To dry a new tattoo after showering, gently pat it with a clean paper towel or fresh, soft cloth, avoiding rubbing to prevent irritation and ink damage, then let it air dry for a few minutes before applying a thin layer of unscented moisturizer as directed by your artist. Using paper towels is often recommended over fabric towels to avoid lint and bacteria.
Pat, Don't Rub, the Tattooed Area
After showering, you'll need to dry off without disturbing your new tattoo. Avoid rubbing the area with a towel, which could remove scabs or irritate the skin, causing ink to fade. Instead, gently pat the tattooed area with a clean paper towel to avoid any unnecessary friction.
It is important to wash the tattoo every 4-6 hours or after any period of sweating, letting it completely air-dry afterwards, and applying a new piece of plastic wrap each time. It's also important not to over-wrap the area, unnecessarily covering untattooed skin, which can trap excess moisture.
It's recommended you wait at least 24 hours before showering after getting a new tattoo. This allows the tattooed area to begin the healing process and reduces the risk of infection. Showering too soon after getting a tattoo may expose the open wound to bacteria and increase the chances of complications.
Showering With a New Tattoo: Precautions
Use lukewarm water and mild, scent-free soap to avoid irritating the sensitive skin. Remember to pat your tattoo dry with a clean towel gently; avoid rubbing it. After showering, apply a thin layer of scent-free, alcohol-free moisturizer to keep the tattoo hydrated.
Why is my new tattoo fading after just a few days? It's not unusual for your new tattoo to appear to fade shortly after application. During the healing phase, the top layer of skin may dry out and flake, causing the tattoo to look dull or less vibrant. This is a normal reaction as your skin begins to heal.
Research suggests that wet healing is superior to dry healing for almost every kind of wound, including a tattoo. Dry skin has a hard time regenerating itself because it gets scabby and crusty and pulls away from itself (ouch).
Bepanthen is one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for many tattoo artists and studios. Typically used as a nappy rash ointment, Bepanthen has been around for a long time, and its gentle formula is used to treat babies with irritated skin.
You may notice one or more of the following:
After getting a tattoo, avoid picking or scratching it, submersion in water, tight clothing, and exposure to direct sunlight. Avoid harsh products, including scented soaps, petroleum jelly, and medicated ointments, unless your artist or dermatologist recommends them.
Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage. So avoid doing that for at least two to three weeks. However, showering is perfectly fine, as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, wash it quickly with water.
Steam and hot water can potentially cause the color to fade prematurely. Avoid getting shower gel/cleanser and water on the area as much as possible.
You have a rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo
If you notice a rash or lumpy, bumpy skin around your new tattoo, this could be something to worry about. Any itching that seems extreme, or rashes and cracked skin, could indicate infection.
In conclusion, you can shower after getting a tattoo, but don't submerge the tattoo in water for any prolonged period of time. Follow the instructions your tattoo artist gives you, and if you're bandaged with Saniderm, you can keep the covering on your tattoo while you shower because it is waterproof.
How Should I Dry Heal Tattoos?
Keep it up. Continue to clean and moisturise the tattooed area until it has completely healed (may take up to 4 weeks). Keep it up even after the scabs are gone. FYI, there may be scabs.
For tattoo aftercare, we recommend Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm. This dermatologically-tested balm promotes accelerated skin regeneration to ensure a fast and efficient healing process for your tattoo*.
How to Tell if a Tattoo Is Over-Moisturized
It is best to leave the tattoo open to the air because the constant friction of a bandage may cause healing problems. Only bandage if necessary! - DO NOT use Vaseline, A+D ointment, Neosporin or petroleum jelly. - DO NOT use alcohol or peroxide.
You should not rub, scratch, or peel the tattoo, no matter how tempting it may seem. "If there is some scabbing or flaking, we advise clients not to pick and to allow the scab or dry skin to come off on its own," says Otsuji.
Here are seven ways to increase the vibrancy of your ink.
Skin rejecting tattoo ink often shows as persistent itching, redness, swelling, and bumpy or scaly patches, sometimes with blisters or oozing, which can appear days, months, or even years later, often linked to certain colors like red ink. This reaction, known as allergic contact dermatitis or a photosensitivity reaction, signals your immune system is overreacting to the pigment, requiring a dermatologist's evaluation if it's severe or prolonged.
Tattoo placement can also impact fading. Some body parts are more exposed to sunlight; some experience increased friction due to tight clothing; others don't hold ink as well. These locations vary, but the most common trouble spots are feet, elbows, fingers, ears, and faces.