How long can you swim with a tattoo. How to care for a tattoo in the first days and until complete healing

It is sometimes difficult to decide to apply the desired pattern to the body, but when doubts and fears are over, the first step is to learn how to care for a fashionable purchase.

The rules for caring for a tattoo are usually explained by a master in a tattoo parlor. Each master has his own recipe for healing. A professionally executed tattoo does not pose a threat to health and should not cause any complications. In order for the tattoo to be performed with high quality, and subsequently there are no complications, it is not enough to carefully choose a master. It is also necessary to follow a number of simple rules yourself so that a well-done work does not deteriorate in the first days. After all, it depends on the healing period how beautiful and how long the work will look.

So, in order to prevent the tattoo from spreading immediately after execution, it is not recommended to drink alcohol the day before application, as this promotes vasodilation and raises blood pressure.

Immediately after filling the tattoo, the master covers his work with a special protective film. She will definitely need to take off in two, maximum four hours. In cases of complex work, this time can be increased to 12 hours. Then the tattoo should be wiped with a cotton pad and allowed to dry thoroughly, and you should not rub, but only get wet. The skin around the pattern may be red and slightly raw, this is normal. As well as the fact that at first the ichor can stand out. It is important to avoid getting dirt and infections on the tattoo, as well as alcohol solutions, which can interfere with healing.

The tattoo should be processed at least twice a day. For this, a healing ointment, Panthenol or Bepanten is used. You can smear the ointment more often than twice a day, but you should not get carried away and allow the tattoo to get wet. When choosing an ointment, follow the advice of the master and in no case use ointments that help to draw out pus, as they will stretch out the tattoo paint. You cannot wet and scratch a healing tattoo for at least a week, but in fact the entire healing period. Baths, saunas, swimming pools will have to be postponed until the skin is completely regenerated. After all, such actions only prolong the healing time of the tattoo and degrade the image quality.

Fresh tattoos and the sun's rays are harmful, since the ink in an unhealed tattoo may be unstable and after a short exposure to the sun may fade by several shades. In addition, until the tattoo has healed, you should refrain from physical exertion on the muscles in the tattoo area, choose loose clothing made from natural materials to wear in order to avoid a possible allergic reaction.

For the first week, the tattoo will look loose and swollen, then after the first layer has peeled off, a white scaly mark may remain from the surface of the pattern. Do not be alarmed - he will also come down soon. The healing period depends on the characteristics of the organism and the pattern and usually takes five days, and 10 days after completing the work, you can use ordinary skin care products - scrubs and peels without harm to the pattern.

If you got a tattoo in a trusted salon with a good master, then general recommendations for care have probably already been given to you and you should strictly follow them. But unfortunately, some masters may, due to their ignorance in medicine, give outdated advice on care. Therefore, to be sure of the correctness of your actions, please read this material.

Stage 1. A few hours after the tattoo

After the artist has given you a tattoo, he should cover it with an antibacterial bandage. Since the procedure injures the upper layer of the skin, it is necessary to protect the wound from getting dust into it. Usually, the bandage is worn for 3-4 hours after the procedure and then removed. But sometimes, depending on how successfully the procedure was completed, the master can increase the time of wearing the compress up to 6-8 hours.

After this time, carefully remove the bandage and rinse the tattoo area with warm water. with antibacterial soap. Do not rub the drawing too hard, and never use a washcloth. Your goal now is to gently wash off the ichor that has emerged on the surface of the skin so that it does not form a dry crust. The water should be warm, not hot.

Have your tattoo been washed? Fine. Now gently, without rubbing, blot it with a napkin and lubricate with an antibacterial ointment. Most often for this purpose, the "Bepanten" ointment is used, which relieves inflammation, kills microbes and has a mild cooling effect. Do not wear any more bandages, leave the tattoo open.

Do not experiment with other ointments unless the tattoo artist prescribed them for you, as not all antibacterial medicinal products are suitable for tattoo care. Some of them can generally lead to the fact that the drawing will fade or even slightly bleed.

