A tattoo, as you already know, is a drawing that an artist makes in some part of the body, introducing permanent ink with the use of needles. That is, although the end result is a spectacular drawing engraved on the skin, we must also bear in mind that A tattoo it does not stop being a wound, which is why it must go through some healing phases so that it heals correctly.
During the healing of these types of designs, it is normal that at first some annoying symptoms such as swelling, redness and bruising appear on the tattooed skin. However, is it normal for scabs to appear in the area that we have tattooed? In the following oneHOWTO article, we clarify this question and we will explain how to prevent scabbing on a tattoo. Keep reading!
Is it normal for a scab to appear on the tattoo?
As we already anticipated, a tattoo is still a wound that we consciously make to engrave a drawing on the skin. Therefore, once the design is finished by the professional, the tattoo will need a period of time to heal and heal properly. But,it is normal for a scab to appear on the tattoo while it heals?
The answer is that it depends on the scab. As we have said, a freshly done tattoo is a wound that has to heal little by little, so a small and painless scab may appear during healing. These scabs usually fall off on their own after a few days and are not serious.
However, if during the healing phase the tattoo begins to fill with very hard, yellowish scabs and an unpleasant odor, this will mean that it has not been cared for properly and the tattoo is infected. If this is your case, this article on How to cure an infected tattoo can be very useful.
How to care for a fresh tattoo to prevent scabbing and infection
Now we know in which cases it is normal for scabs to appear on a tattoo and in which cases the wound has become infected. Therefore, in the following lines, we will discover how to take care of a freshly made tattoo so that it does not become infected and we present a series of tips on how to prevent scabbing on a tattoo:
- Once the tattoo artist has finished engraving the drawing on your body, they will clean the area with mild soap, water and another antibacterial product. Later, he will put a bandage on you to protect the area from bacteria. It is important that you leave this bandage on the drawing for 2 and 24 hours.
- If you have decided to remove the bandage 2-3 hours after the artist has put it on, you will have to wash immediately with warm water and pH neutral soap to remove the sticky layer of blood, ink and plasma that will have formed in the drawing just now. done.
- Once you have cleaned the tattoo, pat it dry with kitchen paper (never use gauze or towels) and then apply a moisturizing cream to hydrate the area and promote proper healing. To prevent air from entering and scabbing the tattoo, re-cover the wound with plastic wrap. Repeat this process for the first 4 days.
- After those 4 days, you can remove the plastic wrap and leave the tattoo outdoors. To avoid the formation of scabs, it will be essential to keep the tattoo well moisturized with a moisturizer for the next 2-4 weeks.
If during the first days after the tattoo your drawing has a reddish color, take a look at this article on Why my tattoo is red. In this text you will discover if redness is a symptom of infection or if it is a normal consequence of the tattooing process.
How long does it take for a tattoo scab to fall off?
As we have indicated, it is normal that some small scabs may appear on the wound during the healing process. But,how long it may take for these scabs to fall off of the tattoo? Although the healing depends on both the person and the type of tattoo chosen, generally a tattoo can take at least 2 weeks to fully heal. In fact, this period of time is usually divided into two stages:
First stage of healing a tattoo
This first phase begins when we get the tattoo and ends when the small painless scabs that we have talked about form on the wound. This is usually 4 days after getting the tattoo and we remember that, if everything goes well, the scabs should not be a cause for alarm.
Second stage of healing a tattoo
The second stage, and perhaps the longest, begins when these small coverings have formed on the skin where we have chosen to get the tattoo and ends when they come off naturally from the tattoo. This occurs approximately 2 weeks after getting the tattoo.
How to care for a crusted tattoo so that it heals well
As we have said, it is normal for small painless scabs to form on the drawing from the fourth day. Keep in mind that if these scabs start to smell bad or become very hard, it could be a sign of infection. If everything is under control, continue to consider certain precautions so that the wound heals completely. Here are some tips on How to care for a scabbed tattoo so that it heals well:
- Keep washing the tattooed area: Wash the tattoo with mild soap and then dry it with kitchen paper as explained above. Then, with dry skin, apply a moisturizing lotion to keep the area well hydrated.
- Never pull on the scabs: If you try to remove the scabs yourself, surely the only thing you will achieve is to infect the wound and disfigure the drawing. Let these liners peel off naturally as this will mean that the wound has healed properly.
- Don’t scratch the scabs: It is normal for the area where these scabs have formed to itch a little. To alleviate these itches, you can refresh the area with cold water or lightly pat around the coverings.
- Wear loose clothing during healing: This will prevent the skin from becoming more irritated than it should and reduce the itching caused by scabs.
- Avoid overly aggressive exercises– Certain exercises can overstretch the skin and thus unconsciously pull off the scab.
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