Prepping and aftercare for your tattoo. UK client guide

How you prepare for your session and how you care for the tattoo afterward affect both the immediate experience and the long-term result. This guide describes what to do before, during, and after your tattoo session, a UK-focused, 2025-26 working protocol that aligns with UKHSA infection prevention and control guidance and BS EN 17169:2020.

Before the session, the week leading up

Skin preparation

• Moisturise the area daily for the week before, well-moisturised skin takes ink better and heals more cleanly.
• Avoid sun exposure to the area for 2 weeks before. Sunburned skin can't be tattooed.
• Avoid retinols, glycolic acid, salicylic acid on the area for 1-2 weeks before, these can sensitise skin.
• Clip the hair at the tattoo site if needed, the artist will do this on the day, but the area shouldn't have substantial hair growth.
• Avoid tanning beds or self-tanner for 2 weeks before, they alter skin colour, making colour-matching harder for the artist.

Body preparation

• Hydrate in the days leading up. Aim for proper water intake, not the night-before-cram.
• Eat properly in the days before, don't crash diet or fast.
• Sleep well the night before, at least 7-8 hours if possible.
• Avoid heavy gym that morning, your body needs reserves for the session.

Don't drink, don't drug

• No alcohol for 24 hours before, thins your blood, increases bleeding, may invalidate consent. Reputable artists will refuse to tattoo you if you've been drinking.
• No recreational drugs, same reasons. Studios that tattoo intoxicated clients put themselves at criminal-offence risk under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861; your consent isn't legally valid.
• Caffeine in normal amounts is fine; heavy caffeine intake on the day can increase pain perception.

Medications

If you take prescription medication, tell the artist on the consent form. Of particular note:

• Anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs, sometimes high-dose aspirin), increase bleeding. Tell the artist; don't stop the medication without your prescriber's agreement.
• Acne medication (isotretinoin / Roaccutane), affects skin healing; many studios delay tattooing for 6-12 months after stopping.
• Immunosuppressants, affect healing and infection risk. Tell the artist; may need to discuss with your prescriber.
• Antidepressants and most regular medications, usually no contraindication, but disclose on the form.

Don't stop medications to "make the tattoo easier." Disclose and let the artist make the call.

The day of

• Eat a proper meal 1-2 hours before, substantial protein and carbs, not just a coffee. Low blood sugar is the most common cause of fainting during tattoos.
• Bring snacks and drinks for longer sessions. Most studios let you eat between segments.
• Wear comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the tattoo area without you needing to fully undress.
• Bring entertainment, book, headphones, podcasts, something to watch on your phone.
• Bring photo ID, passport or photocard driving licence. The artist must verify you're 18+ under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969.

During the session

What to expect

• Consent form and ID check at reception.
• Stencil applied, confirm placement and size in a mirror before any tattooing starts. Speak up here if anything is off.
• Tattooing, the duration varies hugely.
• Breaks for sessions over 2 hours.
• Pain varies by placement; ribs, hands, feet, behind knees, inner arms are usually the most sensitive.

If you feel faint or unwell

Vasovagal fainting is common during tattoos. Signs:

• Feeling hot, sweaty.
• Light-headedness or dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Yawning suddenly.
• Pale skin.

Tell the artist immediately. They will:

• Stop the procedure.
• Lay you flat with feet raised.
• Give you cool air, water, possibly a sugary drink.
• Wait until you've fully recovered before considering continuing.

Most fainting episodes resolve in 5-15 minutes. The artist may decide to reschedule the rest of the session if you've been significantly affected.

If you have any breathing difficulty, throat swelling, or spreading rash, this is a possible anaphylactic reaction and is a 999 emergency.

Immediately after, the first 24 hours

Dressing care

Two common modern dressings:

Cling film / clear film:

• Leave on for 1-2 hours.
• Remove gently.
• Wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
• Don't put fresh cling film back on for sleeping (some old-school artists still recommend this; modern guidance is to let the tattoo breathe after the initial wrap).

Second-skin film (Saniderm, Dermalize, similar):

• Leave on for 3-5 days depending on the artist's instructions.
• Some fluid build-up under the film is normal, looks alarming, isn't.
• Remove in the shower under warm running water, peel slowly.
• Then start the washing/moisturising routine.

