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Tattoo Aftercare Timeline
Enter the date you got tattooed and we'll generate a personalized day-by-day healing schedule — when to wash, switch lotions, expect peeling, and finally jump back in the pool.
You're on day 0 of healing.
Day 0 ·
Wrap on
Leave the artist's wrap (Saniderm or plastic) on for the time they specified — usually 24 hours for second-skin.
Day 1 ·
First wash
Remove wrap in the shower. Wash gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free antibacterial soap. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Day 2 ·
Light moisturize
Apply a rice-grain thin layer of Aquaphor or a tattoo balm 2× a day. Less is more — too much suffocates the tattoo.
Day 4 ·
Switch to lotion
Move from Aquaphor to a fragrance-free lotion like Lubriderm, CeraVe, or Hustle Butter. Continue 2× daily.
Day 7 ·
Peeling starts
Flaking like a sunburn is normal. Do not pick, scratch, or peel. Slap (don't scratch) if it itches.
Day 10 ·
Cloudy / milky look
Healed-over sections may look hazy. The clarity returns by week 3 as the top layer fully sheds.
Day 14 ·
Surface healed
Most peeling is done. You can resume normal showers and light exercise, but no sun and no soaking yet.
Day 21 ·
Swimming OK
Pools, hot tubs, and ocean are safe again as long as the tattoo has fully closed with no scabby patches.
Day 28 ·
Sun OK with SPF 50
Direct sun is safe again with SPF 50. From here on, sunscreen is the only thing that keeps the ink crisp.
Day 90 ·
Fully settled
The deeper dermis is done settling. Book a free touch-up now if any spots dropped out during healing.
When to call a doctor
Mild redness for 3–5 days, clear ooze, and warmth are normal. Spreading redness past day 5, yellow or green pus, fever, or an open weeping wound past day 10 are not — see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a tattoo take to heal?
- The surface heals in 2–3 weeks. The deeper dermis takes 3–4 months to fully settle, even though the tattoo will look done well before then.
- When can I work out after a tattoo?
- Light cardio after day 3, no sweating directly on the tattoo for 5–7 days, and no contact with gym equipment for at least 10 days to avoid infection.
- When can I swim after getting a tattoo?
- Wait at least 2–3 weeks — until the tattoo has finished peeling and there are no open patches. Pools, hot tubs, and the ocean are all infection risks before then.
- When can I expose a new tattoo to the sun?
- Avoid direct sun for 4 weeks. After that, SPF 50 every time the tattoo is in the sun — sun is the only thing that fades healed ink.
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