Tattoo healing experience

[NM181920]

Hi,

I was booked to get a tattoo in April but I cancelled it. I only cancelled because I'm so worried about the healing process! I have one on my ankle, but I cannot for the life of me remember how it was whilst healing. I'm so worried about it being itchy/sore/scabby etc. The pain of getting it done doesn't concern me at all, it was only going to be a few centimeters long on the outside edge of my wrist/arm and estimated to be an hour long appointment tops. Can anyone give me some info on your personal experience with healing and/or products you recommend please? Artist assured me it would be healed in time to swim in the summer (July time).

Thanks!

I’ve got a few tattoos, don’t remember having any issues with healing. Maybe a few scabs but no itchiness or pain. They gave me a cream to use and I used as directed and all was fine.

I have a small (3cm or so) tattoo on my lower inner arm. It was very low
drama - I followed the instructions and it looked fine after a week or so. Had it done about three months ago - it would be absolutely fine to swim at this point

Of course a tattoo done in April would be healed by July! Especially one as small as the one you’re planning. It will likely by healed in two weeks. It will be mildly sore for a couple of days and then dry and a little bit crusty and itchy but that’s all. Really not a big deal on the slightest.

A tattoo is just like a light surface graze really. The artist will give you aftercare advice but usually you just need to put something like Bepanthen ointment on it a couple of times a day. All mine were healed fully by about ten days, and mine are much bigger than what you’re planning to get.

I have two - a small one and a large one, top of left arm. Different experiences.

With the big one, I had it in summer but it was boiling and I was doing welfare at a festival - in the boiling heat. I had it wrapped in clingfilm underneath a T shirt wrapped around my arm to protect it. Whenever it started to hurt again, I took the clingfilm off and reapplied the baby nappy ointment balm they recommended, then covered it back up and kept it out of the sun.

I remember loads of people coming up to me for a look and showing me their tattoos and commiserating.

It's not that bad. It does hurt at first, and it does scab, and you don't want clothes irritating the scabs, but they fall off and that's the end of it.

Go for it!

I had my second on at the beginning of Feb and it’s totally healed now. My first one took about a week but this one has more fine detail so did scab over.

i used Second Skin plasters. First one replaced after 24 hrs, skin washed with water only and patted dry. Next second skin applied and left in place for another 4 days. Once off I used Palmers Solid Cocoa Butter (gets loads of positive reviews on Amazon for tattoo healing).

I’ve got a few, full sleeve and some smaller ones. If your tattooist uses second skin they usually recommend leaving it on for the first few days. I then use tattoo goo on mine, you can buy a kit from Amazon that contains antibacterial wash, soothing cream and a tub of balm. In the past I’ve used bepanthen but the healing process is a million times better with tattoo goo. As for how long it takes when I sat for eight hours for my sleeve it healed in just over two weeks and that was a large area with a lot of scabbing and itching. My arm was swollen and sore but after sitting for so long it’s to be expected, I’ve got one on my wrist and it wasn’t that bad.

I’ve got 8, the most recent of which is huge. Full healing takes about 2 weeks. Feels sore and stingy at first, then once it starts to peel and scab it gets itchy. I’ve never found the itchy stage to be too awful until my recent one, just because of the size. Obviously you have to really try not to scratch because of risk of infection, as well as damaging the tattoo itself. Patting helps, and every time it got itchy I put cream on it which stopped the itching.

I kept the second skin dressing on for 2 days as instructed for my recent one (only had cling film and tape for all previous tattoos). I always used tattoo goo before, but this time round I used palmers cocoa butter and it healed really well.

Getting a tattoo in April will be beyond fine for July. Think they suggest you don’t go swimming for a week or two but it should be totally fine by then.

im allergic to second skin but most people are fine with it and it does help in the first few days. I got my last one the day before a long flight so left the second skin on until I got home. I just use my daughter’s eczema lotion due to allergies and it still only takes a couple weeks to be totally normal skin.

https://keroppymaeda.com/product/painless-tattoo-numbing-cream/