As your body’s largest organ, your skin is incredibly adept at healing itself. This is great news if you’ve just gotten a tattoo, because you essentially have a fresh wound.
Whether you’re a tattoo enthusiast or a first-timer, knowing what to expect during the healing process can ease anxieties and help you care for your new piece of art.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the science behind the tattoo healing stages and reveal why patience and proper aftercare are key to preserving that fresh-from-the-shop look.
Table of Contents
Here’s How Your Body Responds to a Tattoo
From the moment the tattoo needle punctures your skin, your body responds as though it’s been injured.
As the needle injects the ink, your body’s initial defense mechanism kicks in. Did you ever wonder what happens when your body senses an ‘invasion’? It drafts its military of white blood cells and launches into full attack mode.
These diligent ‘soldiers,’ scientifically known as macrophages, engage in a real-life game of Pac-Man, gobbling up as much of the foreign invaders, in this case, the tattoo ink, as possible.
Let’s break down the process:
- The instant moment when the needle breaches your skin, it sends an alert to your immune system about the invasion. This results in inflammation, making the tattoo area red and slightly swollen. Meanwhile, platelets work to clot the blood, reducing bleeding and initiating the first of the tattoo healing stages.
- Your body then releases white blood cells called macrophages to the tattooed area. These little soldiers work double duty – they start devouring the ink to ‘clean’ the wound, but since the ink particles are too large, some get ‘trapped’ in the dermis, the layer of skin where the tattoo ink resides. This is what makes your tattoo permanent!
- Simultaneously, lymphocytes, another type of white blood cell, are directed to the area to assist the macrophages in combating any potential infection.
- Finally, fibroblasts, the cells responsible for the synthesis of collagen, come into play. They help with tissue regeneration, leading to encapsulation of the ‘trapped’ ink and the healing of the skin.
There is a biological process for the tattoo healing stages that follow the initial needle, too. As the outer layer of skin starts to heal, it forms a scab, which eventually peels off.
True, it may be a bit annoying, but this part plays a crucial role in the stages of a healing tattoo. This is nature’s way of eliminating the damaged tissues and making way for the new.
If your white blood cells did too well of a job and you find yourself with a small, inkless patch, you may want to determine when might be the best time for a touch-up.
Remember: a bit of itching today, a fantastic tattoo to flaunt tomorrow!
While we’ve covered the science of what’s happening inside, the exterior—your aftercare routine—is equally consequential. To protect your artwork, it’s your responsibility to appropriately cleanse, moisturize, and protect your new tattoo.
We have recommendations for this part of the process and encourage you to read our tattoo aftercare instructions.
5 Tattoo Healing Stages: What Your Skin Will Look Like
The length of healing might be impacted by your tattoo’s size and placement. Get all the necessary information via our Tattoo Healing 101 article.
After the buzzing of the tattoo machine has come to an end, here’s what happens to your skin:
Stage One: Oozing and Redness
The first stage of tattoo healing can be a bit of a shock! But don’t fret! This is where your body immediately reacts to the tattooing process.
The skin becomes a battleground where those white blood cells are fighting against the ink particles. You can expect to see some blood and plasma oozing out. Your skin may be red and swollen. But no worries, this is your body doing its job!
Your job during this stage: Keep Second Skin on the tattoo for 24-48 hours. Then, proper cleaning and the application of gentle lotions. Make sure you do not rub the area, soak in any water, or expose it to sunlight. And ensure every product you use is fragrance-free.
Stage Two: Itching and Peeling
Does your tattoo start to itch and peel like a sunburn? You’ve graduated to stage two. T
he top layer of your skin dries out and starts peaking, revealing a bright and vibrant tattoo beneath. Remember that scratching is your number one enemy here! It can disturb every one of the tattoo healing stages.
Your job during this stage: Avoid picking and scratching. If you find that it’s impossible to resist, try lightly tapping the area with your fingertips. Resume cleaning and applying lotions, as well as avoiding friction, soaking, and sunlight.
Check out our article on tattoo aftercare products to have at the ready.
Stage Three: Scabbing
Moving forward, the third of the tattoo healing stages is where things get a little crusty. This is your body’s way of creating a natural protective barrier over your fresh tattoo to ward off infections.
Picking at your scabs may seem tempting, but don’t give in! Doing so can potentially cause ink loss, leading to patchy tattoos—save your investment!
Your job during this stage: Just don’t pick at it. And no water for long periods, still.
Stage Four: More Itching and Flaking
And we’re back to itching and flaking! But this time around, it happens on a less intrusive scale. The scabs slowly flake away and reveal your stunning tattoo.
Still no picking at it!
Stage Five: The Grand Finale
Finally, here we are, at the last of the tattoo healing stages.
Your skin may look a little cloudy, but don’t worry, it’s just settling in. This foggy overlay will eventually clear and reveal your radiant, fully healed tattoo. It’s time to appreciate your new masterpiece!
Long-term aftercare really just consists of SPF application when you’re out in the sun and, if needed, touch-ups to maintain the vibrancy of your ink. You should only apply SPF after the tattoo is completely healed.
Each of these stages plays a vital role in making your tattoo a true work of art. Remember, the key is patience and proper aftercare!
Patience: Don’t Rush Perfection
Impatience might be worth it for some instant gratification in some aspects of life, but when it comes to tattoo healing, it serves as nothing more than a spoiler.
Trying to rush through the tattoo healing stages can potentially:
- Lead to infections: Your tattoo is a fresh wound, and skipping or cutting short the aftercare process increases the chances of bacterial infections. Want to avoid an infection? Always clean your skin and apply the necessary ointments! Check out our article on specific tattoo aftercare lotions or ointments to see how they can assist the tattoo healing stages.
- Cause loss of ink: Overzealous washing or premature peeling of scabs can cause the ink to fall out of your skin, resulting in patchy or faded tattoos.
- Result in scarring: Too much exposure to the sun or not enough moisture can lead to scarring. This not only impacts your tattoo’s appearance but can also affect future tattooing/touch-ups on the site.
The Dos and Don’ts of Tattoo Aftercare
Alright, so, you’ve made it through the pain of the needle. Now, onto ensure the tattoo healing stages. Congrats to you! Now, let the real magic unfold as we help you understand what goes into effective tattoo aftercare.
Any decently professional tattoo shop will give you their recommendations and instructions for aftercare.
But, in case they haven’t, get thorough information about recovery and what you can do to support it by reading our article on how to take care of a tattoo.
Do’s:
- Do keep the tattoo clean and dry.
- Do follow your artist’s recommendations: Each tattoo is unique, and your artist will guide you with the best aftercare practices fit for your design.
- Do moisturize, but don’t overdo it: Keep your tattoo moisturized, but beware of excessively moist environments as it can lead to bacterial growth.
Don’ts:
- Don’t pick or scratch.
- Don’t submerge the tattoo in water.
- Don’t expose the tattoo to direct sunlight. Sunlight can lead to color fading.
Why is Tattoo Aftercare So Crucial?
Well, simply put, tattoo aftercare is the difference between a beautifully healed piece of art and a blurred mess.
The skin is put under extreme stress during tattooing, and it needs the right conditions to regenerate! The least you could do is follow proper instructions. You’re the only one who has to live with your skin forever.
The Honorable Society
Where pride in craftsmanship meets passion and artistry, we care about the work we do for you. If you’re ready to get tattooed at a shop that cares about every step of the process, schedule a consultation with us. No matter where you are in your design and decision process, we can help.
Just want to look? Follow our Instagram!