Stage 2. The first 3 days after tattooing

At this time, in place of the fresh tattoo, a transparent liquid - ichor - will actively appear. Your task is to prevent a short cut from forming at the site of the tattoo. Therefore, lubricate the tattoo with Bepanten ointment several times every day. Apply the ointment in a thin layer so that it is completely absorbed. It is impossible to wet the tattoo for the first 2-3 days, but if you still need to take a shower, then wrap this area with cling film so that water does not get on your skin. Accordingly, hot baths, a swimming pool, a bathhouse and a sauna are also canceled for the time being.

Since taking care of the tattoo will be very problematic in the first 3-5 days, it is better to stay at home. Clothes at this time should be worn loose, so as not to injure the place of the drawing. Cotton products are best suited; it is advisable to avoid silk and synthetic items.

Also forget for this period of time about scrubs, peels, hair removal and other cosmetological joys on the damaged area of ​​the skin. In addition, it is forbidden to use any alcohol-containing products - tonics, lotions, etc. Since the tattoo is still quite fresh, alcohol may fade its color by several tones. Hide this area from direct sunlight and do not sunbathe, either on the beach or in the solarium. In the first 3-5 days, it is also not recommended to consume any alcoholic drinks and coffee.

Stage 3. The next 7 days after tattooing

At this time, the tattoo can already be wetted, but in no case should you rub it with a washcloth or use a scrub. Do not scratch the area and generally try to touch it as little as possible. The color of the pattern during this period may appear slightly faded. Don't worry, after the final healing, the tattoo will be as vibrant as it should be. Also, very thin transparent films can come off the skin in this place. Do not try to remove them, let them go on their own. It's just a thin layer of dead skin.

Until the tattoo is completely healed, you can not engage in active sports and go to the bathhouse. This is due to the fact that during sports exercises the skin begins to actively produce sweat, which, as you know, is a strong irritant and can provoke inflammation.

These days, you still can't sunbathe either on the beach or in the solarium. Avoid public bathing to avoid getting the infection under your skin. The ichor should already cease to stand out, the inflammation will gradually begin to disappear, and every day you will notice that the skin is recovering. 10-14 days after tattooing, the tattoo should heal completely.

Once the tattoo is completely healed, the skin in that area can be re-treated as usual. Only advice: protect this place from direct sunlight, as this will fade the design. Tattoos made with yellow, pink, orange ink can fade especially quickly. Black, blue and dark green tattoos fade much less. To ensure that the drawing is always bright, before going out into the sun, lubricate the skin in this place with a sunscreen of at least UV-45 category.

Video how to take care of a tattoo in the early days

Why is it necessary to take care of a tattoo? The process of applying a tattoo is driving paint under the skin, which is immediately injured, and a fresh drawing at first looks like one continuous wound. Therefore, until complete healing, a rehabilitation period is required, otherwise there may be serious complications. Having decided to put an image on the body, it is important for each person to know how to care for a tattoo.

And in order for the drawing to remain clear and bright, its care must be competent and correct. If you take a responsible approach to the recovery process, then it will pass without damage to health, and the tattoo will delight you with beauty for many years.

There cannot be an exact answer to the question of how long a tattoo takes to heal, since it depends on the structure of the skin and the body's immunity. For some, it takes a few days to recover, while others take much longer. In addition, the place of tattooing is important: for example, the healing process on the ankle lasts longer than on the arm, but it is necessary to take care of a fresh tattoo regardless of its application.

About a couple of days after the session, a crust appears in the drawing as a result of the formation of a ichor. Many make a mistake and rip it off, which is absolutely impossible to do. Yes, the injured area on the skin itches and flakes, which is why tattoo care is so important. And if the healing process goes right, then the crust will soon disappear by itself. On average, recovery takes 7 to 10 days.

Depending on the structure of the skin, it is often necessary to correct the tattoo after healing, and you need to be prepared for the fact that the time for rehabilitation will increase. And in order for the tattoo to itch less, it should be lubricated with healing agents that will reduce the discomfort. The skin will gradually stop itching, the redness around the pattern will disappear, and the healing stages of the tattoo will take place with minimal discomfort.

