Tattoo aftercare guide

The first day

1. Keep the covering on for as long as your artist tells you.
2. Wash your hands before you touch the tattoo.
3. Rinse the tattoo gently with lukewarm water and a mild, unscented soap.
4. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel or a clean cloth. Do not rub.
5. Apply a thin layer of the ointment or moisturiser your artist recommends.

The first two weeks

• Wash gently and moisturise lightly, as advised. A thick layer keeps the skin too wet.
• Do not scratch, pick or peel. Itching and flaking are normal, and tapping the skin helps.
• Wear loose, clean clothes over the area.
• Keep the tattoo out of the sun, and out of pools, the sea, hot tubs and saunas until it has healed.
• Avoid heavy exercise that stretches or rubs the area in the first days.
• Sleep on clean sheets.

How long healing takes

The surface of the skin usually looks healed within two to four weeks, and the deeper layers take longer. The tattoo can look dull or cloudy while it peels, and it clears afterwards. Healing differs from person to person and from one body part to another.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if the area becomes more red, swollen or warm over time, if it leaks pus, if the pain gets worse, or if you have a fever. Tell your artist as well.

Once it has healed

• Use sunscreen on the tattoo whenever it is in the sun.
• Keep the skin moisturised.
• Ask the studio about a touch-up if any part has healed unevenly.

Questions people ask