The substances carried by chlorinated water and the people who swim in them are not suitable for the wound and can lead to significant consequences. The risk of infection is also prevalent in natural water bodies — both salt and fresh — due to bacteria and other contaminants in the water. A person should refrain from entering them after having a fresh tattoo done for the same period as they would a chlorine-based swimming pool.

Tight clothing can stick to your skin or negatively impact airflow which can promote sweating, chafing and rubbing. Try to make sure you avoid active wear, which applies technology to move moisture away from your skin and keep you dry during exercise and leisure activities.

If you live in a cold climate and you need to stay warm, try to choose a fabric such as cotton to put next to your skin as it breathes better and allows for better moisture flow. In the wet healing method of tattoos aftercare moisturization is crucial for it to heal but applying too much aftercare product or soap is equally as damaging to how tattoo heals as doing nothing.

Over moisturization is often the hidden cause of infection as people try to do too much to either speed up the healing rate or by thinking the ugly part of the healing process can be stopped by lotion, salve, or ointment.

Take care, apply lotion in a thin layer at regular intervals but allow it plenty of time to work before putting on another layer. Wrap healing is done by keeping your tattoo wrapped in plastic during the entirety of the healing process you only uncover to cleanse the wound. The idea is that the plastic helps facilitate healing as it locks in the natural moisture of your skin rather than dissipating as it would during the dry healing or wet healing process of the tattoo.

Dry healing is after care of tattoos that refrains from the use of product, lotion, balm or moisturizer in caring for freshly inked skin. Wet healing is the current standard practice involving after tattoo care use of salves, lotions, or moisturizing products in the aftercare process. Choose one of the healing methods and take care to stick to it. If there are issues with your chosen method, see your tattoo artist or a healthcare professional and gather information to try and help fix the problem.

Some degree of sweating is to be expected. However, sweating too much is not good for the first weeks after getting inked. Avoid participating in heavy sweating activities or gym sessions until at least the second round of layered tattoo peeling is complete.

After all, you ar e a part of their pack. While it's a cute gesture, it can also cause infection. Our bodies need sleep to repair itself. Not getting enough sleep can actually cause the healing process to take longer than usual. Be sure to get enough rest during the first week or so after getting your tattoo to allow your body to work its magic.

A few drinks can make you a bit clumsy, leaving you more likely to bump into things and possibly injure or damage your tattoo. It also inhibits your judgment, meaning you could end up picking at or scratching your new tattoo without giving it much thought.

This sleep imbalance lowers your overall sleep quality and keeps you from getting the rejuvenation you need while your body heals. When traveling and staying in hotels with a healing tattoo, be mindful of the germs and bacteria that are hanging out on all of those surfaces.

Wash your hands often, and avoid touching the area around the tattoo until your hands are clean. One of the biggest questions is when can we go back to sleeping like normal. The average person who has followed their aftercare instructions can start sleeping on their tattoo between 4 to 7 days after getting it.

Tattoos usually heal within two to three weeks , so take extra precautions during that tim e, especially while you sleep to protect your skin. Sleeping on a new tattoo can be tricky and uncomfortable and may even ruin a set of sheets. But making sure that you're taking the proper precautions to keep your new ink safe from infection and damage will keep it looking fresh and you from having to make a return trip to the artist.

Remember always to follow the instruction of your tattoo artist and keep your tattoo clean and protected. 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. But there are a few other factors to consider, from the healing process and beyond.

So read on to see what else has the potential to ruin your tattoo. Remember all the scary talk about infection? It's way less likely to happen if you follow your tattoo artist's healing instructions. That's because each artist will likely suggest a different method for healing based on their machines, inks, and needles, according to the professionals on InkMaine.

Plus, he or she likely hopefully has years of experience, so they have tried and tested healing methods that likely work very well.

Like I said above, you're likely to get itchy, scabby skin during the healing process. Whatever you do, resist the urge to pick or peel, as it can really mess up the color and lines of your tattoo.

According to an article on InkDoneRight. After six weeks, that lighter layer of skin will finally shed away and the final colors of your tattoo will shine. This one can be tough, because you can't really help what happens in your sleep. But if you have, say, a back tattoo, at least try to sleep on your stomach. As Jessica Paige said on Tattoodo. If not, you can place a clean thin towel between you and the sheets. Once you have your new tattoo, wait at least two weeks before doing any prolonged bathing.

As Paige said, "Yes, of course you can shower, and washing your tattoo a few times a day is encouraged — but you shouldn't submerge your tattoo in baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, or salt water. When you leave the tattoo parlor, you'll have a plastic wrap protecting your new tattoo.

But don't leave this on forever even thought it feels like you should. As Kris Howes said on InkMaine. But do not leave it covered. Cover will allow your skin to finish bleeding out, and let the new open pores close up, to avoid infections and contamination. Do yourself a favor, and resist the urge to prance around on the beach with your new, unprotected tattoo on full display.