Getting a tattoo is a hobby of many people. However, after getting a tattoo, you need to pay attention to abstaining from certain foods and activities, which not everyone knows. So what should you abstain from after getting a tattoo? How long should you abstain from doing so and what should you do to help the wound heal quickly? Let Su Tran Tattoo help you answer in the following article.
How does diet affect tattoo healing?
Food plays an essential role in maintaining overall health. There are foods that provide important nutrients to help maintain health, while there are others that can be harmful to the body if eaten in excess. When the body is not feeling well, some foods can help relieve pain and bring comfort, but there are also foods that can make the pain worse and cause discomfort.
What to avoid and how long to avoid after getting a tattoo is always a question of many people.
One thing to keep in mind is that a new tattoo is similar to an open wound and the body will need a lot of energy to heal. The foods we eat can affect this process. Some foods help promote quick and effective healing, while others can prolong the healing time. Therefore, choosing the right foods is important to support the healing process after tattooing. Pay attention to how your body reacts to each food to make sure you are providing the right nutrients for your recovery.
What foods should you avoid after getting a tattoo to protect your skin?
Many people after getting tattoos or cosmetic services such as lip tattoos, eyebrow tattoos often wonder what to avoid after getting a tattoo. At Su Tran Tattoo, after completing beauty treatments, the medical team will carefully guide you on appropriate nutrition and rest. Below are the foods that doctors recommend avoiding after getting a tattoo:
Limit beef intake
Many people do not know what to avoid after getting a tattoo. Although beef is rich in nutrients and protein, it should not be consumed after getting a tattoo, lip tattoo or eyebrow tattoo. According to experts, eating beef can darken the wound, causing the tattoo ink color to not be as expected.
Limit beef intake
Avoid eating water spinach
After getting a tattoo or lip or eyebrow tattoo, doctors often advise against eating water spinach. This vegetable contains a lot of madecassol, a substance that can promote the process of skin tissue formation, causing the risk of keloid scarring.
Don’t eat chicken
Should you eat chicken after getting a tattoo? According to dermatologists, it is best to avoid chicken dishes such as boiled chicken, fried chicken, chicken porridge or chicken broth. Chicken can slow down the healing process and cause itching.
Don’t eat chicken
Avoid eating sticky rice
Many people often wonder what they should not eat after getting a tattoo. Sticky rice dishes such as sticky rice and sweet soup are foods to avoid after getting a tattoo. Doctors warn that eating sticky rice can cause the wound to swell, fester and prolong the healing process.
Limit seafood intake
After getting a tattoo, you should avoid seafood such as shrimp, crab, and lobster. These foods can cause irritation, make the wound swell, increase the risk of scarring, and affect the quality of the tattoo ink.
Avoid alcohol and stimulants
Do you want to know what to avoid after getting a tattoo? Limit alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine because they can cause the tattoo ink to be patchy and the color to be uneven. In particular, after getting a lip tattoo, drinking alcohol can cause the color to be uneven, affecting the aesthetic results.
What should you avoid eating after getting a tattoo? Avoid alcohol and stimulants.
How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?
Normally, when getting a tattoo, lip tattoo or eyebrow tattoo, the customer will be thoroughly advised by the beautician on how to care for the wound and what foods to avoid so that the ink color is standard and long lasting.
About 5 – 7 days after completing the service, the wound begins to heal, the scab on the lips will gradually peel off, revealing the expected bright color. At this time, the customer can slowly return to the diet with foods such as beef, seafood, eggs, chicken, …
How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?
However, depending on each individual, the recovery time can last from 10 to 12 days before the customer can resume normal activities and eating. Therefore, a follow-up visit after tattooing is very important and must strictly follow the doctor’s instructions.
What foods should you eat after getting a tattoo to best support the recovery process?
After getting a tattoo, what foods should you avoid and what supplements should you take to help the wound heal quickly? Here are some suggestions for you:
Should add red pomegranate
Pomegranate is a rich source of vitamins A and C, two important nutrients with strong antioxidant properties, which effectively help reduce inflammation. Therefore, after getting a tattoo, you should add pomegranate to your diet to help your body recover faster.
