A tattoo is considered to be body art. But despite the fact that the results can be incredible, tattoos are still an injury that occurs on the skin due to the use of needles that are used to introduce the ink, so once done, we must expect a period of time for the wound to heal properly.
However, if it is the first time that you draw a drawing on your skin, it is normal that you have doubts, such as: How long does a tattoo take to heal? or how to know if my tattoo is healing well? If you want to clarify your doubts, we recommend that you continue reading this oneHOWTO article where we will explain some basic concepts of tattoo healing.
How long does a tattoo take to heal – here’s the answer
As we have anticipated in previous lines, a tattoo is a body design that is made by a tattoo artist by introducing ink into deeper layers of the skin using a needle. However, this procedure causes a dermis injury, since the needle used by the specialist is piercing our skin approximately between 50 and 3000 times per minute, so the drawing will later need a period of time for proper healing.
When we get a tattoo for the first time (or we are thinking about it), one of the questions that can usually come to mind is how long does it take for a tattoo to heal? Although the healing process depends on the individual’s body, the size and location of the drawing, and the type of ink used, a tattoo can take time to heal. about 2 weeks minimum. This period of time can be divided into two stages:
- First stage: this phase usually covers from the moment in which we have made the tattoo until the wound begins to scab over, which is usually about 4 days later.
- Second stage– Starts from the time a scab has formed on the tattoo until it comes off naturally, which happens in about 2 weeks.
Phases of healing a tattoo
As we have explained in the previous section, a tattoo takes approximately 2 weeks to heal from the moment we do it. However, this will also depend on the wound healing properly during that period of time. But how do I know if my tattoo is healing well? Next, we will talk about the most common signs that occur when the wound is healing well, depending on what stage it is in:
First stage
During the first 3-5 days After getting the tattoo, a kind of scab will form on the wound caused by the puncture of the needles, which means that the injury is beginning to heal. In addition, you are also likely to feel other symptoms such as swelling and redness on the tattooed skin and bruising around the area.
Second stage
Once the scab has formed on the tattoo, the main symptoms that are usually seen at this stage are picores all over the affected area. It is also very common for the skin to be a bit dry and peel. In the event that the tattoo is healing well, the scab will come off after 2 weeks to make the drawing on your body.
You may also be interested in this other article on How to hydrate the skin after a tattoo.
How to know if my tattoo is infected – symptoms
Just as it is important to know the symptoms that your tattoo is healing correctly, it is also important to know the signs that something has not gone well and, therefore, the wound is becoming infected. Here are some of the main symptoms to know if my tattoo is infected:
- Redness, itching, and irritation of the skin: As we have explained, these symptoms are normal during the first 3-5 days. But if these symptoms last longer, the tattoo is infected.
- Swelling: if the swelling continues after what we have indicated, it is because it is infected. In addition, in this case, the inflammation tends to increase to such an extent that it deforms the newly made drawing.
- Severe pain in the second stage: If in theory the healing time has passed and you notice quite severe pain, your tattoo is not healing well.
- Fever: This symptom is quite common when we suffer from any type of infection.
- Other symptoms– Scab with pus-filled, yellowish and foul-smelling discharge from the wound.
Now that you know the answer to how long a tattoo takes to heal, you may also be interested in this other oneHOWTO article on How to heal a tattoo.
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