Follow the bandage instructions you were given.
Bandage types are different, so do not guess at a removal time. Wash your hands before touching the tattoo and follow the timing and product instructions your artist gave you.
Tattoo Care
Aftercare
General healing guidance for a new tattoo. Your artist's instructions for your specific bandage and tattoo come first.
Keep it gentle and clean.
Once your artist says the bandage can come off, gently wash the area with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Do not scrub. Pat it dry with a clean disposable towel or let it air-dry.
Do not pick, scratch, or soak it.
Itching, flaking, and some scabbing can be part of healing. Let the skin shed on its own. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, and soaking the tattoo until it is healed. Use only the moisturizer or aftercare product your artist recommends, and use a thin amount.
Keep a fresh tattoo out of direct sun.
Once the tattoo is fully healed, broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher helps protect tattooed skin and reduce fading.
Some irritation can happen at first.
Mild redness, swelling, soreness, clear fluid, itching, flaking, or scabbing can happen while a tattoo heals. These should generally improve rather than become more intense.
Watch for signs that are getting worse.
Spreading or darkening redness, worsening pain, pus, fever, chills, or open sores can be signs of infection. Contact a medical professional promptly. Trouble breathing, severe swelling, faintness, or another serious allergic reaction needs emergency care.
Not sure what you are seeing?
Contact your artist for tattoo-specific aftercare questions. A tattoo artist cannot diagnose an infection or allergic reaction, so medical concerns should go to a qualified healthcare professional.
Keep healed tattooed skin healthy.
Use a gentle moisturizer when the skin feels dry and protect healed tattoos from UV exposure. If tattooed skin develops a persistent or unusual reaction, see a qualified medical professional.