Your new tattoo will be red, irritated, swollen, warm-to-the-touch & possibly bruised; this is all NORMAL. This will normally last 1 to 3 days. If your tattoo is on an extremity, especially below the knee, you may experience more swelling than normal.
In general, most new tattoos will begin to fade in color and reduce in redness over the first week or two. However, it is not uncommon for some redness and inflammation to persist for several weeks or even a month or more in some cases.
The Scabbing Stage (Days 4-6)
Around four days after getting your tattoo, the redness and drainage should subside.
Signs of an infection: After getting a tattoo, it's normal to see some redness and swelling. Your skin will feel sore, and you may see clear fluid oozing from your new tattoo. As your skin heals, it can itch and flake. Scabs may form.
If it's only a very small tattoo, the area may only stay red for a day or two, while if the tattoo is, say, a large back piece or half a sleeve that was done throughout the course of an entire day, the area can remain red and sore for up to a week.
How should a tattoo look after 3 days? Peeling like a sunburn may occur about 3 to 5 days after getting your tattoo. Your tattoo may also begin to itch. It's important to avoid picking at scabs or scratching the area.
Redness and warmth
Make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for a topical or oral antibiotics. You can have swelling and warmth even without infection, says Tonkovic-Capin. But if it persists for more than three days or gets worse, then it is an infection. And you guessed it: See a doctor.
2-6 Days After Your New Tattoo
Now you'll start to notice that your tattoo looks a bit dull, perhaps even have a 'cloudy-looking' appearance. It may also look red, swollen and still ooze blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid and ink. Not to worry! This is normal.
Extreme redness of the skin: Most tattoos are inflamed and red right after they've been done, but if the redness intensifies rather than resolving within a week of the procedure, you may have an infection.
It's normal for a brand new tattoo to have some redness around it, and appear swollen for a day or two, especially if it's very large or in a sensitive area. But if the redness and swelling persists for more than a couple of days, or if it gets worse and begins to feel more tender, this could be a cause for concern.
A mild to moderate tattoo rash should clear up in a week or two. If your rashes last longer than that, maybe it is time to see a doctor. Also, some scarring or swelling of the tattoo area while it is healing is quite normal.
Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.
For some, red ink can spark a potentially serious allergic reaction, turning the tattoo experience into a nightmare. Pimple-like bumps, blisters, and raised, scaly patches that flake off can appear. There could also be a watery discharge from the site.
"During the healing process, you should moisturize your tattoo three to six times a day," Ladna says. "Keeping your tattoo hydrated during the initial days is especially critical. If your tattoo becomes too dry, the healing may actually take longer, and you may risk losing color saturation."
Day 5: By the fifth day, your tattoo should be in the final stages of the healing process. The swelling and redness should be completely gone, and the tattoo should look more vibrant and defined. However, it's still important to continue to take care of the tattoo to ensure that it heals properly.
Avoid sleeping directly on your new tattoo, at least the first 4 days.
Tattoo flu explained
So while you might be super chill mentally, your immune system might charge in like there's a four alarm fire. When the needle hits your skin, your pain receptors go into overdrive, giving you a nice jolt of adrenaline which then makes your ticker beat a bit faster.
Signs of an Overworked Tattoo
A Change in Appearance - If the tattoo looks faded, pale, cloudy, blurry, or heavily distorted, this could be a sign of overworked skin. This may also appear as ink distortion and blurring. During a tattoo, ink needs to be deposited in your dermis so the pigment stays put.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
Week 1. After a few days, the tattoo should begin to feel less sore and red. A person may notice their tattoo appears duller than it did initially. This appearance is not a cause for concern but a sign that the tattoo is healing.
After a month, any itching and redness should have completely gone. In fact, your new tattoo may look fully healed! However, the skin under your tattoo can continue to repair itself for up to six months until it's considered healed. During this stage it's important to keep up your aftercare routine.