Tattoo aftercare, day by day
Tattoo aftercare, the short version: a new tattoo heals in two to four weeks if you keep it clean, lightly moisturized and out of the sun. Wash twice a day with unscented soap, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion, don't pick, don't soak. This is the sheet Irish Rose Tattoo hands you on East Ave; it's the same one your artist will text you.
Tattoo aftercare steps
- Day 0
Leave the wrap on
Your artist covers it with a second-skin film or cling wrap. Film stays on three to five days unless it leaks; cling wrap comes off after two to four hours. Wash your hands before touching anything.
- Day 1–3
Wash, pat, thin lotion
Twice a day: lukewarm water, unscented liquid soap, fingertips only. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Apply a layer of unscented lotion thin enough that the tattoo still looks matte. No ointment under the film.
- Day 4–10
Peeling and itching
It will flake like a sunburn and itch like one. Do not scratch, do not pick, do not help the flakes along. Slap it if you have to. Keep up the washing and the thin lotion.
- Week 2–4
Looks healed, is not
The surface is closed but the deeper layers are still settling, which is why it may look cloudy. Keep it out of pools, oceans, baths and hot tubs the whole four weeks. Loose clothing over it.
- After
Sunscreen forever
SPF 30 or better any time it sees sun. That is the single biggest thing between a tattoo that looks sharp at ten years and one that does not.
Call us if
Redness spreads past the tattoo after day three, the area is hot and swollen, you see yellow or green discharge, or you run a fever. Text a photo to (401) 555-0100; we'd rather see it than guess. Infections are rare and treatable early.
Good tattoo aftercare comes down to the five steps above: clean, thin lotion, no picking, no soaking, then sunscreen for life. The sections below cover what to buy, how to handle sleep, the gym and work while it heals, and what to do if it heals light.
What to buy for tattoo aftercare
Unscented liquid soap. Any gentle, fragrance-free liquid soap from a pharmacy will do. Bar soap sits wet in a dish and collects bacteria, so skip it for the first month.
Unscented lotion. A plain, fragrance-free body lotion or a lotion made for tattoos. You need very little: rub in a thin layer until the tattoo looks matte, not shiny. If it looks wet, wipe some off.
Clean paper towels. Bath towels hold bacteria and lint. Pat the tattoo dry with a fresh paper towel each time.
Sunscreen, SPF 30 or better. Not for the first two weeks, while the skin is open. After that, every time the tattoo sees sun, for life. It is the single biggest difference between a tattoo that stays sharp at ten years and one that blurs.
Skip: heavy layers of petroleum jelly or thick ointment, which trap moisture and can pull ink. Scented lotions, scented soaps and anything with alcohol, which sting and irritate. Numbing creams after the fact, and anything a friend swears by that is not on this list.
Sleeping, gym and work
Sleeping. Use clean sheets the first night and wear loose, clean clothing over the tattoo. If it is wrapped in film, you can sleep on it. If not, and it sticks to the sheets in the morning, do not rip it off; wet the fabric with lukewarm water until it lets go.
The gym. Give it 48 hours before working out, longer for pieces over a joint or on the ribs. Avoid exercises that stretch or rub the tattoo for the first week, wipe down equipment before you use it, and wash the tattoo soon after you finish, since sweat sitting on it is irritating. Skip saunas and steam rooms for four weeks.
Work. Most jobs are fine from the next day. If your work involves dirt, chemicals, food prep or a uniform that rubs, cover the tattoo with a clean, breathable layer and wash it on your break. Outdoor work means covering it from the sun, especially on summer days on the water.
Touch-ups and healing problems
Some ink falls out during healing, particularly on hands, feet, fingers, elbows and other spots that flex or rub. If your tattoo healed light, Irish Rose does free tattoo touch-ups within 90 days, as long as you followed this sheet. Hands, feet and fingers are excluded; after 90 days touch-ups are quoted from $80, as listed on the pricing page.
Heavy scabbing, a raised line, or a spot that looks blown out usually comes from picking, over-moisturizing or friction. Send a photo before you worry; most of it settles by week four.
For anything that looks like infection, text a photo to (401) 555-0100 and see a doctor if it is spreading or you have a fever. Infections are rare and treatable early. If you have a new piercing too, follow piercing aftercare, week by week. Planning your next piece? Start at the booking form.
Free touch-ups within 90 days on anything that healed light, as long as you followed this sheet. Read about touch-up policy, how fine-line heals, or piercing aftercare.
Tattoo aftercare questions
When can I swim after a new tattoo?
After four weeks. That means pools, the ocean at Misquamicut or Watch Hill, lakes, baths and hot tubs. A quick shower is fine from day one; soaking is not.
Can I use petroleum jelly or ointment on a new tattoo?
Skip the heavy layers. Thick ointment traps moisture and can pull ink and cloud lines. A thin layer of unscented lotion, rubbed in until the tattoo looks matte, is all it needs.
My tattoo looks cloudy or patchy after two weeks. Is that normal?
Yes. The surface is closed but the deeper layers are still settling, so it can look milky or uneven for a few weeks. Judge it at a month. If it has healed light after that, a touch-up within 90 days is free.