You invested money in your tattoo. Your artist invested skill and time. Now it’s healing, and you’re determined to do everything right.
But sometimes “doing everything right” means avoiding common mistakes that can ruin perfectly good ink.
Let’s talk about the aftercare mistakes we see most often—and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Using Too Much Product
The Mistake: You think more is better. You’re slathering on thick layers of aftercare balm, keeping your tattoo constantly goopy and shiny.
Why It’s Bad: Your healing tattoo needs to breathe. Thick layers of product suffocate the skin, prevent oxygen from reaching healing tissue, and can trap bacteria or moisture that leads to infection or prolonged healing.
Over-moisturizing also interferes with the natural scabbing and peeling process. You’ll prolong healing and potentially cause color loss.
The Fix: Less is more. Apply a thin layer—so thin you can clearly see your tattoo through it. A rice grain-sized amount is enough for a palm-sized tattoo.
If your tattoo looks shiny, glossy, or goopy, you’ve used too much. Gently blot away the excess with a clean paper towel.
Mistake #2: Not Cleaning Often Enough (Or Too Much)
The Mistake - Too Little: You’re afraid of “washing away” your tattoo, so you clean it once a day or skip days.
Why It’s Bad: Your healing tattoo is an open wound. It’s oozing plasma, dead skin, and excess ink. If you’re not cleaning regularly, you’re allowing bacteria to thrive in that moist, warm environment.
This leads to infection, prolonged healing, and potentially serious complications.
The Mistake - Too Much: You clean your tattoo 5-6 times a day, scrubbing thoroughly each time because you’re terrified of infection.
Why It’s Bad: Over-cleaning irritates healing skin, strips away natural oils, and causes excessive dryness. It can also physically damage the healing layers of skin, leading to scarring or color loss.
The Fix: Clean 2-3 times daily. Morning, midday, evening. Use lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Gentle washing with clean hands—no scrubbing, no washcloths, no loofahs.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel (not a bath towel—those harbor bacteria). Then apply a thin layer of aftercare.
That’s it. Not more, not less.
Mistake #3: Picking, Scratching, or “Helping” the Peeling
The Mistake: Your tattoo is peeling. You see a loose flap of skin and you just have to pull it off. Or it’s itching like crazy, so you scratch. Or you think you’re “helping” by peeling away the dead skin.
Why It’s Bad: When you pick at peeling skin or scabs, you’re literally pulling ink out of your tattoo. You’ll create patchy areas, color loss, and potentially scarring.
You’re also introducing bacteria from your hands directly into healing skin. This is how infections start.
The itching is maddening—we get it. But scratching damages healing skin and can cause permanent texture changes or scarring.
The Fix: Hands off. When it itches, gently slap or pat the area. Apply a thin layer of aftercare. Put a cold compress on it (not directly on skin—wrap it in a paper towel).
Let the peeling happen naturally. The skin will fall off when it’s ready. Pulling it off prematurely damages the new skin beneath.
Your tattoo is not a sticker. You can’t peel it away. Trust the process.
Mistake #4: Swimming, Soaking, or Sweating Excessively
The Mistake: It’s summer. You want to hit the pool or the beach. Or you’re a gym regular and refuse to skip workouts. Or you love long baths.
You think, “I’ll just be careful and clean it afterward.”
Why It’s Bad: Submersion in water (pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, ocean) introduces bacteria and chemicals directly into your healing tattoo. Chlorine, salt, bacteria-laden water—all bad news for open wounds.
Prolonged soaking also softens scabs and causes them to fall off prematurely, taking ink with them.
Excessive sweating (heavy workouts) creates a warm, moist environment perfect for bacterial growth. Friction from exercise (waistbands, straps, movement) irritates healing skin.
The Fix: No swimming or soaking for 2-3 weeks. This is non-negotiable. Quick showers are fine. Baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, ocean—wait.
Light exercise is okay. Just avoid excessive sweating and friction on your tattoo. Clean and reapply aftercare immediately after working out.
If you must swim (athletes, etc.): Talk to your artist about waterproof protective coverings. But really, just wait.
Mistake #5: Sun Exposure (Even “Just a Little”)
The Mistake: You know you shouldn’t tan or go to the beach, but surely walking to your car or running errands in regular clothes is fine. It’s just a little sun.
Why It’s Bad: UV damage destroys tattoo ink. Fresh tattoos are especially vulnerable. Even brief sun exposure can cause fading, discoloration, and uneven healing.
Sunburn on a healing tattoo is a disaster—painful, damaging, and can cause serious complications or permanent scarring.
The Fix: Keep your healing tattoo covered from sun. Wear loose clothing that covers the area. If it’s on your arm or somewhere clothing doesn’t easily cover, stay in the shade.
Don’t use sunscreen on healing tattoos. Wait until it’s fully healed (2-3 weeks minimum) before applying sunscreen.
After it heals: ALWAYS use SPF on your tattoos in the sun. This is critical for long-term color preservation. UV damage is cumulative and permanent.
Bonus Mistake: Ignoring Your Artist’s Instructions
The Mistake: Your artist told you to do X, but your friend who has tattoos says to do Y, and you read online to do Z. So you follow the internet advice instead.
Why It’s Bad: Your artist knows:
- How deeply they worked
- How much trauma your skin experienced
- Your specific tattoo’s needs
- Their own work and how it typically heals
Generic internet advice doesn’t account for these variables.
The Fix: Follow your artist’s instructions first. If you have questions or concerns, ask THEM, not Reddit.
If their instructions conflict with what you’ve read elsewhere, ask them why they recommend their method. Good artists can explain their reasoning.
The Simple Truth About Aftercare
Most aftercare mistakes come from two extremes:
Over-doing it - too much product, too much cleaning, too much intervention Under-doing it - not cleaning enough, ignoring instructions, taking shortcuts
The sweet spot is consistency and moderation:
- Clean 2-3x daily
- Thin layers of quality aftercare
- Hands off (no picking, no scratching)
- Protect from sun, water, and friction
- Follow your artist’s guidance
Do these things, and your tattoo will heal beautifully.
When Good Aftercare Isn’t Enough
Sometimes, despite perfect aftercare, complications happen:
- Allergic reactions to ink
- Infections (rare, but possible)
- Your body’s unique healing response
If something seems wrong, contact your artist immediately. They can determine if what you’re experiencing is normal or needs intervention.
Don’t suffer through a problem hoping it resolves itself. Early action prevents permanent damage.
Need quality aftercare to support proper healing?
Tattoo Luv is developed with professional artists for gentle, effective healing support. 100% natural, absorbs quickly, provides moisture without suffocating skin. Learn more or shop now.
Made by Momma Bears Creations in Enola, PA. Supporting healthy healing since 2023.