The rules for caring for a tattoo, from the moment of filling and ending with complete healing, we will consider below, but for now we will focus on the general rules.

  • The fresh image on the skin must be covered with foil immediately after application.
  • It is best to smear a tattoo for healing with ointments. "Etonius" or "Bepanten".
  • The drawing should be washed with warm water, carefully blotting the moisture with a napkin.
  • Twice a day, you need to gently wipe the tattoo with a cotton swab dipped in chamomile infusion.
  • It is recommended to keep fresh drawing open so that it dries faster.

Caring for a new tattoo: what not to do

In order for the image on the body to quickly heal and not lose its colors, you need not only proper tattoo care, but also strict adherence to important nuances. What's prohibited?

  • Can't rub drawing a washcloth and towel for the first few days.
  • The use of soap is also prohibited., only gentle treatment of the skin with water.
  • Drinking alcohol is not recommended after tattooing, it will slow down the healing process.
  • It is advisable not to wear synthetic clothes to avoid allergic reactions.
  • It is prohibited to visit the solarium during the first week., sauna, beach and swimming in the pool.
  • A fresh tattoo needs to be hidden from the bright sun so that the paints do not fade or fade.
  • In no case should you comb the crust on the tattoo., otherwise the image will "creep away".

How to care for a tattoo immediately after application

So you've got a brand new tattoo, what should you do the same day?

  1. After the session, the master will wrap the fresh image with cling film for healing - this is necessary to protect the injured skin area from contact with the external environment. Check with the master when you should change the bandage (usually after 2-3 hours).
  2. How to properly care for a tattoo? First of all, you need to carefully change the film, after rinsing the tattoo with warm water with the addition of baby soap. You need to wash only with the palm of your hand, without using a sponge, so as not to damage the wound.
  3. Next, the skin area must be blotted out of moisture with paper towels or a cotton pad (but, in no case, not with a towel - it can injure the fresh layer). After that, leave the skin to dry for 15 minutes at room temperature.
  4. Carefully apply ointment to the drawing to heal the tattoo (it is advisable not to use the cream or smear the tattoo with petroleum jelly - they do not penetrate well under the skin). Then again superimpose the cling film on the fresh image. Repeat this procedure before bedtime.

How to care for a tattoo in the early days

In the days following the session, a fresh tattoo should be carefully taken care of.

  1. On the second day the film must be changed several more times, remembering to carefully rinse the drawing with water and treat the tattoo with ointment for healing. Try not to bother the injured area with tight clothing, wear loose things.
  2. On the third day it is no longer necessary to use a film - the tattoo should heal naturally, and continue to smear the drawing. You can wet the tattoo, but it's better not to wash in the bathroom yet, but to take a shower, but not with soap, but with a soft gel.
  3. How to care for a tattoo in the early days? Be sure to apply a healing ointment to the image at least four times a day (make sure that it does not contain alcohol). You do not need to rub in, just gently smear the tattoo with the pad of your finger.
  4. Do not be alarmed if you see paint leaking. Is a natural process. But if you notice severe painful redness or suspicious swelling, go to your doctor right away. These signs may be the first symptoms of inflammation.

How to care for your tattoo in the coming weeks

The healing time of a tattoo usually does not exceed 2-3 weeks until complete recovery.

  1. A few days after the session, a crust appears on the tattoo. that needs to continue to be treated with ointment. You cannot tear it off so as not to injure the already injured skin. After some time, the crust will dry out and fall off by itself.
  2. After about a week, the area where the drawing was applied begins to itch.- these are the consequences of tattoos that need to be endured. If the tattoo itches, then the restoration process has begun. But you can't comb it, the maximum is to clap your palm.
  3. Then, around the second week, itching gives way to peeling.- the skin is renewed. At this stage, you can no longer use the healing ointment and replace it with baby cream, applying a small amount to the skin. The peeling soon disappears.
  4. When asked how long a tattoo on a leg heals, the answer is unequivocal: longer than in other places. Especially if the drawing requires correction, then it can take more than a month to recover, and you need to monitor the condition of the tattoo until it heals.

