During the tattoo healing process when your skin is peeling, scabbed, and scratchy, the tattooed area can look awful. Just remember that this is your body’s natural way of healing itself after receiving a distressing open wound.

Your peeling, scabbing tattoo will be irritated, itchy, and constantly annoying. The piece will also look absolutely nothing like the work of art you envisioned when you were filled with adrenaline at the tattoo shop.

It will get there. You just need patience and to maintain self control.

What is tattoo scabbing?

A scab is the protective tissue covering that forms after your skin has been damaged by a cut or abrasion. The scab is unsightly but looks after the healing skin underneath.

Just like with the formation of other wounds from cuts or gouges, a tattoo is an open wound which needs to heal and knit over time. Trying to speed up the process can in fact be counterproductive.

Image by Sarah-Rose, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Is tattoo scabbing normal?

During the proper tattoo aftercare process, nearly all people experience skin scabbing, peeling and flaking. Treat the phenomenon as inevitable, but something that you can mitigate, and you’ll have a better time if you stay patient during the healing stage.

The peeling and scabbing stage is the time when inexperienced or anxious tattoo enthusiasts freak out. The skin generally looks rough and horrible, and much of your brilliant, beautiful artwork is obscured by scabs formed by healing skin.

A tattoo scab does not necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong. The skin’s healing process is different for every individual.

Some factors that contribute to differing speeds in tattoo scabbing include:

• Your skin type and sensitivity
• Your personal healing rate
• The steps you’ve taken during the aftercare process
• The size, placement, color and type of ink
• Other factors such as weather, diet, general fitness, and hydration levels

Image, by Slipp D. Thompson, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0