What most often ruins a tattoo isn't a lack of care but too much of it: a thick layer of cream, washing it too often, alcohol and “tried and tested” home remedies. The other big problems are picking scabs and exposing the tattoo to the sun in the first few weeks. Stick to your artist's aftercare instructions, and if anything worries you, ask them rather than a forum.
Too much cream
The most common mistake is applying too much cream to help the skin heal. It's easy to assume that a thicker layer will make it heal faster. In reality, the skin under a heavy layer of cream gets soggy, and the scabs soften and come away with the pigment.
A good rule of thumb: a few minutes after applying it, the skin shouldn't be shiny. If it's shiny and sticks to your clothes, there's too much cream, so blot off the excess with a clean paper tissue.
Scratching and picking scabs
Somewhere around day four or five, the tattoo starts to itch and peel. That's normal and means the skin is healing. But never pick or scratch a scab: the pigment underneath will come away with it, leaving a pale patch.
If the itching is unbearable, pat the skin lightly with your palm or hold a clean, cool cloth on it for a minute. At night a loose sleeve helps: it's harder to scratch through fabric in your sleep.
Almost every gap I see at a touch-up is where someone has picked off a scab. The ink went in evenly, but a patch came away while the tattoo was healing. Leave the scabs alone for those two weeks to help avoid another session.
Water, steam and sun
Showers don't harm a fresh tattoo. Soaking it for a long time or exposing it to steam does. Until your tattoo has healed, avoid the following:
- Pool, sea, lake. Chlorine and salt dry out the skin, and it's easy to pick up an infection in open water.
- Baths, steam rooms and saunas. Exposure to steam makes the skin lose pigment, and the scabs soften and come away too early.
- Sun and sunbeds. Freshly tattooed skin burns easily, and sunburn on a tattoo makes the lines paler.
Find out when you can return to these activities in “Back to normal after a tattoo”.
Tight clothes and sleep
Skinny jeans, a watch strap or a stiff backpack seam can rub a scab off just as fingernails can. For the first two weeks, choose loose, soft clothing in cotton or linen.
- wool and synthetics are scratchy and make the itching worse;
- dark fabric can stick to the plasma in the first few days, so wet it first, then take it off;
- sleep on clean sheets and try not to lie on the tattoo all night.
Other people's advice and home remedies
Everyone you know with a tattoo has their own “secret” method. The trouble is that everyone's skin, artist and pigment are different. Go by your own artist's aftercare instructions, not by someone else's experience from ten years ago.
- alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green antiseptic and iodine dry out and burn fresh skin;
- a greasy layer of Vaseline stops the skin from breathing;
- exfoliating soap, or soap containing fragrance or acids, irritates the wound;
- using a sponge or rubbing with a towel instead of patting dry pulls the scabs off.
Antibiotic and steroid ointments are no substitute for aftercare and aren't needed “just in case”. If you think inflammation has started, that's a reason to see a doctor, not to treat yourself.
Aftercare checklist
A quick checklist for the first two weeks. If you can tick every box, you're looking after your tattoo properly:
A detailed day-by-day routine is in “Daily tattoo aftercare”.
When to message your artist
Made a mistake, like picking a scab, getting sunburnt or going for a swim? Don't panic. Almost all damage like this can be fixed with a touch-up once the tattoo has healed. Send your artist a photo in daylight and tell them what happened. If the redness is spreading, the skin is hot or you have a temperature, see a doctor first. How to tell normal healing from something worrying is covered in “Normal or a warning sign”.
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your question? Message me on Telegram or Instagram. I reply personally.
How many times a day should I wash my tattoo?
Two or three times a day is usually enough for the first few days. There's no need to do it more: washing too much dries the skin out. Your artist will give you the exact routine.
What if I've accidentally picked off a scab?
Leave it alone from now on, wash it gently, pat it dry and apply a thin layer of your product. Once it has healed, show the tattoo to your artist: a touch-up usually fills the gap.
Can I cover my tattoo with a plaster?
An ordinary plaster won't do: it sticks to the scab and pulls it off. Only use special film exactly as your artist told you.
Can I go to the gym?
You can do light exercise after a few days, as long as the gym is clean and nothing rubs the tattoo. It's best to avoid heavy exercise involving that area until it has healed.