How to care for a tattoo after it has been restored

Even after going through all the stages of tattoo healing, you need to continue to take care of it.

  1. If the tattoo was applied in the summer, then even after it has healed, you should apply sunscreen to the body before going outside. This is necessary so that the drawing does not lose its brightness under the influence of sunlight.
  2. If you got a tattoo in a cool time, then try to make sure that the clothes are not too tight to the body. The pattern can change color from constant rubbing or perspiration, so wear loose clothing and keep moisturizing the tattoo.
  3. Can you drink alcohol? It does not matter how long the tattoo heals, after applying it for a while DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL! The fact is that it increases pressure, which destroys the paint injected under the skin, and it is better not to take alcohol.
  4. You should also exercise caution. Even after the tattoo is completely healed, it is possible that exercise will negatively affect the drawing - as a result of exercise, you sweat, which can lead to irritation of the tattooed area.

What to do if a tattoo won't heal

Unfortunately, there are times when the tattoo does not heal for a long time, becomes inflamed and worries with bad symptoms. This can happen either due to the individual characteristics of the body, or due to improper care. What measures need to be taken?

  1. You should keep the area of ​​the body with the pattern outdoors for as long as possible so that the skin "breathes". Clothing only hinders the restoration of the pattern.
  2. Be sure to treat the damaged area with an antiseptic. For example, a solution of "Chlorhexidine": moisten a cotton swab and gently wipe the tattoo, this will relieve inflammation.
  3. After applying the solution, you need to apply any healing and anti-inflammatory ointment to the image. This procedure should be carried out at least 2-3 times a day..
  4. How to smear a tattoo for quick healing? After all the unpleasant symptoms have gone, you should process the image for some time with the ointment that you used initially immediately after applying the tattoo - "Etonony" or "Bepantenom".

Signs of complete healing of a tattoo

The drawing is completely restored or not, you can understand by the following signs.

  • The drawing looks absolutely natural, redness has completely disappeared from the skin.
  • The crust has dried and fell off naturally, and the tattoo has stopped itching.
  • In the picture, there is no swelling, no thin film after crust, no peeling.

If you do not experience any discomfort at all, your tattoo has healed.

Video how to take care of a tattoo

The topic of tattoo healing is beaten, but still there are new questions about how to care for a tattoo. The answers to them must be found out before the start of the session in order to avoid infection with an infection or loss of brightness in the pattern.If you are just thinking about what to put on your body, be sure to read this article. In order to understand what exactly and how to do, and whether you are ready for this.

Why you need to know how to care for a tattoo

The main and most important rule for caring for a tattoo is conscientiousness. Regardless of the salon, the size of the picture - you should always take care of the tattoo.

Note. The very process of tatiuring is a damage to the protective epithelium. The needle with ink penetrates under the top layer of the skin, after which it begins to actively exfoliate.

Remember how you pinched your combed knees as a child? The skin on them was tightened with a film, and even worse - with a crust, later it began to coarse and itch. If you accidentally rip off the top layer of the wound, then a delicate skin that had not yet healed turned out to be under the crust. There was a likelihood of scar formation. This is roughly the case with a new tattoo.

It is in the first days after tattooing that it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the skin. If it is taken with a film or even worse with a crust, then the probability of removing the latter along with the paint is very high. In this case, there is a risk of suppuration.

Important! With the formation of pus, a visit to the doctor cannot be avoided, and you need to forget about a beautiful tattoo for a very long time, if not forever. That is why it is necessary to adhere to certain rules!

Tattoo care in the first days after application

An experienced craftsman and, of course, a good healing cream are needed to get an excellent drawing. There are a lot of the latter in the world, but most often the masters advise which one is better, since they have already encountered the healing process more than once.

