Explaining Tattoo Aftercare! What to Do When the Scab Comes Off?

When getting a tattoo, most people probably thought carefully about the design based on many feelings, and endured long hours of pain while getting it done.

You want to finish such an important tattoo beautifully.

However, especially when it’s your first tattoo, you’re nervous, so I think worries never end, such as “I couldn’t ask in detail about aftercare,” or “Is the healing process looking weird?”

In this article, we will introduce aftercare methods and important points to be careful about while caring for it!

How to Do Aftercare (From the Day of the Session to Completion)

A fresh tattoo is basically an open wound. If you neglect aftercare or do it carelessly, it can get infected or lose ink. So as a basic rule, be sure to do careful aftercare.

Below, we will explain specific methods in order starting from the day of the session!

Right After the Session

On the day you get your tattoo, the tattooed area will likely sting and hurt.

If the tattoo artist protected it with wrap or film, gently remove it after about 3 hours.

Depending on the shop, they may also have placed gauze on it. In that case as well, remove it after about 3 hours after the session. However, sometimes bodily fluid or ink may stick to the gauze.

In that case, do not try to force it off—wet it with lukewarm water and remove it gently.

The Night of the Session Day

If your blood flow increases, the tattoo may bleed, so do not soak in a bathtub and keep it to a shower only. When washing the tattooed area, lather body soap or soap and only gently rinse it by stroking with the foam.

At this time, tattoo ink may wash away together, but it does not mean the color is coming out—only excess ink is hardening and washing off, so don’t worry!

After you finish washing the tattoo clean in the shower, use a clean towel and remove moisture by pressing it on gently, not rubbing. Then moisturize with Vaseline or an ointment.

At this time, there is no need to reapply gauze or wrap. Bacteria can grow and cause infection, so it is fine as long as you moisturize and keep it breathable.

Also, when you sleep, bodily fluid and excess ink may seep out and stain your clothes, so get into bed wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. The ink that comes out at this time is also not the color falling out, so don’t worry!

Day 2 and Day 3

When you wake up in the morning, bodily fluid may have stuck to your clothes and caused them to cling. In that case, do not peel it off forcefully—wet it with lukewarm water and remove it gently.Then after removing the moisture, moisturize with Vaseline, etc.

After that, just like the first day, avoid soaking in a bathtub, and gently wash the tattoo with foamed soap or body wash. Then moisturize with Vaseline or an ointment.

By around the night of the third day, some people may start forming a scab.

Day 4 and Day 5

By day 4, things tend to stabilize and it is around the time when it stops getting dirty from bodily fluid. However, itching becomes stronger instead.

You will want to scratch, but it can cause ink loss, so absolutely do not scratch.

As before, moisturizing with Vaseline, etc. helps reduce the itch.

Also, if it becomes unbearably itchy even with moisturizing, doing the following can help ease the itch:

• Cool it with ice
• Apply an ointment with anti-itch ingredients such as Boraginol ointment
• Take an antihistamine such as Allegra

From around this point, the wound starts to stabilize, so it becomes possible to soak in a bathtub.

However, be sure to moisturize well after bathing.

From Day 6 Onward

After about a week, the scab will gradually start to come off. Once all scabs are gone, it is okay to wash the area with a body towel. Also, moisturizing is not absolutely required anymore.

However, newly healed skin is still thin and sensitive, so for about two weeks from the day of the session, avoid strong irritation.

Also, sunburn can make the color fade, so if your tattoo is in an exposed area, don’t forget to apply sunscreen.

Even so, over the long term, tattoos will fade, so if you feel the color has become lighter, go to a tattoo shop and ask for a touch-up (re-inking).

If the Scab Comes Off

It is not a problem if the scab comes off after 1–2 weeks. Also, when the scab falls off and the tattoo is “finished,” you may feel the color looks lighter, but because new skin forms over the tattoo, it is normal for it to look a bit lighter overall.

However, if a fresh scab from day 4 or 5 comes off for some reason, be careful. Check your tattoo when all scabs are gone and it is finished.

If you see that only certain parts have lost ink, contact the tattoo shop that did your tattoo.

Even if you care for it very carefully, it can happen because you may scratch it while sleeping or it may rub against clothing, so it can’t always be helped.

Also, at most tattoo shops, touch-ups are done for free. Since it’s something you will live with for life, don’t worry about feeling sorry to the tattoo artist—put the priority on completing a tattoo you are satisfied with and act accordingly!

Things You Should Not Do

We touched on this a bit in the aftercare method section, but there are several things you should not do after the session.

• Do not drink alcohol on the day of the session
• Do not scratch even if it itches
• Avoid direct sunlight and apply sunscreen
• Avoid intense exercise
• Do not go to public places such as swimming pools, hot springs, or public baths
• Do not soak in the bathtub too long

Follow the above for two weeks after getting your tattoo.

Why Aftercare Is Necessary

Applying Vaseline every day, being careful not to let scabs come off—aftercare is honestly a hassle, right? However, aftercare is necessary to finish your tattoo beautifully.

For example, peeling off scabs can cause ink loss. And moisturizing with Vaseline, etc. not only reduces itching, but is also necessary for “moist wound healing,” which helps it heal faster and more cleanly.

You went through pain and paid money that wasn’t cheap to get your tattoo, so let’s finish it beautifully!

Conclusion

A tattoo is not “finished” the moment it is tattooed. You must endure the itching and do careful aftercare for it to be truly complete.

Especially for your first tattoo, you probably got it with a big decision and strong determination.It is an important tattoo you will live with for life, so take good care of it and finish it properly!