How to Look After a New Tattoo

Written by Vladimir Vishar - Professional tattoo artist
Published 30 May 2026 · Updated 15 September 2026

Tattoo aftercare does not need to be complicated. Keep your hands clean, use the dressing method your artist has given you, wash the area gently, use only a thin layer of moisturiser, and do not pick or soak the tattoo while it heals.

The routine below follows the working aftercare method used by tattoo artist Vladimir Vishar. Other artists may use different dressings or timings, so if the person who tattooed you has given you different product-specific instructions, follow those first.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. Tattooing breaks the skin barrier, so infection prevention matters while the area heals.

Before you touch the tattoo

Wash your hands first. During the early stage, clean bed sheets, loose clothing and a clean environment reduce unnecessary contact with dirt, animal hair and surfaces that can irritate the area.

Avoid tight synthetic clothing that repeatedly rubs the tattoo. If fabric sticks to the area, do not pull it away dry.

Option 1: aftercare without healing film

This routine uses a temporary dressing rather than leaving an adhesive healing film on for several days.

The evening of the session

If the tattoo session finishes in the evening, Vladimir normally keeps the initial dressing on until the following morning.

Day 1

1. Wash your hands.
2. Remove the dressing.
3. Take a quick lukewarm shower and wash the tattoo gently with a mild fragrance-free soap.
4. Pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Do not rub it.
5. Apply a very thin layer of moisturiser.

Days 1 to 3

In Vladimir’s routine, this wash-dry-moisturise cycle is repeated around 3 to 5 times a day during the early weeping stage.

A clean breathable absorbent dressing can be useful for sleep, travel or under clothing. Change it when it becomes damp rather than leaving a wet dressing against the tattoo.

From day 4 onwards

Once the tattoo has stopped weeping and the peeling stage has started, stop using routine dressings. Keep the area clean and moisturise lightly when the skin feels dry or tight.

Do not pick at peeling skin or scabs. Let them come away on their own.

Option 2: healing film

Adhesive healing film changes the routine because the tattoo remains covered for longer.

Vladimir normally recommends wearing an intact film for about 3 to 5 days. It can sometimes stay on for up to 7 days if it remains comfortable, sealed and the edges are not lifting.

Short showers are fine. Avoid long hot showers or steam that can loosen the adhesive.

Remove the film earlier if it starts leaking, the edges lift enough to expose the tattoo, fluid escapes, or the skin develops strong burning or irritation.

How to remove healing film

Remove it when the film and skin are dry.

Lift one edge and slowly stretch the film parallel to the skin rather than pulling it straight upwards. After removal, wash the tattoo gently, pat it dry and apply a thin layer of moisturiser.

If the film is unusually painful to remove, the skin looks damaged underneath it, or you have a strong reaction to the adhesive, stop and ask your artist or a healthcare professional for advice depending on the symptoms.

Moisturiser and Bepanthen Tattoo

Vladimir uses Bepanthen Tattoo in his own aftercare routine. Apply only a very thin layer after the tattoo is clean and dry.

Bepanthen Tattoo contains lanolin. If you know you are sensitive to lanolin, or a product causes a new rash, strong stinging or worsening irritation, use an appropriate alternative and get advice if the reaction does not settle.

More cream is not better. The purpose is to keep the skin comfortable, not to leave the tattoo sitting under a thick layer of ointment.

What to avoid during early healing

Vladimir’s practical aftercare routine avoids:

• baths, swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas while the tattoo is healing;
• strong sun and sunbeds;
• tight clothing and repeated friction;
• dirty surfaces and animal fur against the tattoo;
• shaving over the area and self-tan while the skin is healing;
• alcohol for the first 48 hours;
• intense workouts for roughly 3 to 7 days, especially if the activity stretches, rubs or puts pressure on the tattooed area.

For swimming and sauna, Vladimir’s broader studio guidance is around 2 to 3 weeks, ideally 4 for a more cautious margin. The condition of the skin matters more than forcing every tattoo onto the same calendar.

Once the tattoo is healed, regular sun protection becomes part of long-term care. Vladimir’s own recommendation is SPF 50 on tattooed skin when it will be exposed. See our long-term tattoo care guide for the longer-term side.

What can be normal while a tattoo settles

Mild redness, swelling, itching and peeling can occur during normal healing. In Vladimir’s routine these are most noticeable during the first several days, but every tattoo and every person is different.

The separate tattoo healing stages guide explains the visible changes in more detail. Use timelines as orientation rather than proof that a tattoo must look a certain way on a particular day.

When to get medical advice

A studio or website cannot diagnose an infection.

Get medical advice if the tattoo is becoming more painful, hot or swollen rather than settling, if redness or discolouration is spreading, if there is pus or a bad-smelling discharge, or if you develop a fever or feel generally unwell. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin, so heat, swelling, pain and changes from your normal skin also matter.

For urgent advice:

• in England, contact your GP or NHS 111;
• in Scotland, phone NHS 24 on 111;
• in Wales, use NHS 111 Wales;
• in Northern Ireland, contact your GP or GP out-of-hours service.

Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency, for example severe difficulty breathing, collapse or another rapidly worsening emergency symptom.

If you are preparing for your first session rather than healing one now, start with the first tattoo guide.