Bleeding Tattoos

Having a tattoo is pretty common these days. People don’t mind the painful and bloody process that comes with it. You see them sitting on the chair calmly taking the pain, wincing from time to time and the occasional “ouch”. After that you’ll see a wonderful smile on their faces, happy and satisfied.

Surprisingly, panic and distress starts a few days after the session, when they find their fresh tattoo oozing blood or leaking ink. It is important to know that this is completely normal – actually, it is expected, so there is no reason to worry.

Each person reacts differently when getting a tattoo. You will find that some people bleed more than others. The location of the tattoo also plays a factor. Some parts of the body bleed less than other parts.

Here are a few things you need to know about bleeding tattoos:

 Relax, this is normal. Especially for first timers, there is not need to panic. Bleeding after getting a tattoo is expected. However, it should stop after 36 hours. If bleeding does not stop even after 48 hours, contact your artist and get it checked out by a medical professional.

 Bleeding stops when blood clots, so it is important to avoid any medications that slow down or prevent the clotting of blood. Blood thinners, alcohol, and even pain killers can interfere with
the healing process of the tattoo and therefore, should be avoided. It is important to note that people who are taking blood thinners should consult their doctor before getting a tattoo.

 Keep you tattoo clean. Avoid going to the gym or showing off you new tattoo to friends. Instead, go straight home, keep hydrated, and apply a quality tattoo aftercare lotion to keep your skin moist. It is very important not get your new tattoo infected. Signs of an infected tattoo are continuous bleeding and oozing. If this occurs then seek medical attention immediately.

Before getting tattooed, make sure that you have thoroughly researched everything about getting a tattoo. There are a lot of articles and information about tattoos on the internet. Ask a friend (who’s had a tattoo of course) or your tattoo studio. Don’t feel reluctant to ask them, because they are the best source of information.

Tattoo aftercare also plays a major part in the outcome of your tattoo. Always use a product specifically designed to be used after getting a tattoo. It will help keep your skin moist and ideally, it should be free of lanolin and petroleum.