The first couple of days a ichor will gather over the tattoo. This epidermis is actively trying to expel everything foreign from the body.

The ridge appears almost immediately after the tattoo is applied. If you do not wrap the skin area and do not lubricate it, then after some time the ichor will dry out and simply stick to the fabric that will adhere to it. Tearing off this area of ​​skin will be very difficult and painful.

Therefore, certain actions should be taken to avoid injury to the skin.

Algorithm of actions after a tattoo session

  • wash your hands with antibacterial soap;
  • gently remove the bandage;
  • gently rinse the tattoo area without pressure;
  • blot with a napkin or let it dry on its own;
  • apply a healing cream;
  • make a bandage out of the diaper, which is secured with tape or film.

If the bandage is fixed with a film, then this should not be done very tightly. The tattoo must breathe, and the film, due to its properties, does not allow it to be done. The diaper will not only help the pores open, but will also absorb some of the paint that will stand out. In addition, residues of cream, paint and ichor can ruin clothes.

Some experts allow you to walk without a bandage at home, after a shower and in clean and loose clothes. This will promote healing.

Before going outside, be sure to make a bandage. Because not only dust, but also exhaust fumes can adversely affect a tattoo.

Care actions in the early days should be continued for a week. This will help the skin to heal and completely avoid infection. In addition, if you wear such a compress, the skin will not dry out, respectively, the paint will fix better and will not fade too much.

A week after tattooing, you should stop applying the bandage. For the next 7 days, it is necessary to wash and lubricate the tattoo on average three to four times a day. Dressing should be discarded. During the late healing period, the body must breathe fully. If you block the oxygen supply, then the skin will begin to dry out and flake off.

Features of tattoo healing

The most important period after tattooing is the first three to four days. At this time, you should pay maximum attention to the skin and pattern, otherwise the result will be much worse than expected.

In the first few days, the tattoo is covered with a film. Thanks to the use of a healing cream, it remains very thin. If the film is thick and rough, then the drawing will turn out to be a little distorted, some of the paint will go away with it. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the dryness of the skin, during this period it should remain sufficiently soft.

After active healing, a thin film of skin above the tattoo begins to peel off. This is a natural process that shouldn't be intimidating. As a result of the fact that ink was applied under the skin, there was a violation of its integrity. In this regard, it is quite natural that the top layer of the skin will die off. Do not be intimidated by the moment when it starts.

Moreover, there is no need to call the master with cries for help and accusations that the skin is peeling. You just need to wait until the epidermis layer is restored naturally.

When the film begins to actively fall off, it should never be ripped off. This will compromise the skin's natural defenses and lead to uneven healing. Remember the knees and prematurely torn crusts from the wounds. Many of them turned into scars and remained forever.

A couple of days after application, the tattoo begins to actively itch. This is perhaps the most difficult period that needs to be endured. In no case should you scratch a tattoo. In the best case scenario, an area of ​​the skin will simply be affected, and the paints will fix there incorrectly. At worst, the wound becomes infected from bacteria from the hands and festers.

After the top layer of skin peels off, the tattoo will become much paler than at first. You shouldn't be afraid of this either:

  • firstly, the epidermis was partially renewed, but the basic ink remained at a deeper level;
  • secondly, if the master did everything correctly, then the tattoo after 3-4 days will take on the required color.

Note! Tattoo artists specifically make the colors much more expressive when applied, so that after removing the film, the drawing acquires the necessary shade.

With the correct work of the master, the pallor of the tattoo will pass in a few days, the skin will continue to renew and the colors will fully acquire their brightness. That is why it is worth knowing how to properly care for a tattoo.Without a sequence of a certain set of actions, the result can be not only pale, but also painful. It is worth remembering about the suppuration that occurs with improper care.

The prohibitions for the first days after tattooing, in addition to those listed above, are as follows:

  • you cannot visit the bath / sauna;
  • beat the tattoo site;
  • it is necessary to exclude going to the gym;
  • do not drink alcohol;
  • give up sunbathing and visiting the pool and the sea.

