my tattoo looks like it has a layer of skin over it, it has been a little itchy but i have just been slapping it, hoping it would start to peel. is this normal? all the ink flaked off about a week ago, now theres just this layer of shiny skin over the dark petals of the tattoo....
2007-08-16 18:46:33 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Tattoos
That shiny skin is the part that's supposed to peel. Get in the shower, and get it good and wet with warm water, and then start rubbing at it gently with your hand, in circular motions. That's how mine all peeled, except for my foot, which was completely different. (Feet and hands tend to be different.)
I had ink flake off on all of mine, but the actual serious peeling all took place in the shower. You can't soak it for another six weeks or so, so don't soak it, but do get it wet to soften that top layer of skin, and then try the rubbing method. Anything that needs to peel should peel then. Also, make sure you are moisturizing properly, and keeping it moisturized. It shouldn't be itchy at all, and if it does itch, it's a sign you need moisture.
Keep in mind that a tat doesn't heal once it has peeled. They take a couple of months to completely heal. There's still stuff going on under the surface of your skin, so be sure to keep taking good care of it.
Best of luck.
2007-08-16 18:55:46 · answer #1 · answered by Bronwen 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's probably a little too soon to tell if your color is "coming out" or fading. Right about a week out a lot of tattoos look pretty "gross". Your first peel will often be flakes of scab, often exactly the color of the area they peeled off from. This isn't ink coming out, it's perfectly normal. You should be just starting your second peel, and it can be uncomfortable. If you had any heavy scabbing it might be really obvious right about now. The tattoo will often look faded or milky. This is just the dead skin needing to peel off. Some of my tattoos still hurt after a week. Some didn't. It mostly depended on how cleanly they healed and if it was an area prone to swelling. I had a couple of areas that scabbed pretty heavily because of an allergic reaction and I didn't think they were ever going to heal up. Seriously, one week is just not enough time to expect it to be fully healed. Give it some time to finish peeling, follow all of your aftercare instructions, and then find out when your tattooist generally starts to look at what is needed for touch up work. If you notice a sudden increase in redness, swelling or pain, or if there is still discharge from the site, then go see your doctor. You could be having a reaction to an aftercare product or an infection. I just noticed your update saying that it has bumps. Possible allergic reaction OR you're using too darned much ointment. A bottle in a week is a lot. You could be "drowning" it. Apply a thin coat a couple of times a day.
2016-03-17 01:10:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looks like the tattoo has actually finished peeling. You mentioned that it flaked off about a week ago. It should start peeling after about 5-7 days (provided that it didn't scab) and leaving behind plastic like skin (with the tattoo) which may look cloudy on certain days. Keep applying an unscented body lotion and it will look great after another few weeks. However if the shiny skin has lost all its color, then you may be have been picking on the tattoo.
2007-08-17 05:11:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations! You are almost healed. Whatever your artist did and however you cared for it has been fine. The ink flaking was the "peeling" - ink is trapped in those outer skin cells that have to shed off as part of the healing process. The "shiny" skin is going through some final transitioning - you may get a little more flaking but this won't last long.
Keep it moisturized as directed and all will be fine.
2007-08-17 00:52:39 · answer #4 · answered by tatt_bratt 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you been applying any ointment to this tattoo? After the first 2 days, ointment should not be applied, only lotion. If you have been keeping it wet with the tat ointment, you haven't allowed it to dry out and this could be why. I would suggest leaving it dry now without messing with it, and it should start to peel. Some people do not always peel with tats. Good Luck, hope this helped!
2007-08-16 18:52:38 · answer #5 · answered by samantha 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Maybe it won't peel. It should have already. Keep moisturizing it and taking care of it the way your tattoo artist told you to. And don't pick at it.
2007-08-16 20:07:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Oh my gawd! Do not rub your tattoos in the shower or otherwise! you are to put a light application of neosporin for about 3 days and then lotion it up. I have been getting tattooed for 15 years and although rules vary from place to place you don't want to pick at it or RUB it. i have a nice little ding in my first one and it was because it was still healing and i accidentally scraped it. leave it be. :) also you can't "soak" it for 10 days ie: bath hot tub swim etc. (as told to me by my artist)
2007-08-16 19:16:24 · answer #7 · answered by trubritatheart 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
If cared for properly it isn't suppossed to peel. I got one two years ago that never peeled.
2007-08-16 18:50:06 · answer #8 · answered by Eric S 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
that is ttly normal. sounds like you had a great artist. What your describing is how a tat should heal.
2007-08-16 19:19:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you only choice now is to go back to where you got it and ask them what they think of it.
2007-08-16 18:52:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