But heres the thing.
The time youre going to spend under the needle is a tiny part of the whole process.
Getting a tattoo doesnt simply end the moment you go out of the tattoo studio with your fresh ink.
Theres still one important part you and your new ink have to go through the healing process.
But how long does thefresh tattoohealing process take?
Is there something you might do to reduce tattoo healing time?
How Long Does It Usually Take for a Tattoo to Heal?
Although they arent deep, tattoos are still considered open wounds.
And like any open-skin wound, a tattoo will take time to heal.
Most often, the process will take a couple of weeks.
But other times, it can take over a month or even longer.
On average,a new, fresh tattoo will start looking healed at around 2-3 weeks.
However, it can take up to an entire month for the skin to recover fully.
During this time, its essential to continue with your tattoo aftercare.
This healing stage will result in the complete healing of all the layers on your tattooed skin.
That said, healing timelines for atattooed areadiffer from person to person.
A couple of different factors affect how fast or slow your new tattoo will heal.
Tattoo Healing Time: What to Expect?
During the third to fourth week, your tattoo will look fully healed, at least on the outside.
However, the deeper layers of the skin are still on the mend at this stage.
You might also notice a layer of dry skin covering your tattoo after the scabs have fallen off.
It can sometimes make the ink appear duller.
But dont worry, as its only a new layer of epidermis that is yet to settle fully.
Therefore, there shouldnt be any burning sensation, swelling, or prolonged itching.
What Affects Tattoo Healing Time?
In short, the process is intensive, irritating the skin more and causing more skin trauma.
Ultimately, all that leads to a longer period of scabbing and healing.
However, it can also make your new ink look a bit patchy once healed.
The time it usually takes for a tattoo to heal internally also depends on the tattoos location.
Expect an extended healing process if you got fresh ink on a sensitive part of the body.
Such parts of the body include the ribs, fingers, spine, shins, and neck.
And understandably, larger tattoos will take a much longer healing process than smaller ones.
If you skimp on your tattoo care, you’ve got the option to delay the entire process.
Its why its essential to follow aftercare instructions throughout the entire healing stages.
Moreover, any underlying health conditions can also extend the healing timeline.
How Do You Know a Tattoo Is Fully Healed?
There are loads of factors that can affect how well and how long your tattoo heals.
So, how can you tell that a tattoo has healed completely?
Give it a week or two to continue healing.
Once the cloudiness is gone, its a good sign that your tattoo is fully healed.
Does your tattoo still hurt?
Thats a good indication that its not completely healed yet.
Pain is a signal of damage to your skin cells and nerves after the tattoo process.
Usually, a new tattoo will feel tender and sensitive for the first two weeks.
Skin peeling or shedding is usually the last part of the damaged skin from the tattooing process.
Time is the simplest and often the best indicator that a tattoo has fully healed.
Is Healing Taking Too Long?
8 Signs of Tattoo Infection
Skin redness, tenderness, and itchiness right after getting a tattoo are normal.
After all, your skin is irritated after undergoing a lot of damage.
They can give your proper information, advice, and treatment recommendations.
In many cases, tattoo infection is easily treated with antibiotics.
Can You Get Another Tattoo While the First One Is Healing?
Technically, you could get multiple tattoos together or one after the other.
However, the healing of both wounds can be a tricky endeavor.
Firstly, your body would already be fighting a lot to prevent infection as the first one heals.
Not to mention the possible aftercare routine issues that come with taking care of two different tattoos.
Try spacing out getting inks for at least a month or two if it’s possible for you to.
That should be enough time for the first one to heal, at least on the surface level.
Final Thoughts How Long Does It Take for a Tattoo to Heal?
As they say, time will heal all wounds, and the same goes for tattoos.
But, unfortunately, while the body has the capacity to heal, it doesnt just happen overnight.
A tattoo will generally take 2-4 weeks to heal on the surface and 4-6 months to heal internally.