If all the prohibitions are understandable, then the contraindication to alcohol confuses the beginner a little. This fact is explained simply. When alcohol is consumed, blood pressure rises, the body begins to actively remove it from itself. This also happens through the pores. In our case, the tattooed area is very vulnerable, so sweat can negatively affect the healing process.

Refusal from the sun is necessary so as not to overdry the skin. Plus, the darker shade of the body makes the tattoo much less vibrant. The sun's rays kill the richness of the pigment used in the ink. That is why tanning lovers have to do tattoo correction much more often than those who avoid ultraviolet radiation.

A reliable sun cream remains salvation from the sun. It must be used according to the instructions or even a little more often. These simple steps will keep the tattoo bright and attractive for longer.

How to Care for a Tattoo: Summing Up

Tattoos require attention, so you can't just get them done and forget. If you take care of the drawing incorrectly in the first few days, the result will be obvious.

First of all, the formation of wounds is possible. They will be minor, but healing will be slower. A feature of such wounds will be their centering at the end. It is there that a white spot is formed that is not covered with paint. This is the dermis that needs to be painted over with tattoo ink. With improper healing, this does not happen, the dermis is completely renewed, leaving a white spot in the center of the wound.

If you correctly understand how to take care of a tattoo, then you can not only not get complications, but also enjoy an excellent pattern for a long time, which will not require correction. It all depends on desire and consciousness.

But if you ignore the tips for caring for a tattoo, then you can get suppuration, injury and a destroyed pattern.

A tattoo made with the meaning and hands of a real master will decorate your body for years to come and become a unique touch to your image. But in order for the drawing to be truly bright and beautiful, the tattoo must be properly looked after.

Why is it so important to pay maximum attention to the tattoo in the first three days?

One way or another, the tattoo will have to be taken care of all your life. For example, it is not recommended to expose the drawing to too strong sunlight - this will cause it to fade faster. In addition, the tattoo needs to be renewed periodically - as it tends to fade just over time.

But especially careful attention should be paid to the drawing in the first three days after visiting the tattoo parlor.

  • First, a fresh tattoo is a wound surface - an open lesion of the skin. With a lack of care, an infection can enter the tissue - and then the healing process will slow down, bring a lot of unpleasant sensations, and the beauty of the tattoo will be in question.
  • Secondly, in the first three days, the dye applied under the skin only "grasps", and the epithelium injured during the tattooing process heals and regenerates. Both lack and excess of hygiene during this period will lead to the fact that the clear contours of the pattern will blur, the pigment will lose most of its brightness, the picture will be deformed and become ugly. To avoid such troubles, you must carefully follow all the recommendations for proper care of the tattoo.

In the normal course of healing, exactly three days are enough for the initial mild inflammation in the tissues to pass. After this time, pronounced redness of the skin, severe pain should disappear.

Of course, you will have to wait at least two weeks for complete healing - and it is quite possible that later you will still need a slight correction of the pattern. This is completely normal and most tattoo artists do the re-procedure for free. And so that the correction does not turn into a global rework of the entire work, we will tell you more about how to take care of a tattoo at first.

What to do immediately after tattooing

So, you visited a tattoo parlor, chose the drawing you liked, and an experienced master applied it to your body. Let's note right away - of course, different tattoo artists have different skill levels. But as a rule, this is expressed in the complexity of the drawings, which the master is ready to take on, in the harmony of proportions and other aesthetic parameters. But the appearance of the tattoo after its healing is already under the responsibility of the client himself. In other words, if a bright and colorful drawing faded, blurred and in places was erased two weeks after application - most likely, the reason lies precisely in improper care, and not in the poor quality of the dye or the inexperience of the master.


Immediately after the end of the work, the master will temporarily cover the fresh tattoo - as a rule, with ordinary cling film, sometimes with an absorbent bandage from an elastic bandage. In the first case, the film will need to be removed no later than four hours later - otherwise, the tattoo will start to "reproach", since the film does not allow air to pass through.