Should add red pomegranate
Should eat pineapple
While waiting for your lip or eyebrow wound to scab over, drink 2-3 glasses of pineapple juice a week to improve your health. Pineapple is a tropical fruit that is high in vitamins A, B and C, which not only beautify the skin but also help the ink color to be more beautiful and even thanks to its antioxidant properties.
Should add citrus fruits
Fruits such as grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, etc. contain many juicy segments, providing abundant vitamin C and nutrients for the body. This helps the tattoo wound to heal quickly and the ink color to be standard.
Should add citrus fruits
Should eat garlic or use garlic to cook dishes
Garlic is an immune-boosting food that kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi. You should add garlic to your daily meals to help wounds heal faster.
Should add salmon
Avoiding beef and chicken for a week can leave your body lacking protein, leading to fatigue. Salmon, with its high-quality protein and healthy fats, will help your body recover quickly and reduce inflammation.
Should add salmon
Things to note after tattooing
- To protect the tattoo wound from infection and help the tattoo heal quickly, you need to follow proper care and hygiene instructions. For the first 30 days, follow the tattoo artist’s instructions on how to care for it and note the foods and activities to avoid.
- To help the tattoo heal effectively, you need to note the following points:
- Do not swim in public pools because chemicals such as fluoride in the water can lead to skin infections.
- Avoid bathing in water that is too cold or too hot.
- Limit the exposure of the newly tattooed skin to direct sunlight, because the skin at this stage is very sensitive and vulnerable.
- Do not use drugs or solutions on the skin without the consent of a specialist.
Things to note after tattooing
Instructions on how to care for your skin after tattooing
To ensure safety, you should keep the following in mind when getting a new tattoo:
Early stage
When it comes to starting your tattoo aftercare, it’s usually done right at the tattoo shop. After your tattoo is done, your artist will apply a thin layer of tattoo jelly or moisturizer to the tattooed area and cover it with plastic wrap or tape.
While you may want to check your tattoo right away, this protective layer should stay in place for at least a few hours, depending on the size and location of your tattoo. This layer will help protect against bacteria, sunlight, and rubbing from clothing.
First wash
After about 5 hours, you can remove the bandage and gently wash the tattoo. First, wash your hands thoroughly, then use a non-irritating soap and warm water to clean the tattoo area with your fingers.
When washing, you may see the moisturizer on the skin peel off and the tattoo may appear to ooze ink or stickiness. This is usually just excess liquid and ink from the tattooing process.
After washing, pat it dry with a clean tissue and let it air dry for about an hour. Once the skin is completely dry, you can apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the tattoo without covering it, so the skin can breathe.
First wash
First week
Using an antibiotic ointment or moisturizer (as long as it is non-irritating) can help speed up the healing process. Proper and timely care will help reduce the risk of scarring.
In the early days, the tattooed area may feel warm and slightly red. The color of the tattoo may appear more prominent than the rest of the skin, but this will gradually decrease as the healing process continues.
Avoid submerging the tattoo in water or getting the area wet for the first 3–6 weeks, unless you are washing the tattoo. The frequency of cleaning will depend on your activity level and living environment. People who work in air-conditioned environments may only need to wash their tattoo once a day, while those who work in hot and dusty environments may need to wash it every few hours. Wash with clean hands rather than a cloth or towel to avoid irritating the skin and removing the protective scab.
Week Two
At the beginning of the second week, the scabs will begin to peel off. During this period, be especially careful when washing and moisturizing so as not to over-scrape and damage the tattoo.
The skin may feel itchy during this period, so avoid scratching. Using a moisturizer that has been stored in the refrigerator can help soothe the skin and reduce itching. If needed, you can use over-the-counter products such as Benadryl to relieve itching.
By the beginning of the second week, the scabs will begin to peel off.
Third week onwards
The final stage of healing can be slow and requires patience. Large scabs will flake off and fall off, while smaller flakes of skin may continue to appear. These scabs and flakes will disappear as the healing process continues.
The skin may look dry and dull, but applying moisturizer and protecting the tattoo from the sun will help improve this. The outer layers of skin are usually completely healed by the end of the third week, while the inner layers may need more time to heal. The risk of infection is reduced once the outer layers have healed, as there are no open wounds for bacteria to enter.
These are important guidelines for what to avoid after a tattoo to ensure your tattoo heals quickly and looks great. Following aftercare instructions will help you avoid complications and ensure your tattoo stays beautiful for a long time.
