The last thing you want is to see the ink peeling off your skin when you apply new ink.
Some peeling is normal during the initial stages of healing. Your skin is damaged by tattoos, so your body will need to remove the skin cells affected.
However, excessive peeling following a tattoo can indicate something else, especially if there are signs of infection or inflammation.
Are you curious about the normality of your tattoo peeling? Learn more about what is normal in tattoo healing and when it could indicate a problem.
What Happens When You Get a Tattoo?
It’s not the end of the pain or time involved in getting a tattoo. Your tattoo artist has created a cut in your skin that must heal for it to look the way it should. The healing process can take several weeks. In tattooing, needles are used to penetrate your skin’s upper and middle layers. These are the epidermis or dermis. You’ll see your skin cells doing their job of healing. Exfoliation will likely occur in the form of dead skin cells being removed, which may allow for new skin cells to be created. A fresh tattoo can become infected if it is not treated properly within two weeks. Follow your tattoo artist’s directions and report any unusual symptoms.
When Does a Tattoo Start Peeling?
Most tattoos begin to peel by the second week. This is the part that follows after your initial bandaging. There are also chances that you will have scabs that eventually disappear on their own after the second week of healing. After your session, you may notice that your tattoo ink appears a bit “dull”. This is not due to the ink. It’s due to dead skin cells that have accumulated over your tattoo.
This post was written by J Michael Taylor. J Michael Taylor is an artist and owner of Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery. Black Amethyst is the best amongst St Pete tattoo shops. They provide an art-first approach to custom tattooing in a gallery setting.