The cloth bandage can be worn for up to twelve hours in a row. But here it should be especially emphasized that we are talking about a special absorbent surface that does not stick and does not stick to wounds. If the master used a regular gauze bandage - which happens quite rarely - then it must be removed immediately upon returning home.

After removing the bandage or tape, the tattoo will need to be gently rinsed. Don't be alarmed to find some blood and lymph - as we mentioned, a fresh tattoo is a wound, and these phenomena are quite normal. You need to wash the drawing with clean warm (or even slightly cool) water, it is also allowed to use baby soap or chlorhexidine solution.

It is strictly forbidden to process a fresh drawing with substances containing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the wet tattoo should be gently patted dry with a sterile towel - no rubbing motion.

Finally, after rinsing the skin and letting it dry completely, the tattooed area will need to be treated with ointment. Usually for this purpose it is recommended to buy special formulations designed specifically for the care of tattoos. If such a remedy is not at hand, you can use Panthenol, Bepanten or baby cream for delicate skin. Do not forget that you also need to apply the ointment very carefully - do not rub it into the skin or press, just smear the composition over the tattoo and remove the excess with a cotton pad or napkin.

Drawing care in the first three days

The main care in the first few days is about the same as in the first hours. The tattoo is in the active healing phase - therefore, it must be regularly washed and treated with healing compounds.

How often does a fresh tattoo need to be washed? It depends on the speed of healing and how intensely the damaged skin secretes blood and lymph. Hygiene procedures should be carried out at least three times a day - but not more often than once every four hours. When flushing, you need to adhere to all the same rules:

  • The tattoo is washed with clean warm water without the use of alcohol-containing substances;
  • Blotting is carried out very carefully and gently, without rubbing the skin with a towel.

After each wash, the same healing ointment is applied to the drawing, the excess amount of which is simply removed - you still do not need to rub it in.


In the first two to three days, a thin crust will form on the surface of the healing skin, which will cover the tattoo. What should you do with it? Almost nothing. It is strictly forbidden to tear it off, rub and scratch it - this way you will not only increase the risk of infection, but also ruin the tattoo.

After some time, the crust will disappear by itself. During hygiene procedures, its small particles will spontaneously lag behind the fresh skin - so you can simply rinse off the exfoliating crust in a natural way. if a small area of ​​the crust was nevertheless torn off, treat the micro-abrasion in the usual way, and if this affects the final appearance of the drawing, agree with the tattoo artist to carry out the correction.

How to behave until complete healing

The first few days are considered the most responsible and difficult - however, the complete healing process lasts much longer, about two weeks. The obligatory correction of the final drawing is carried out only after a month or a month and a half.


Throughout this time, the tattoo also requires careful maintenance. What rules must be followed in order for the drawing to remain bright, clear and beautiful?

  • As already mentioned, direct exposure to sunlight is very harmful for a tattoo. An excess of ultraviolet radiation has a negative effect even on old drawings - and on a fresh tattoo it can even have a devastating effect. Therefore, for the first few weeks, the drawing must be “hidden” from the sun, choosing clothes that completely cover the tattooed area.
  • The drawing needs good ventilation. Therefore, even closed clothes should be loose enough - do not wear lightweight outfits with a high content of synthetics, give preference to loose things made from natural fabrics.
  • Of course, during the healing of the tattoo, you can and should wash - but for a while, give up the pool, long baths, and even more so swimming in salt sea water. Limit hygiene to showering- moreover, it is advisable to cover the tattoo site with a film or at least lubricate it with a greasy protective cream at the time of washing. Of course, it is not recommended to rub the skin with a washcloth.

In addition, it is recommended to avoid going to the gym until complete healing - or at least minimize exercise. The fact is that during exercise you sweat - and even with good hygiene, this can lead to skin irritation at the tattoo site.

You will also need to refuse to take alcohol - it has a devastating effect on the dye injected under the skin by increasing blood pressure. It is good if you do not take any medications during the healing period of the tattoo - some of them, coming into contact with the pigment, can cause allergies.