First wash

• Lukewarm water, not hot, not cold.
• Fragrance-free liquid soap (e.g. Dr Bronner's Baby Mild, Simple, Aveeno).
• Hands only, no cloth, clean hands gently across the tattoo.
• Pat dry with a clean towel, don't rub.

Days 2-7, the healing routine

Twice-daily care

1. Wash gently with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap.
2. Pat dry with a clean towel.
3. Moisturise with a thin layer of fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturiser.

Recommended UK products in 2025-26

Common artist-recommended moisturisers:

• Bepanthen Antiseptic Cream, widely used, available at any UK pharmacy.
• Hustle Butter Deluxe, tattoo-specific, available from tattoo suppliers.
• Tattoo Goo, tattoo-specific.
• Aquaphor, fragrance-free option, available at UK pharmacies.

Avoid: anything fragranced, anything containing lanolin if you have lanolin allergy, anything containing essential oils.

What to expect

• Day 2-3: oozing of clear or slightly pink fluid (plasma), normal.
• Day 3-5: tattoo starts to feel tight and itchy as scabbing begins.
• Day 5-10: dry scabs form. Do not pick or scratch them. Picking damages the tattoo permanently.
• Day 7-14: scabs come off naturally, you'll see flakes of dry skin and ink coming away. Don't help them along.

What to avoid

For 2-3 weeks minimum:

• No swimming in pools, sea, lakes, baths.
• No sauna, steam room, hot tub.
• No direct sunlight or sunbeds on the tattoo.
• No heavy gym work that stretches, sweats, or rubs the tattoo area.
• No tight clothing rubbing the tattoo.
• No fragranced products on the tattoo area, perfume, fragranced moisturiser, scented body wash.
• No second tattoos in the same area until this one is fully healed.

Days 14-30, final surface healing

• Scabs all off by day 14-21.
• Tattoo may look dull or patchy, this is normal. The deeper layer continues to settle.
• Light moisturiser daily to keep skin supple.
• Avoid sun exposure to the area for 6-8 weeks total.

Long-term care

Sun protection, the single most important thing

UV light fades tattoo pigments over years. To preserve colour:

• Always apply SPF 50+ to tattooed areas when exposed to sun.
• Reapply every 2 hours during prolonged sun exposure.
• Choose mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) if you have sensitive skin.
• Avoid tanning beds, they fade tattoos faster than natural sun.

Moisturise

• Daily moisturising keeps the skin healthy and the tattoo looking sharper.
• Switch from healing-specific products to your normal everyday moisturiser once fully healed.

Touch-ups

Most reputable UK artists offer a free or low-cost touch-up within 6-12 months if needed. Common reasons:

• Small patches that didn't fully heal.
• Slight fading on specific colour areas.
• A spot the artist agrees would benefit from a quick refresh.

Ask about the studio's touch-up policy at booking.

When to seek medical help

Most tattoos heal without issue. Contact a GP, call NHS 111, or go to A&E if you see:

See a GP or call 111 within 24-48 hours

• Spreading redness beyond the tattoo edge lasting more than 48 hours.
• Pus or yellow/green discharge that doesn't clear with normal aftercare.
• Persistent severe itching beyond normal healing.
• Raised plaques or nodules in the tattoo (possible allergic reaction).

Go to A&E / 999 immediately

• Red streaks spreading from the tattoo, possible cellulitis. See the NHS cellulitis page.
• High fever after the session.
• Spreading rash across the body (anaphylaxis risk).
• Breathing difficulty, throat swelling, faintness (anaphylaxis, call 999).
• Severe systemic illness.

Document the issue

If you do develop a problem:

• Photograph the area with time stamps.
• Note when symptoms started.
• Contact the artist to make them aware.
• Keep your appointment record and consent form for evidence.

What if there's a problem with the work itself

Distinct from healing complications, if you're unhappy with the finished tattoo:

1. Wait until it's fully healed (4-6 weeks) before judging, fresh tattoos often look different from healed ones.
2. Speak to the artist about what's bothering you.
3. Most will offer a touch-up for genuine technical issues.
4. If unresolved, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives rights to repeat performance or price reduction for services not performed with reasonable care and skill.

See your first tattoo UK guide for the dispute resolution path.

What this guide cannot do

Every tattoo and every person's skin is different. The protocol above is a general framework.

Information, not advice. For your situation, follow your specific artist's aftercare instructions (they know what they used and what worked for that piece), and contact a GP or 111 for any concerning healing pattern.