After 2-3 weeks, or once your tattoo has finished scabbing and peeling, you should be able to go back to your usual showering routine and get the tattoo as wet as you like with no problems.
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.
Once the bandage has been removed after 3-5 days, you can shower at any time you want, following some precautions. Some old-school bandages or cling wrap as is traditionally used will require a waiting period of up to 12 hours until you can get in the shower. Be sure to make note of this with your tattoo artist.
So, when can you shower with hot water after a tattoo? After the initial healing period (usually about two weeks), you can start showering with lukewarm water for five to 10 minutes at a time. Just be sure to pat your tattoo dry afterward.
SECOND - SKIN
It's water resistant, so you can shower with it, but avoid prolonged water exposure. Wear loose clothing too if you can, to avoid abrasion to the area. While you're wearing the second-skin, you might notice the surface underneath accumulating slight moisture, which can make the tattoo look blurry.
Tattoos are open wounds, so during the first few weeks the skin is still healing. One of the biggest risks when submerging your new tattoo in a bubble bath is infection. Getting your new tattoo too wet can prevent it from healing properly, and it might end up looking patchy.
DON'T ✗ EXERCISE
If using SecondSkin, sweating can weaken the adhesive and cause the bandage to come off prematurely.
So what product should you use? You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.
Knowing how long and when you should cover your tattoo plays a large role in effective aftercare. So, how long should I have my tattoo wrapped? Keep your tattoo wrapped for 2-4 hours after leaving the tattoo shop. If using protective tattoo film instead of plastic foil, keep the wrap on for 3-4 days.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
WASH THE TATTOO.
Pat it with a clean soft cloth or paper towel and let it air dry for 10-20 minutes or until the skin begins to feel tight. This allows for excess moisture to evaporate out. It is very important to let the tattoo "breathe".
Most reputable tattoo artists suggest that people refrain from working out for the first 2 weeks of healing, since that's when the tattoo is most sensitive. If you've noticed your skin is still red and warm after getting inked, that's your body still activating its immune system response.
As part of the healing process, you can stop washing your tattoo with soap after: The tattooed area has completely finished scabbing and peeling. Your artist has confirmed it's ok to do so.
After getting a tattoo, you can expect the skin around your new ink to flake and peel off. It can be alarming to see chunks of pigment pull away from their permanent placement on your skin, but don't fret—the peeling of tattoos is normal and a sign that your new ink is properly healing.
"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."
Experts advise waiting 4 to 6 weeks before applying any sunscreen on your tattoo. This time is given for the tattoo to heal fully, so that the epidermis recovers to protect the much more sensitive dermis layer of the skin.
Keep it brief: Limit your showers to 5-10 minutes to avoid prolonged exposure to water, which can soften scabs and damage the healing tattoo. Lukewarm water: Use lukewarm water instead of hot water, as hot water can increase blood flow to the tattooed area and cause bleeding.
Bepanthen® is so gentle, it can be used at every nappy change to help the most sensitive of skins, including that of premature babies. Bepanthen® contains Provitamin B5 which gently helps sensitive skin to repair its natural protective barrier while keeping it soft, smooth and moisturised.
Do not use Savlon, Sudacrem, Bepanthen or any other creams that contain Lanolin or (Liquid)Paraffin on your new tattoo. These creams are not suitable for use on tattoos as they are too thick and can block the pores in the skin, potentially causing an infection.
Wash the tattoo with soap and water once the appropriate time period has passed and gently apply a layer of lotion.7 It's best to wash and moisturize a couple of times each day until the skin has healed, which might take anywhere from two to four weeks.8 However, it's best to check in with your tattoo artist, who may ...
Most professionals say you can generally expect tattoos to heal in two weeks, but it's usually safe to work out 48 hours after getting a tattoo or 1–2 days after laser tattoo removal. Make sure you're wearing comfortable clothes, following aftercare instructions, and avoiding overexertion.
If you've recently gotten a tattoo, but it appears blurry and smudged during and after the healing process, you may be experiencing tattoo blowout. “A blowout is when a tattoo expands below the skin layer when it hits fat [and] veins or when scarring occurs,” says Crys.
The short answer is no; you should not work out immediately after getting a new tattoo. You need to give your skin time to heal before resuming most types of exercise, particularly if you are going to be sweating or if the area of your body with the new tattoo will be rubbed, jostled vigorously, or can get wet.
"This time will vary depending on the body location of the tattoo and size and how diligent the aftercare is," she explains. "Most tattoos heal within two to six weeks, but some may take longer. Wait until all redness, itching, scabbing, and flaking have resolved."