Aftercare
Good care decides how well your tattoo or piercing heals. Choose below what you had done.
This information is general. Always follow the personal advice of your artist or piercer and the written aftercare instructions you receive in the studio. In doubt, or signs of infection? Contact us or your doctor.
After your tattoo
A new tattoo is an open wound: the first 2 to 4 weeks decide how well it heals. Follow these steps and if in doubt, ask your tattoo artist or GP for advice.
The first hours
Leave on the protection your tattoo artist applied, and only remove it at the agreed time.
- Dressing or cling film: remove after 3 to 5 hours.
- Adhesive wound film ("second skin"): leave it on for as long as your tattoo artist tells you.
- Is the dressing stuck? Wet it with lukewarm water first so it comes off gently. Never pull it off the skin.
- Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
Washing and moisturising
Wash and care for your tattoo twice a day until it has fully healed.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, unscented soap. Use your fingers, not a washcloth or sponge.
- Rinse well.
- Pat dry with a clean towel or kitchen paper. Don't rub.
- Apply a thin layer of the ointment or cream your tattoo artist recommends. Too much ointment keeps the wound too moist.
After about 4 weeks you no longer need to wash the tattoo separately. Do keep moisturising it when the skin feels dry.
How healing goes
The outer layer of your skin heals in 2 to 6 weeks; the deeper layers need a few months.
- Day 1–3
- Redness, slight swelling, sensitive skin. The tattoo may release some fluid, blood and ink.
- Week 1–2
- Thin scabs form and the skin starts to flake and itch.
- Week 3–4
- The scabs fall off by themselves. The tattoo may look dull or milky for a while; that fades.
- After 6 weeks
- The top layer of skin has usually healed.
- After 2–3 months
- The deeper skin layers have recovered and the colours look bright.
Everyone heals differently. Large tattoos, lots of colour or areas that move a lot often need more time.
Avoid while healing
Until your tattoo has fully healed (count on at least 2 to 4 weeks):
- Don't scratch or pick off scabs. Let them come off by themselves, or you may lose ink. Itchy? Tap it gently or apply a thin layer of cream.
- Don't soak it: no bath, hot tub, swimming pool, sea, lake, sauna or steam room. A short shower is fine.
- No sun or sunbeds. Protect the tattoo with loose clothing. Don't put sunscreen on an open wound yet.
- No tight or dirty clothing that rubs or sticks to the tattoo. Wear loose, breathable clothes.
- No plasters or extra bandages unless your tattoo artist recommends it.
- No scrubbing or exfoliating and no scented products on the tattoo.
- Don't let others touch it, and touch it yourself as little as possible.
When to see a doctor
Contact your GP if the tattoo gets worse instead of better after the first few days. Watch out for:
- fever or feeling unwell
- redness, swelling or pain that increases or doesn't go away
- skin that feels warm
- pus, a lot of fluid or a bad smell
- red streaks spreading out from the tattoo
- bleeding that won't stop
- lasting itching, bumps or a rash, especially in red ink (possibly an allergic reaction, sometimes only months or years later)
Let us know as well, so we can take a look with you. A tattoo studio can give advice, but can't make a medical diagnosis.
In the long run
The sun is the biggest enemy of a healed tattoo: UV light makes the ink fade.
- Use a sunscreen of at least SPF 30, broad-spectrum and water-resistant.
- Apply it 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply at least every 2 hours.
- Avoid sunbeds.
- Skin feels dry? Use a regular, unscented body lotion.
- Notice changes in the skin of the tattoo later on (bumps, itching, swelling)? Have it checked by your GP or a dermatologist.
After your piercing
A new piercing is a deep wound that heals from the outside in. Even if it looks fine after a few weeks, it often hasn't healed on the inside yet. So look after it for the whole healing period and if in doubt, ask your piercer or GP for advice.
The first days
- Always leave the jewellery in. Don't take it out yourself and don't replace it before the piercing has fully healed.
- A little swelling, redness, tenderness or a small amount of blood is normal in the first days.
- Always wash your hands before touching the piercing.
- Definitely don't go swimming in the first 24 hours.
Cleaning: the daily routine
Clean your piercing twice a day until it has fully healed.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Rinse both sides of the piercing with lukewarm water, for example in the shower.
- Any crusts? Gently soak them loose with lukewarm water or a sterile saline solution. Don't pick them off.
- Pat dry with clean kitchen paper. A towel can carry bacteria and catches on the jewellery.
- Keep the piercing as dry as possible for the rest of the day.
Don't use ointment, spray, disinfectant, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or tea tree oil. These products irritate the wound and don't make it heal faster.
Mouth and lip piercings
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush.
- Rinse with water or an alcohol-free mouthwash after eating and before going to bed.
- Don't play with the jewellery against your teeth: it can damage your teeth and gums.
- No French kissing or oral sex until the piercing has healed.
How long does healing take?
Most piercings heal in 6 weeks to a few months. Areas with little blood flow or a lot of movement need more time.
- Earlobe
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Cartilage
- Helix, tragus, conch, daith, rook …: 6 to 12 months
- Navel
- Up to 1 year or longer
Your piercing has healed when it's no longer painful, red or swollen and nothing comes out anymore. Ask your piercer before changing your jewellery for the first time.
Avoid while healing
- Don't touch, twist or play with the jewellery.
- Don't soak it: no bath, hot tub, swimming pool, sea, lake, sauna or steam room. A short shower is fine.
- No hair products, make-up, perfume or cosmetics on or around the piercing.
- No plasters or bandages, except temporarily while doing sports.
- No tight or dirty clothing over the piercing. Wear loose, breathable clothes.
- Don't sleep on a fresh ear piercing. Change your pillowcase regularly and keep your phone and earphones clean.
- Genital piercing: use a condom until it has healed; waiting is even better.
When to see a doctor
Contact your GP if you're unsure whether the piercing is healing well, or if you notice any of these signs:
- fever, chills or feeling unwell
- redness, swelling or pain that doesn't go down after 2 days or gets worse
- skin that feels warm
- pus (white, yellow or green) or blood that keeps coming out of the piercing
- a painful, red or dark swelling at a cartilage piercing
- lasting itching or a rash around the jewellery (possibly an allergy, for example to nickel)
Important: don't take the jewellery out yourself, not even with an infection. If the hole closes, the infection can get trapped inside. Leave the jewellery in until a doctor says otherwise.
Let us know as well, so we can take a look with you. A piercing studio can give advice, but can't make a medical diagnosis.
In the long run
- Only change your jewellery once the piercing has fully healed.
- Choose jewellery in materials that rarely cause allergies, such as titanium, surgical steel or 14 carat gold. Avoid jewellery containing nickel.
- Don't leave a healed piercing empty for long: it can close quickly.
Ask us
Not sure whether your tattoo or piercing is healing well? Give us a call or send a photo on Instagram, and we'll take a look with you.