T The Three Basic Healing Stages of Tattoos Actually getting your tattoo is truly the highlight of the entire inking process, but youre not finished once you walk out of the shop door. In fact, youre at the beginning of a healing process that will likely last anywhere from three to four weeks, and youll need to take special care of your new body art during this time to ensure it looks its best once that healing has finished. Understanding the healing stages of tattoos gives you a better idea of what to expect in the days and weeks to come. Stage One This initial stage of healing begins right after your tattoo is finished. At this point, you can consider the area an open wound, and youll need to treat it accordingly. Your artist will gently wash the area and bandage it to protect it from bacteria. Most artists recommend you keep the area covered for the first twenty-hours, although you will likely need to change the bandage because a fresh tat usually bleeds and weeps a bit. If you allow the bandage to soak up too much fluid, it may wind up sticking to your skin, and this is definitely not good for the healing process. Many people describe a fresh tattoo as feeling similiar to a sunburn. The area tends to sting a bit, and it can look red and become a little raised or swollen. This is all a natural part of the healing process. Youll begin to form scabs over the area, and you shouldnt attempt to remove them. Just gently hand wash the area once or twice a day with a very mild soap, pat dry with a fresh paper towel and gently dab on a light amount of the moisturizing aftercare lotion your artist recommends. Although people tend to heal at different rates, the first healing stage of a tattoo usually lasts about one week as long as an infection doesnt set in. If you find the pain is more than you expected, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Stage Two The second stage of healing usually brings the onset of itching. At this point, the scabs are well formed and probably just beginning to flake off - a process that will continue for about a week. The skin around the tattoo may become a bit dry. Most people experience some peeling, just as they would with a sunburn. Try to avoid peeling the skin. Just allow it to slough off naturally and, by all means, do not scratch your tat. Scratching can cause damage and ultimately spoil the look of your tattoo by the time healing is complete. Applying more aftercare lotion to the area should bring some relief. All fresh tattoos are temporarily covered to help prevent infection. Expect this healing stage to last about one week as well. Stage Three Stage three brings the final healing of the area. By this point, most or all of the scabs have fallen away from your tat, although the area may still be slightly dry and mildly tender. You may notice that your ink no longer looks as vibrant as it did when it was first finished, and this is natural. There is typically still a layer of dead skin over the tattoo at this point that obscures it a bit, but once that layer naturally sloughs away youll see what your new tattoo really looks like. If youve managed to avoid infection and scratching, it probably looks great. Things to Avoid While Your Tattoo Heals Dont apply petroleum based skin products to your tattoo. Avoid swimming. Chlorine can leach color and dry out the still tender skin around your tat. Dont soak in the tub. This can allow bacteria to penetrate the unhealed needle wounds. Avoid exposing your new tattoo to direct sunlight. This can lead to fading and you could easily burn the unhealed skin. Dont pick at your scabs or scratch/rub your tat. Overall, the healing stages of tattoos stretch out over a three to four week period, and taking special care of your tat during this time is essential to preserve the wonderful work your tattoo artist has created. If you experience any symptoms beyond those mentioned here, contact your artist right away. Although he or she likely isnt a licensed physician, tattoo artists are very familiar with the signs of normal healing versus the signs of a burgeoning infection. If your artist believes you have an infection, youll be given directions about how to care for the area topically, as well as cautioned to visit your family doctor if the situation warrants it.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:03:30 +0000
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