After getting a tattoo, you can expect initial healing to take about a week. The body will normally heal completely after about 7 weeks because that's the time it takes for the skin to regenerate itself after being damaged. This is only a guide and the time it takes for you to heal will depend on various factors. Healing times vary from tattoo to tattoo and from person to person as well as the aftercare that the tattoo receives. Some of the things that may affect healing include:

- Your health (skin heals faster in healthy individuals)

- How you were tattooed (It should be done by an experienced, licensed and health board approved professional tattoo artist. It's risky to use unlicensed people to do your tattoo).

- Where you were tattooed (Tattoos in certain parts of the body take longer to heal)

- Care of the tattoo

To ensure that your tattoo heals properly and completely, there are some things you need to avoid doing just after getting a tattoo. Tattoos are considered wounds and need to be protected from bacteria and other infections. Here are some things that you need to watch out for and avoid:

> Avoid Swimming or soaking in water

1. Don't take baths or use the swimming pool or soak your tattoo in water. You should definitely avoid swimming for at least two weeks after you get your tattoo, or until all the scabs are gone.

> Don't scratch it or peel it

2. Don't peel or scratch your tattoo no matter how itchy. The scab that comes off should be allowed to come off naturally without you having to peel it. This will avoid scaring and spots. If you are prone to Keloids, tell the tattoo artist right away and they will take precautions to minimise scaring.

> Put off physical exercise for a while

3. Avoid exercising for at least 10 days after the application of your tattoo and while your tattoo is healing. The pulling and stretching of the skin that occurs when you are exercising is not good during the healing process.

> Don't let things rub it

4. Avoid allowing your clothing to rub on your new tattoo, because the healing process can be affected. Things like belts, bra straps, etc, should be carefully considered when deciding where you want to put your new tattoo.

> Don't expose it to the sun

5. You should NEVER expose your tattoo to the harmful rays of the sun!

If you follow the aftercare instructions, your tattoo will heal properly without scaring or spots provided it was done properly in the first place. Your tattoo artist will tell you how to take care of your tattoo and also tell you the proper ointment that you should use.

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