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An itchy tattoo is almost always a tattoo that is healing, and the itch usually fades as the flaking stage ends. The trouble is that the fixes people reach for, hot showers, tea tree oil, a tube of cortisone from the bathroom cabinet, are often worse for a healing tattoo than the itch is. We checked the relief advice against the American Academy of Dermatology, the FDA drug labels on the creams involved and the patch-test research on tea tree oil, so you can tell which kind of itch you have and what is safe to do about it.
Why tattoos itch: the short answer
A new tattoo itches because the skin is repairing itself. As the surface dries out, crusts and flakes, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that it can itch and flake, and that scabs may form. That is the normal course of healing, and it improves as the skin closes over.
Less often, itching is the first sign of something else: an allergy to one of the inks, an infection, a reaction to sunlight, or a skin condition showing up inside the tattoo. The way to tell them apart is timing and what comes with the itch, which is covered further down.
Itching while a new tattoo heals
The itch tends to arrive once the tattoo stops weeping and starts to dry, and it keeps company with the flaking. The surface usually finishes healing within two to three weeks, according to the European aftercare standard as reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and a normal healing itch goes with it.
If you want to know which stage you are in today, our healing timeline planner puts the crusting and peeling stages on your own calendar from the date you were tattooed, which makes it easier to judge whether an itch is arriving on schedule.
Why scratching is the one thing to avoid
Scratching feels like relief for a few seconds and then makes the itch worse. In its itch-relief advice, the AAD quotes a dermatologist saying that scratching could be making things worse by irritating the skin further. On a healing tattoo there is a second cost, because nails catch the crusts and lift them before the skin underneath is ready.
How to relieve an itchy new tattoo
The AAD’s general tips for itchy skin carry over to a healing tattoo with a few adjustments, because what you are soothing is a wound rather than a bite or a patch of dry skin.
- Cool it down. The AAD suggests a cool, damp washcloth on itchy skin for about five to ten minutes. On a healing tattoo, use a freshly laundered cloth or a clean paper towel soaked in cool water, then pat the area dry.
- Moisturize with something fragrance-free. The same advice is to use a fragrance-free moisturizer whenever the skin itches, since fragrance can irritate skin. A thin layer on a tattoo that feels tight often takes the edge off the itch.
- Wear loose cotton over it. Loose cotton clothing keeps you cooler and rubs less than wool or rough fabrics, which is advice that matters more when the itchy patch is under a waistband or a strap.
- Keep the water lukewarm. The AAD advises avoiding extreme temperature changes because they can make itch worse, so a hot shower that feels wonderful at the time tends to bring the itch back harder.
- Press, do not scratch. If you cannot leave it alone, press the area gently with a clean flat hand. It does not replace any of the steps above, but it keeps your nails off the crusts.
An anti-itch moisturizer that stays on the safe side
If plain moisturizer is not enough, a colloidal oatmeal cream is the gentlest step up. Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream is sold as a regulated skin protectant, and its FDA label gives colloidal oatmeal 1% as the active ingredient, for temporarily relieving minor skin irritation and itching. There is no fragrance on its ingredient list.
The itchy, flaking stage
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream, 12 oz
Colloidal oatmeal at 1% as a labeled skin protectant, fragrance-free, and steroid-free. Use it the way you would any tattoo moisturizer: a thin layer on clean, dry skin. The label says to stop and ask a doctor if the condition worsens or lasts more than seven days, which is a sensible limit for a tattoo too.
For the difference between this cream and the Aveeno lotion most people buy, our Aveeno write-up explains why the everyday lotion is a dimethicone protectant rather than an oatmeal one, and which Aveeno anti-itch products are medicated and best kept away from fresh ink.
What not to put on an itchy tattoo
These are the remedies most often suggested for tattoo itching, and each one has a specific problem on skin that is still healing.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is sold as a natural antimicrobial, and it is also a known contact allergen. An Australian review of patch-test records found positive reactions to oxidized tea tree oil in 41 of 2,320 people tested, 1.8%. Oxidized is the important word: the oil breaks down as it ages, and the authors note that oil from freshly opened products gave no or only weak reactions. The NIH’s complementary health center adds that redness or irritation is more likely if the product is old or has been exposed to heat, light or air.
A bottle that has sat in a cupboard for a year is exactly that product, and a healing tattoo is broken skin. Leave it out of your aftercare entirely.
Hydrocortisone and other medicated anti-itch creams
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone is a drug, and its label is specific about what it is for. The Drug Facts panel on Cortizone-10 Ultra Soothing Creme lists itching from eczema, psoriasis, insect bites, poison ivy and irritation from soaps, detergents, jewelry and cosmetics, and says other uses should only be under the advice of a doctor. A healing tattoo is not on the list.
