Do you want to know how to speed up tattoo healing? We’ve got some bad news and some good news.The bad news for anyone looking for a ‘magic bullet’ is that there is no way around the inevitable healing period you’ll go through after you get a tattoo. No matter what steps you take, you’ll likely have a few weeks with potential irritation, itching, redness, and scabbing.But here’s the good news: you can take some steps that may make this healing period shorter and more comfortable. There are ways to reduce redness, cut down on itching, manage scabs, and fight irritation before it starts. Having the right plan for how to speed up tattoo healing can mean a big difference in how you feel those few weeks. This may be especially important for those people getting many tattoos, or for those getting large tattoos that require multiple sessions.
Here are our top tips for how to speed up tattoo healing:
- Start before you get your tattoo. Before the first drop of ink touches your skin, you have the ability to help control how well your tattoo healing process goes. There are products available that you can use during your tattoo session, with the power to reduce redness, irritation, and itchiness. Not only that, but the right product can numb your skin so that you significantly reduce the discomfort associated with getting a tattoo.
- Follow directions. Although it’s tempting to take your bandage off the minute you walk out of your tattoo artist’s studio, remember that the best way to speed up tattoo healing is to follow the experts’ advice. If your tattoo artist tells you to leave the bandage on for 3 hours - do that. True tattoo professionals know more than how to ink a great tattoo. They are experts in how to manage the healing process as well.
- Keep the tattoo clean. A dirty tattoo will only slow down and possibly derail your tattoo healing process. If you allow dirt or germs to get into the open wounds created by the thousands of tiny needle pricks, you’re increasing your chances of infection. It’s important to be gentle with your tattoo when you wash, but at the same time, you want to ensure you’re washing the area well. Using a wash specifically designed for tattoo aftercare is a good way to potentially boost your tattoo healing speed. We recommend a product made with CBD, which can not only remove dried blood and dirt from your tattoo, but also promotes long-term tattoo color retention.
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Know the “no-no’s”. There are certain things to avoid when you’re looking for how to speed up tattoo healing.
- he first thing to avoid is the sun. Although your instinct may be to slather sunscreen on your tattoo, this is one of the few times you’ll hear professionals say NO sunscreen. You’ll want to wait until your tattoo is fully healed before applying sunscreen. Instead, keep your tattoo out of the sun by staying indoors, in the shade, or by wearing loose-fitting clothing that covers your tattoo.
- The second no-no on our list when you want to speed up tattoo healing is water. Short showers are fine, but do not take baths, go swimming, or otherwise immerse your tattoo in water during the healing process.
- The third one we’ll warn you about is picking your scabs. If you’re dealing with an itchy tattoo, and annoying scabs are forming, it is a very natural instinct to pick at it. But it’s so important not to touch your tattoo at this stage. Picking at scabs can make them fall off before they’re ready. This not only prolongs the healing process, but can also cause permanent damage to your tattoo.
The few weeks it takes your tattoo to heal can seem like an eternity while you’re itching (pun intended!) to show off your ink and get past any healing or irritation. While you can’t skip this phase completely, there are ways you can be proactive in speeding up tattoo healing. If you’re interested in learning more about products that can help with the tattoo healing process, as well as those that can numb the skin for a significantly more comfortable tattoo experience, visit our store here.
