Sleeping with a new tattoo can be tricky. You don’t want to mess up your hard work and end up with a nasty infection. However, following these simple tips will help you get the most out of your new ink and keep it looking fresh for longer.
You want to make sure that you are taking care of your new ink and keeping it clean, but you also don’t want to do anything that will damage the work that has been done. In this blog post, we will discuss the best way to sleep with a new tattoo and how to keep it looking its best!
Why Is It Important to Sleep the Right Way with a New Tattoo?
A fresh tattoo is delicate! It’s still in the process of healing, and it’s an open wound. If you don’t care for it as it heals, it might get infected. Not only can this make you ill, but it can also harm your design [1].
When you sleep, you aren’t always aware of how you’re positioned or moving. If you move around a lot and the blanket is rubbing against your tattoo, this might irritate it. Swelling as a result of inflammation can occur. This literally deforms the skin and makes healing more difficult.
It’s also possible that you’ll ruin your tattoo if you lie down on it. Applying pressure to your newly inked skin may cause edema or swelling. Alternatively, the color of your tattoo could be blotted out by pushing ink deeper into your pores.
It may appear to be difficult to sleep without rubbing or resting your tattoo, but it’s essential if you want your artwork to endure. It will only be there for a few days before it begins to heal.
The Importance of Sleep in the Healing Process
There are many questions surrounding sleep and tattoos. One of them is whether or not you can get enough deep rest to promote the healing process if you’re constantly tossing and turning in bed trying not to hurt your new ink. The answer is yes! Sleeping well aids in healing, but only if it’s done right.
It’s vital that anyone who has been recently tattooed gets plenty of sleep every night so their body can rest and recover. Getting enough shuteye is one of the most important things a person can do to improve their overall health and well-being, including healing from getting inked!
Sleep deprivation will not only make your tattoo look bad but also make it hurt more. It’s important to get at least six hours per night for two weeks after getting inked. This will help with the healing process by reducing inflammation and swelling that may be caused by too much movement during sleep time or just laying down too hard on your newly inked skin.
And if you’re worried about whether or not they’ll be visible while the sun is out or not during daylight hours – don’t worry!
Tattoos are only at their most sensitive stage when they’re fresh and new, so if you’re worried about being seen in public then get some rest first before going out again.
Clean Your Tattoo Before Getting Into Bed
You’ll be given cleaning instructions by your tattoo artist. They will also recommend a cleanser to use on your tat. They could advise you to sleep with their wrap on for the first night. However, from night two onwards, you must clean and rewrap it yourself.
Wash with lukewarm water and non-scented soap. After cleaning the area, apply the lotion your artist gave you and wrap it back up before going to bed.
It should only take a few days to wrap. If it feels comfortable and no longer oozes, leave it unwrapped from night five.
Things to Do When You Sleep With a New Tattoo:
1) Proper sleeping position
It is a key to prevent your tattoo from rubbing against bedding and causing irritation:
- Try sleeping on your back or sides, making sure not to put any pressure on the new ink;
- If you find it difficult to sleep in those positions, use a thin pillowcase instead of a thick one so that there is less friction;
- Another option is to wrap your tattoo in cling film before going to bed – this will create a barrier between the skin and the sheets;
If the swelling does occur:
- Apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for fifteen minutes every two hours during the day;
- Elevate your arm or leg if it’s swollen more than the other parts of your body;
2) No sleeping with your pets
Dogs and cats can lick your tattoo, causing infection. They also shed a lot of hair which will get stuck in the healing process. It’s best to keep them away from you while they’re recovering!
3) Get lots of rest and good food
One of the most important things you can do for yourself post-tattoo. The body needs time to heal, so take it easy on that new ink! Eat plenty of protein and healthy fats like avocado or nuts; these will help your immune system as well as promote healing from within.
Make sure not to skip meals either because skipping them might cause nausea which isn’t fun when trying not to move around much due to soreness or pain in general (including sleep). This can also prevent proper blood flow so make sure you’re eating regularly before bedtime!
4) Avoid alcohol and cigarettes
These two vices will not only slow down the healing process, but they’ll also increase your chances of getting an infection. So if you’re trying to heal quickly and properly, steer clear of these things!
5) Wrapping the tattoo
Gauze, cling film or another non-stick bandage is a good idea to wrap your new tattoo before going to bed. This will prevent it from rubbing against bedding and causing irritation while protecting against infection. It also keeps the area clean which means you’re less likely for bacteria in general as well!
6) Use tattoo wipes during the night
If you do wake up, it is important to keep your new tattoo clean and dry. To help with this, use a non-scented baby wipe on any exposed areas of skin before getting back into bed. This will prevent bacteria from entering via contact during sleep time!
The best way for preventing infection is to keep all things that meet your new tattoo as clean as possible like pillowcases or sheets at night (where most people spend their hours).
You can get tattoos by having an open wound so be sure not to touch anything dirty around them when sleeping either – even if they’re healed already too since there’s still risk involved here which could lead towards infections later down the road if precautions aren’t taken now!
If there’s any question about something being contaminated then don’t use it – like sheets or clothes that have been washed but not dried yet before bedtime (which is another time when bacteria can grow easily).
7) Clean and moisturize frequently
It is important to keep the tattoo clean and moisturized throughout the day:
- Wash it gently with soap twice a day for 15 seconds each time; pat dry after washing;
- Use an unscented lotion or cream three times daily, but not on broken skin such as scabs because they can break off easily causing infection if there’s no protective barrier in a place like a gauze first;
This will help prevent your new ink from drying out during sleep by keeping moisture levels high enough so that bacteria don’t have anywhere else better than our bodies where they could grow easier (which sometimes happens when you are sleeping).
