Quick answer
No, it typically takes 2-3 weeks for a tattoo to fully heal. While a tattoo may look healed and feel smooth after 5 days, the skin and deeper layers still need more time to completely regenerate and settle. Rushing the healing process can lead to poor ink retention, infection, and other complications.
What is the tattoo healing process?
Getting a tattoo causes a wound as the tattoo needle repeatedly pierces the skin and deposits ink. The body treats this as an injury and starts the healing process immediately. Here are the main stages of tattoo healing:
Initial healing phase (days 1-2)
The tattooed area is likely to be tender, swollen, and red after getting new ink. Plasma and blood leak from the pierced skin and form scabs to protect the tattoo. Inflammation brings more blood to the area to deliver nutrients and white blood cells. As the outermost layer of skin regenerates, it can start peeling and flaking off.
Scab formation (days 2-6)
Within a couple days, a protective layer of scabs will fully form over the tattoo. Scabs are crusty and help prevent infection while new skin regenerates underneath. As the tattoo continues healing, the scabs will tighten and darken. Picking or scratching scabs can pull out ink and cause patchiness.
Scab shedding (days 4-10)
The outer scabs will begin flaking off to reveal the new skin and tattoo underneath around day 4. By days 5-7, most of the scabs should fall off naturally. Gently washing the tattoo can help loosen scabs, but picking should be avoided. The area may look glossy and feel tight and smooth.
Final healing phase (weeks 2-3)
Even once the tattoo looks healed after about a week, the skin layers and tissues underneath still need more time to fully settle and regenerate. Collagen production and skin regeneration continue for at least 2-3 weeks. As the tattoo continues healing, it will look less glossy until it blends seamlessly with surrounding skin.
Why does it take tattoos so long to fully heal?
While a new tattoo may seem to heal within a week on the surface, the damaged skin and tissues require much longer to fully mend. Here’s why tattoos take 2-3 weeks or longer to fully heal:
Ink settles in deep skin layers
Tattoo ink isn’t just deposited into the top layer of skin. It reaches deep into the dermis, the second layer of skin below the epidermis. It takes significant time for these deep dermal tissues to heal and regenerate around the ink particles.
Inflammation subsides gradually
Healing a tattoo involves managing inflammation below and on the skin’s surface. It takes weeks for the inflammation and plasma leakage caused by tattooing to fully subside. Lingering inflammation can lead to blowouts or overworking of certain areas.
Collagen production is slow
New collagen production is triggered to heal damaged skin and wrap around tattoo pigments. But collagen synthesis occurs slowly over weeks. Until collagen networks redevelop, the tissues remain fragile and need protection.
Skin cell turnover takes time
The outer layer of skin continually regenerates itself. However, it takes at least 2-3 weeks for new epidermal cells to turnover and replace the damaged ones pierced by the tattoo needle.
Dangers of interfering with tattoo healing
It’s tempting to pick scabs or soak off flakes from a new tattoo, but this can disrupt the healing process and lead to problems like:
Infection
Picking scabs leaves the tattoo vulnerable to bacteria. Infections can damage the tattoo and require antibiotic treatment. Signs include excessive redness, swelling, warmth, and pus-like discharge.
Poor ink retention
Ink particles can be pulled out along with scabs or skin crusts before they fully settle in the skin. This can cause faded spots and patchiness in the final tattoo.
Scarring and blowouts
Scabs form a protective barrier while skin regenerates underneath. Picking them can remove new fragile skin layers and worsen scar tissue formation. This also risks overworking areas and causing blowouts.
Delayed healing
Interfering with scabbing and flaking slows the shedding of damaged skin cells. This delays the maturation of new skin layers and collagen needed to finish healing.
Increased pain and irritation
Picking, scratching, or soaking a new tattoo can make it feel more raw and aggravated. This leads to extra redness, swelling, and discomfort that prolongs healing.
Caring for a new tattoo
The proper aftercare is crucial for allowing new tattoos to heal optimally:
Keep it clean and moisturized
Gently clean the tattoo twice daily using mild unscented soap and your hands. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer 2-3 times daily.
Allow scabs to shed naturally
Let scabs flake off on their own instead of picking or scrubbing. Once most scabs are gone around days 5-7, switch to moisturizer only.
Avoid submerging it
Don’t soak the tattoo in baths or pools until it fully heals after 2-3 weeks. Light sprays of water are okay for cleaning. The tattoo should not be bandaged for long periods.
Wear loose clothes over it
Choose breathable fabrics like cotton that won’t stick to the tattoo. Tight clothes can impair healing by rubbing and transmitting bacteria.
Don’t expose to sun
Keep new tattoos out of the sun for 2-4 weeks to avoid sunburns. Use sunscreen on healed tattoos to prevent fading.
Watch for signs of infection
Seek medical care if you notice excessive redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, or discharge that could signal infection.
Healing stages of a 5-day old tattoo
If a tattoo is only 5 days old, it is likely still in the initial phases of healing:
Day 1
The skin around the new tattoo will be red and swollen. Plasma and blood leak from the many needle wounds. The area feels sore and tender. Thin scabs start forming.
Day 2
Scabs grow thicker over the tattoo. Inflammation peaks on day 2 or 3. The skin remains red, and the area feels tight. Some shedding of the outermost skin layer occurs.
Day 3
The tattooed region starts feeling firmer as scabs mature. Inflammation reduces slightly but the area remains tender. Scabs may start darkening. Mild peeling of the top layer of skin continues.
Day 4
Scabs tighten further and grow tougher by day 4 or 5. More plasma oozes out and dries on the surface. Scab shedding doesn’t typically occur yet at day 4. The skin stays swollen and sore.
Day 5
At 5 days, the scabs are well-formed for protection as healing continues underneath. Mild to moderate tenderness and tightness remains. Some outer flaking of scabs may start but deeper layers are still healing.
Can you get a tattoo wet after 5 days?
It’s best to avoid getting a new tattoo wet for at least 2 weeks. At 5 days, the protective scabs are still moderately fragile. Soaking the tattoo could loosen scabs before the underlying skin is ready. Light cleaning with gentle water spraying can help clear plasma from day 5 onward. Avoid baths, swimming, hot tubs, or direct shower sprays on the healing tattoo until fully healed.
Conclusion
While a 5 day old tattoo may look and feel healed on the surface, the regeneration process continues below the skin for at least 2-3 weeks total. Getting the tattoo wet too soon, picking scabs, or otherwise interfering with healing can lead to poor ink retention, fading, blowouts, infections, and other issues. Proper cleansing while allowing scabs to shed naturally helps new tattoos heal optimally. With appropriate aftercare and patience through the healing timeline, your new body art will turn out vibrant and last for years.