You're in the middle of the tattoo healing stages, and you're trying to do everything right. But as you're inspecting your new art, you notice a small, red, and painful bump that looks suspiciously like a pimple. It might be an ingrown hair, a common but incredibly frustrating problem to have on a fresh tattoo.
An ingrown hair can be an alarming sight on a new piece of ink, and it can leave you wondering, "is my tattoo healing properly?" While it's a minor issue, if handled incorrectly, it can lead to infection and permanent damage to your tattoo.
This is your complete guide on what to do if you get an ingrown hair on your new tattoo, and how to safely treat it without ruining your art.
Why Do Ingrown Hairs Happen on Tattoos?
Before an artist starts tattooing, they shave the area to create a smooth, clean canvas. As the hair begins to grow back during the healing process, the new, sharp-ended hairs can sometimes curl back and grow into the skin instead of out of the follicle. This, combined with the dead skin cells from the peeling phase, can easily block the hair follicle, causing an inflamed, pimple-like bump.
Ingrown Hair vs. Infection: Knowing the Difference
It's crucial to distinguish between a simple ingrown hair and a more serious infection.
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An Ingrown Hair: Will be a single, isolated, pimple-like bump. It might be red, slightly swollen, and tender to the touch. You may even be able to see the tiny hair trapped just beneath the surface. The surrounding tattoo will look like it's healing normally.
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An Infection: An infection is usually more widespread. It involves worsening pain, redness that spreads outwards from the tattoo, a foul odor, and thick, colored (yellow or green) pus. An infection will make your sore tattoo feel much worse and can be accompanied by a fever.
If you see any signs of a real infection, contact a doctor immediately.
Your Action Plan: How to Safely Treat an Ingrown Hair
The golden rule for treating an ingrown hair on a new tattoo is to be patient and gentle. Your primary goal is to let the body resolve the issue on its own while keeping the area impeccably clean.
Step 1: DO NOT Squeeze, Pick, or Pluck!
This is the most important rule. Do not try to pop the bump or dig the hair out with tweezers. The skin is still a delicate, healing wound. Squeezing or picking at it will cause a significant amount of trauma, which can lead to a serious infection and will almost certainly push the ink out of that spot, leaving a permanent scar or a blank patch in your design.
Step 2: Keep the Area Clean
You must keep the area free of the bacteria that could turn a simple ingrown hair into a full-blown infection.
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The Technique: Gently wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day. Our No Pain Tattoo Cleansing Foam is the ideal tool for what to clean new tattoo with in this situation. Its gentle, antimicrobial formula will clean the area effectively without causing further irritation.
Step 3: Soothe the Inflammation
An ingrown hair is an inflamed hair follicle. You can help to calm this irritation down.
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The Solution: Our No Pain Tattoo Soothing Gel is perfect for this. Its cooling, anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce the redness and soreness of the individual bump without suffocating the entire tattoo like a heavy ointment would.
Step 4: Be Patient
In most cases, the body will resolve the ingrown hair on its own. As your tattoo continues to heal and the top layers of skin naturally exfoliate, the trapped hair will often free itself.
The Verdict: Getting an ingrown hair on a new tattoo is an annoying but usually harmless part of the healing process. The absolute worst thing you can do is try to force it out. The key to a good outcome is patience and a flawless cleaning routine. By keeping the area clean and soothed, you allow your body to do its job and ensure your tattoo heals beautifully around the minor irritation.