your new ink can look and feel itchy, and you might notice scabs forming on some parts of the tattooed area.

You may also see dry skin that peels or flakes off, and your tattoo’s color might appear a bit more dull than it was initially.

Again, this is all perfectly normal and despite the discomfort and itchiness, these are indeed signs that your tattoo is on its way to becoming fully healed.

One thing to remember here:

DO NOT pick at your scabs or try to peel away any of the dry skin off. Just leave it alone! it’ll all peel and fall off on its own without your help.

You can, however, moisturize with a fragrance-free, dye-free moisturizer or any other antibiotic ointments that may be sold at tattoo shops to aid with tattoo aftercare.

#3 – The Final Recovery Stage

After those first two weeks have elapsed, you’ll be in the home stretch of the tattoo care recovery stage.

By now, you should have a fresh, new layer of skin covering your ink, there should be minimal peeling or flaking, and all of the scabs should have fallen off by now.

So on the outside, your tattoo should look healed, bright and vibrant just like it did when it was brand-spankin’ new.

But underneath the surface, the lower and middle layers of skin are still healing.

It can actually take anywhere between three to six months for those deeper layers of skin to completely healed.

Still, after about three or four weeks, unless you’ve had an infection or any other complications, it should be safe to say that your tattoo is fully healed.

During this final stage, just keep cleaning and washing your tattoo, moisturize as needed, and avoid submerging it in water until it’s been at least three weeks.

Image courtesy of Alexander Grey @ Unsplash.com

How Long Should The Healing Process Take?

Most tattoo artists will tell you that the complete healing process for a new tattoo takes anywhere between two to three weeks at a minimum.

And that’s true.

But it can take as much a month or longer depending on a number of factors, including how well you care for your new body art while your skin is still recovering.

Think about it like this:

Getting a tattoo is a traumatic process… You’re literally getting stabbed with a needle a few thousand times to push ink into your skin.

So your new tattoo is literally an field bed of small, open wounds, making your skin extremely vulnerable and susceptible to infection.

When you think about it that way, it’s easy to understand why tattoo healing takes so much time.

Especially when you think about how those deeper layers of skin need more time to heal than the surface layers.

On the brighter side, there are a number of things you can do to protect your new tattoo and ensure it heals properly throughout all three healing stages.

Recommended Tattoo Aftercare Instructions For A Smooth Healing Process

Now that you know a bit more about the different stages of healing, let’s review some simple tattoo aftercare steps that you can take to ensure proper healing.

• Keep it clean – New ink is an open wound and extremely vulnerable to infection. Prevent infections by keeping your new tattoo clean, washing it with antibacterial soap, and gently patting dry. Only clean your tattoo with mild, fragrance free soap, and warm water, not hot water.
• Avoid swimming – You can splash water on your new tattoo, but no swimming pools or hot tubs. Swimming exposes your new tattoo to potential bacteria and other irritants that can slow healing or lead to infections. So just don’t do it! How long after a tattoo can you swim? 3 to 4 weeks, or until your new body art is fully healed.
• No tight clothing – Your tattoo needs air to breathe and heal properly. So make sure to wear loose fitting clothing that won’t rub, scratch, or pull ink out of its place. Softer fabrics like cotton or silk are also a good idea. Just avoid rough materials, like denim, wool, or tweed.
• Avoid direct sunlight – Once it is fully healed, you can apply sunscreen to your tattoo to protect it. But for now, you really need to wait until completely healed to put anything on it. So just stay out of the sun or cover up your tattoo with loose fitting clothes.
• Don’t pick – Scabs and flaking skin are perfectly normal while your tattoo is healing. DO NOT pick at your scabs! Leave them alone, moisturize and as a new top layer of skin grows in, those scabs will fall off on their own. It’s also important to note that petroleum jelly or other petroleum based products should not be used as moisturizer.

Obviously you want your tattoo to heal quickly so that you can show it off, go swimming, and get on with your life.

But please, give it time!

The more effort you put into taking care of your tattoo while it’s healing, the healthier your skin will be, and the better your tat will look for all the years to come.

Image courtesy of ManuelTheLensman @ Unsplash.com

FAQ – The 3 Stages Of Tattoo Healing

From the time your tattoo artist finishes their job to the time you get home and remove the bandage, your new tattoo is vulnerable and needs your utmost care for the next few weeks to ensure healing time is as quick as possible.

That said, let’s review a few frequently asked questions about the tattoo healing process.

How do I know if my tattoo is infected?

Tattoo infections are not fun! You’ll know your tattoo has an infection if you notice redness, persistent swelling, or raised bumps that crack and ooze pus. In other words, it’s going to look pretty gross. If any of these symptoms are accompanied by fever or chills, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

How will I know when my tattoo is fully healed?

You’ll know your tattoo is fully healed once all scabs and dry skin have fallen off, and you can see a new, fresh, healthy layer of skin covering your ink. Your fully healed tattoo will no longer be itchy and its colors should be brighter and more vibrant, just like they were when it was brand new.

Should you wash your tattoo while it’s healing?

Yes, it’s incredibly important to clean and gently wash your tattoo with fragrance and alcohol-free soap. Don’t overdo it, but it’s good to wash your new ink 2 or 3 times a day for the first week or two. It’s also good to clean it if you get it dirty, dusty, or if you’ve been sweating. Remember only ever wash your tattoo with warm water and pat dry afterward with a clean paper towel or any other soft, clean fabrics.

Should I put anything on my tattoo to help with healing?

Keeping your fresh ink moisturized is important. But you should not apply anything other than fragrance-free or dye-free products that won’t irritate your new tat. Some tattoo shops might even sell antibiotic ointments or tattoo healing creams that can apply to help keep your tattoo moisturized. But no Vaseline or any other types of petroleum-based products.

Looking to design your next ink fix? Check out our innovative AI tattoo generator to instantly create dozens of custom tattoo designs, explore tattoo placement ideas and more!