What if tattoo peels

Many tattoo newcomers rightly become quite concerned about their tattoo when it begins to peel. When your tattoo peels, it will often look like the tattoo is peeling off completely. This is due to the dead flakes of skin containing small amounts of ink. It is not the case that your whole tattoo is coming off so you should not worry. When the deeper layers of skin are full of ink and are unable to contain any more, the excess ink will begin to get pushed toward the upper layers.

This is what you are seeing. Sometimes, the peeling skin can look completely colored, and you may wonder if too much ink is being pushed out. This is rarely the case, and very bright, colored pieces of peeling skin are very common. When your tattoo is peeling, as you wash it you may start to see the peeling skin come away colored in ink.

All tattoos will peel away along with excess ink at this stage, and personally, every single one of my tattoos have done this, and every single one has turned out absolutely perfectly. Follow correct aftercare procedures and you should have no problems. Sometimes once your tattoo has finished peeling, your tattoo can look scaly and dull.

This, again, is completely normal. Although the top layers of dead skin have flaked away, the tattooed area will still not be completely healed, and therefore your skin can continue to look quite dull and cloudy for up to a few weeks after the peeling has finished while lower layers of damaged skin continue to fall away. You must also be aware that your tattoo will likely never look as bright and vibrant as it did the moment you left the tattoo studio.

After healing, a translucent layer of skin will have grown over your tattoo as a form of protection — so while your ink will still hopefully look great, this extra layer of skin will usually cause it to look slightly lighter than it did when it was completely fresh before the healing process began.

This can cause some people to worry that their black tattoos are turning grey. While the ink will not have been changing color during the healing process, the amount of skin over the top of the ink will have increased, making it seem like the ink is lighter. Even with the greatest care during the healing stages, tattoos can still sometimes heal poorly, causing areas of color-loss and patchiness.

Continue to keep up with good practices like keeping your tattoo well-shielded from the sun and moisturizing it on a regular basis, and your tattoo should carry on looking great for years to come.

Blessedly, no. In fact, after your tattoo has finished peeling completely, it should make your tattoo appear even brighter and more vibrant. Is it normal for old tattoos to peel?

Old tattoos don't normally peel, so if yours does, it's best to call your dermatologist and book an appointment ASAP. How do I take care of a peeling tattoo? All tattoos, no matter how big or small, require their own tattoo aftercare routine.

The best practices include washing your tattoo every night gently, with a fragrance-free soap , patting it dry with a paper towel, and applying a thin layer of ointment Dr.

Lin recommends Aquaphor or fragrance-free lotion to the ink for the entire healing process — which can take anywhere from two to four weeks. You'll know your tattoo is fully healed when it stops peeling and the ink is settled into the skin. If it's not healed within four weeks, then see your physician to make sure you don't have an infection.

Most importantly, do not pick your tattoo. It may itch, but picking it could lead to an infection or scarring, says Dr. Winter stresses again that the peeling is a totally normal part of the healing process. Read also: Tattoo fading how to prevent it.

The peeling process is an extremely delicate time for you r tattoo. All that new skin is fighting and pushing to make it s way to the surface of your body, and all that old dead skin is getting ready to leave forever. Exposure to sunlight during this process could cause a shock to your skin cells and prolong or even restart the healing process.

Your skin may start to blister and could potentially lead to an infection. We strongly recommend to avoid the sun the first 2 weeks after getting tattooed. Once your tattoo is healed, wear sunscreen and loose clothing to cover your tattoo if you are going out in the sun. The last thing your tattoo needs is you poking and prodding all over it.

Maintain the aftercare , but let the skin heal on its own time. Our mission is to inspire and educate the tattoo community. We have combined our many years of experience in the industry and our love for tattoos to create useful and enlightening content. Join us in this exciting journey in the beautiful art of tattooing. Welcome to Sorry Mom.

Your cart is empty. Decline Accept. What Exactly is Tattoo Peeling? Process Explained Tattoo peeling is the process where your epidermis outermost layer of skin regenerates.