Tattoo issues / Tattoo regrets [read 1st post]

It’s almost like on the front of my shoulder... I mean, yeah, it is, but I didn't really notice until I was finally heading to bed and laid down

One should ideally keep it covered until a sufficient amount of time has elapsed, wouldn't you agree? Given that the wound remains open, there is a very real risk of infection from contact with a T-shirt, a jacket, or similar trifles. It would be prudent to consult a hospital or perhaps your primary care physician. Is it not entirely possible that your tattoo artist failed to maintain proper sterilization protocols?
It is impossible to determine the status of a wound simply by looking at a photograph.

:what a mess:

you need to let that thing breathe. if you’ve already got five of them, you should probably know the drill regarding when and how long to keep the wrap on.

but hey, just in case:
the first 7-10 days:
- you gotta keep it moisturized with a thin layer of Aquaphor (!) all day long. don't ever let it get bone dry. best bet is reapplying every couple hours. though, don't go overboard—too much cream can actually mess things up too.
- wash it 3 times a day with lukewarm water and, ideally, some kind of pH-neutral soap.
- keep it exposed to the air as much as possible. basically, nothing—no clothes, no fabric, no hair—should even touch it.
- if your job involves dust or whatever, use the wrap. same goes for cleaning around the house.
- if you absolutely have to wear clothes over it, make sure you have the film taped over the tattoo. same rule applies when you're sleeping.
- any walks out in the sun, even short ones? absolutely not. forbidden.

after 7-10 days:
- start moisturizing once a day with any lotion (something for sensitive skin is best) or just a super, super thin layer of Aquaphor.
- ditch the wrap.
- still no sun exposure at all.

Look, no matter how "old" a tattoo is, you shouldn't be letting it hit the sunlight without high SPF sunscreen. It makes the ink fade faster. That's mostly an aesthetic thing, not a health issue, but it's worth noting because black ink can start looking greenish if you aren't careful.

Honestly, if you aren't wearing the wrap during the day, it pretty much cancels out the protection you got by wearing it at night. A fresh tattoo is basically like a sunburn—even a quick brush against clothing, no matter how soft, is enough to irritate it.

Redness can also depend on where it is on your body. My first tattoo didn't bleed at all, but my second one did. Same artist, totally different spots, completely different skin reactions.

It's hard to tell much from just a photo. Go see a doctor. In the meantime, take care of it properly. If you find this stuff a hassle, don't act surprised if there are complications later. Getting tattooed is easy; it's those 7-10 days afterward that suck, especially if you actually have a job to get to.

A tattoo takes about three months to fully heal. Since you've still got a long road ahead before it's completely settled, you're better off having a professional look at it.

I have a question for the group... I see quite a few of you here have plenty of experience dealing with tattoos... truthfully, I’m not even looking for advice on the art itself, I just want to know if what I'm experiencing is standard so I don't start spiraling. I got my first tattoo three days ago, right over the collarbone... it's my very first one. From what I can tell, everything looks fine; there isn't any redness, no swelling, and certainly no rash. The only thing is, it's a bit tender to the touch. When I apply lotion, I definitely feel it. Is this normal? Or is this a sign that things might take a turn for the worse? thanks

That tattoo is still super fresh, so it’s totally normal if it stings a bit when you touch it 🙂. Obviously, if things don't settle down in a few days, go see a doctor. Usually, you're looking for signs of infection like redness or a rash... For me, it was more of a stinging sensation (right on the collarbone too), but I realized the skin there is just incredibly sensitive. Like, if I scratch my other collarbone, I feel it way more than if I'm just scratching my arm.

Hey, nobody really picked up on my tattoo thread, so I'm hoping for better luck over here. Is it actually normal for a tattoo to still itch like crazy every once in a while six months later?
I apply lotion after I shower, and it seemed to heal fine in about two weeks—it was itchy back then too, but totally normal. Now, it’s not constant, just hits me occasionally, especially if I work up a sweat or if I rub my fingers over it a bit too hard. It isn't red or anything, and there aren't any issues other than the itching. 😢 How much longer is this gonna last? This is my second one and it's on my back; my first one didn't itch even a little bit...

For those first two weeks, the tattoo was basically just stuck in that initial healing phase. Since then, it’s been one long process of the skin just trying to patch itself back together. It's pretty obvious the skin in that specific spot is more sensitive, so it's obviously taking its sweet time to get back to normal. As long as you aren't seeing any crazy redness, bumps, or other signs of infection, sticking to the lotion usually does the trick. You can always hit up your tattoo artist just to be safe, though.

I've got four tattoos myself, and honestly, every single one healed at its own damn pace. If there's one thing I've picked up, it's that you have to treat every new piece like it's your very first one—keep a close eye on it, because different parts of your body just heal differently. 🙂