Open wound · Days 0–3
Day 3: the turning point
By day 3, redness and swelling should be visibly easing. This is the day the normal and not-normal paths split. Pain, heat or redness that is increasing from today is the earliest sign worth calling a doctor about.
What to do today
- Check: less red and less sore than yesterday?
- Weeping should be almost done. Blot any leftover fluid, don’t scrub
- Still no soaking, swimming or gym sweat
Under second-skin (Saniderm, Tegaderm)?
Most artists have you take the first second-skin piece off somewhere between day 3 and day 5. Do it in the shower with lukewarm water, stretching the film sideways rather than pulling it straight up. Underneath it should look clean and shiny.
Saniderm peel, day by day →Normal in the open wound stage
The tattoo is an open wound. It weeps, swells a little and feels warm. All of that should be easing off by day 3.
- Redness around the tattoo, up to about an inch out
- Clear or pale yellow fluid (plasma), thin and odorless
- Mild swelling and warmth, more at the edges than the middle
- A glossy, very saturated look
Care for this stage
- Wash 2–3 times a day with fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water
- Pat dry with a clean paper towel, then a very thin layer of balm
- Clean sheets and loose clothing over the tattoo
Go deeper: Infection signs vs. normal healing