This also helps protect against infections too since most people spend their hours at night without any type of protective barrier around them like gauze which could break off easily causing infection if there’s no protection in place beforehand).
Avoid using petroleum gel or any other type of oil-based products as well because these can clog pores and cause acne breakouts when applied topically [3].
8) Elevate your tattoo
If you’re having any swelling, it is a good idea to keep the tattoo elevated. This will help reduce the amount of swelling and promote healing.
How to Prepare Your Bedroom Before Sleeping With a Tattoo:
Get clean sheets and clean pillowcases
Wash all bedding with a mild detergent or soap that is suitable for sensitive skin before putting them on the mattress (this will help remove any dust mites, bacteria from past uses), and make sure to let these dry first so there’s no moisture left behind by leaving them outside in sunlight during daytime hours if possible.
Vacuum any carpeted areas around where you sleep
Such as underneath furniture items like tables chairs desks that may contain food crumbs/spills! If your sleeping space has hardwood floors then sweep/mop those too so they’re nice again before going back into rest mode at night time when everything gets quiet once more just like it was when everyone else went home already because you’re officially the last one up and about. Except this time you’ve got a tattoo on your body which is something new to show for it!
Keep your room cool and dark
It’s better to sleep in a cool, darkroom. This will help promote healing and reduce swelling.
Remove any device screens from your line of sight before bed
Such as TVs, laptops, cell phones that emit blue light that can disrupt our natural sleep rhythm. Try reading a book or magazine instead if you need something to do before trying to drift off into dreamland!
Minimize the noise in your room
Turn off any loud music-playing devices like stereos/radios and try sleeping with earplugs on if necessary.
Wear an eye mask over your eyes because bright lights at night (even just from street lamps outside) can keep us awake too!
Use a pillow that doesn’t have feathers or down filling inside it so they don’t poke out when lying down.
This could be painful for someone who has recently gotten their skin pierced multiple times in order to receive ink underneath the epidermis layer.
Also, avoid firm mattresses since these will likely cause further discomfort while trying to rest after such rigorous activity throughout most of the day prior!
Wear loose clothing and avoid anything tight
This will help reduce the amount of irritation and swelling around your new tattoo. Also, make sure that whatever fabric type you choose does not rub up against any open wounds if there are any still healing yet still visible from when they first got pierced earlier during which time it would’ve hurt quite a bit more than usual.
Since those particular areas were already raw/tender due to being stripped clean of all their protective layers previously before coming into contact with ink!
FAQ
1. Can you sleep on a new tattoo?
For at least the first four days, don’t sleep directly on your new tattoo. The objective is to do everything possible not to apply any pressure to your tattoo and to keep it as far away from anything as feasible. A healing tattoo needs a lot of fresh air and oxygen in order for it to heal properly, so avoid clogging it while you snooze [4].
2. How to sleep with a new tattoo on the arm?
The best way to sleep with a tattoo on your arm is by using an elevated pillow or cushion. This will help reduce swelling and promote healing. You may also want to wrap the arm in a bandage or compression sleeve to minimize movement and further irritation.
If you have a lot of swelling, it might be necessary to sleep without any covers until it subsides.
3. Should you cover a new tattoo at night?
The tattoo should be covered after the first night (as long as they are not creating friction, wearing breathable clothing over it is fine). Air will not reach the tattoo if it is wrapped in plastic or bandages [5].
4. Can I sleep on my tattoo with Saniderm?
If you need to, you may always place a clean towel on the bed. Applying a breathable medical wrap like Saniderm is another alternative for sleeping. Make sure to remove it as soon as you wake up so that there isn’t too much blood and plasma accumulation. It goes without saying that maintaining a clean tattoo is critical.
5. How do you not scratch a tattoo in your sleep?
Many tattoo artists will advise you to sleep with your tattoo covered for the first few nights (up to 3-4).
This protects it from germs, your bedding, and picking or ripping off the scabs by accident. Only use a good wrap developed specifically for tattoo healing that is breathable, antibacterial, and waterproof.
6. Should I wrap my tattoo at night when it’s peeling?
It is recommended to sleep with a tattoo wrap at night as long as it doesn’t create friction or cause irritation. When you are sleeping, there is no way for your body temperature to regulate itself naturally; this means that if the room gets hot then so will the bandage.
This can lead to sweating which leads back into our first point about how healthy bacteria thrives on moisture and warmth!
7. What to do if your tattoo skin gets stuck in the bedsheets?
If your tattoo has pressed against the sheet during sleep and is stuck to it in any way, don’t remove it without wetting the cloth first. Stream mild-warm water over the area until it loosens by carrying the sheet with you to the sink [6].
Useful Video: Sleeping Is Your New Tattoos Worst Nightmare! Tips ON Sleeping With A New Tattoo
References:
- https://dubslabs.com/blog/how-to-sleep-with-a-new-tattoo-a-practical-guide-
- https://dubslabs.com/blog/how-to-sleep-with-a-new-tattoo-a-practical-guide-
- https://manifeststudio.com/blogs/news/how-to-sleep-with-a-new-tattoo
- https://sorrymomshop.com/blogs/aftercare/sleep-with-new-tattoo
- https://www.brilliancetattoo.com/aftercare
- https://mdwipeoutz.com/blogs/wipe-outz%E2%84%A2-blog/how-to-sleep-with-a-new-tattoo-safely-and-comfortably-1