The same caution applies to anti-itch products built on pramoxine, menthol or calamine. The AAD suggests them for ordinary itchy skin, and they are a reasonable option once a tattoo has healed. While it is still open, ask your artist or a pharmacist before putting a medicated product on it.
Hot water, and petroleum-heavy products
Heat makes itch worse, as above, and a long hot soak also breaks the rule about keeping a healing tattoo out of standing water. Thick petroleum-based products are the other common suggestion, and the AAD cautions that petroleum-based products can cause tattoo ink to fade. Our tattoo aftercare guide covers where studios and dermatologists disagree on ointment, and what to do when they do.
When an itchy tattoo is a sign of something else
The AAD’s list of tattoo reactions includes several where itching is one of the symptoms. What separates them from a healing itch is what comes with it, and when it starts.
| What it may be | What tends to come with the itch | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|
| Infection | Redness that darkens or spreads, worsening pain, itchy red painful bumps in the tattoo, pus, open sores, fever or chills | Right after tattooing, or days to months later |
| Allergy to an ink | Redness, swelling, small bumps, raised scaly patches, deep lumps or blisters, often in one color | Immediately, weeks or years later, even decades |
| Sun allergy | Swelling and redness around the tattoo, an itchy rash of tiny bumps, blisters or hives | Whenever sunlight hits the tattoo |
| A skin condition appearing in the tattoo | Psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, sarcoidosis and others | From a few days to years afterward |
Red ink is the usual suspect when an allergy is involved. The AAD names red as often the culprit, and a 2016 review in Dermatology and Therapy calls red the most common cause of tattoo reactions, pointing to the metals, mercury and cadmium among them, that have been found in red pigments. An itch confined to the red parts of a tattoo, particularly one that has healed, fits that pattern.
Ink can also carry a problem in from the start. The FDA warns that tattoo ink can be contaminated with bacteria or mold even when the bottle is sealed and labeled sterile, and asks you to contact both the tattooist and a health care professional if a rash appears near a tattoo, especially with a fever.
How long a tattoo itches
A healing itch lasts about as long as the flaking does, and the surface of most tattoos has finished healing within about two to three weeks. As the last flakes come away, the itch should go with them.
An itch that goes on after the tattoo has healed, or starts in a tattoo that healed long ago, is a different matter. It may be minor, a patch of dry skin or a reaction to a new soap, but the AAD’s advice is to see a board-certified dermatologist if your tattooed skin is changing in any way, and a persistent itch is a change.
The verdict on an itchy tattoo
An itchy tattoo during the first two to three weeks is part of healing. Relieve it with a cool damp cloth, a fragrance-free moisturizer and loose clothing, and keep your nails, tea tree oil and medicated creams off it until it has healed. Itching with spreading redness, pus or fever, or a new itch in an old tattoo, needs a doctor.
FAQ
Is it normal for a new tattoo to itch?
Yes. The AAD lists itching, flaking and scabs as part of the way a tattoo heals, and the itch is usually strongest while the skin is peeling. It should fade as the surface finishes healing, typically within two to three weeks.
How do I stop my tattoo from itching?
Hold a clean cloth soaked in cool water on it for five to ten minutes, pat it dry, and apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturizer. Wear loose cotton over it and keep showers lukewarm, since heat tends to make itch worse.
Does an itchy tattoo mean it is healing?
Usually, yes, when the itch comes with flaking or light scabbing in the first few weeks. Itching that arrives with redness that spreads or darkens, pain that gets worse, pus or a fever is a sign of infection instead, and needs a doctor.
Can I put hydrocortisone cream on an itchy tattoo?
Not on a tattoo that is still healing unless a doctor tells you to. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone labels list uses such as eczema, bites and rashes and say other uses need a doctor’s advice, and a fresh tattoo is broken skin that is not on that list.
Can I use tea tree oil on an itchy tattoo?
No. Tea tree oil is a recognized contact allergen, with 1.8% of patients in one large Australian patch-test review reacting to it, and old or air-exposed oil is the most likely to cause a reaction. A healing tattoo is the wrong place to find out whether you are one of them.
Why is my old tattoo itchy?
Dry skin is the simplest explanation, but an old tattoo that itches can also signal an allergy to one of the inks, a reaction to sunlight, or a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema appearing in the tattoo. An itch that sticks to one color, often red, or keeps coming back is worth showing a dermatologist.
Why does my tattoo itch in the sun?
It may be a sun allergy, which the AAD describes as swelling, redness and an itchy rash of tiny bumps around a tattoo whenever sunlight hits it. Sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher applied 15 minutes before going out, clothing over the tattoo and shade all help, and a dermatologist can confirm what is going on.
Can I slap my tattoo when it itches?
A gentle press with a clean flat hand is fine, but slapping hard is not a good idea on skin that is still sore and crusted. Cooling the area and moisturizing does more for the itch, and neither risks lifting a crust.