How to Sleep When New Tattoos

You’ve chosen a tattoo, found a tattoo artist and done it, now it’s time to go to sleep. If your tattoo is on your back, chest or side, you need to protect it while you sleep. Ways to protect the tattoo include: clean bed sheets, allow the tattoo to breathe and change lying position. The tattoo will heal quickly if you sleep well and fully, and soon you will be able to go back to sleep as usual.

Table of Contents

Protect tattoo

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Clean bed sheets before sleeping. Dead skin cells and bacteria on old sheets can cause an infection, especially when you remove the tattoo covering. Change the bed sheet with a new one before going to bed. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you have enough sheets, you should change them every night.
Use dark sheets instead of light ones, as tattoos can stain the sheets.

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Follow your tattooist’s instructions for sealing the tattoo. Ask your tattoo artist if you need to wear a bandage while you sleep and when to remove it. They may advise you to keep the bandages they gave you the first night. You may also be instructed to use sterile absorbent gauze over the tattoo to change the dressing at home.

If the tape doesn’t have adhesive, use medical tape to secure the tape around the tattoo. Make sure not to stick it on the tattoo to avoid pain when removing the tape.
Avoid wrapping the tattoo with plastic wrap, as sweat and bacteria will be trapped on the tattoo.

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Choose a lying position to avoid the tattoo. Tattoos need to be ventilated to heal faster. If you lie on top of the tattoo, your skin will become irritated and moisture will collect on the tattoo while you sleep. The lying positions for tattoo positions are as follows: ^{[2] X Research Source}

Back: prone
Side: lying on the other side
Chest: lying on your back
Legs: elevate your feet on pillows or cushions

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Do not lie on top of the tattoo for 4-7 days after tattooing. The tattoo will ooze and bleed for a few days after being tattooed. You should avoid sleeping on top of the tattoo during this time, as the tattoo needs to breathe. Once new skin has formed over the tattoo, usually after 4-7 days, you can begin to lie on top of the tattoo. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

You will also see old scabs on your skin and pieces of skin that peel off and cause itching.

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Try to sleep for at least 8 hours. Your body will treat the tattoo like a wound, so you need to sleep more than usual. This way, the body will have more time to recover and the tattoo will heal faster. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Remember that your immune system is reacting to the tattoo; So support your immune system by eating nutritious foods.

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Apply water to the bed sheet that is stuck to the tattoo while you sleep. If you find the bed sheet stuck to the tattoo when you wake up, do not pull it off immediately, as this will make the tattoo take longer to heal. Instead, you should keep the whole bed sheet over the tattoo, carefully going to the sink. Apply water to wet sheets and peel them off. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

To keep the fabric underneath the mattress from sticking to the tattoo, spread a clean towel or piece of cloth underneath before you sleep. Change a new towel or bed sheet if it gets on you during the night.
If the bed sheet stuck to the tattoo is in a hard-to-reach place, such as your back, take the entire sheet into the bathroom and turn on the shower to remove it.

Create comfort while sleeping

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Wear loose clothing so that the tattoo does not rub off. The tattooed area will be extremely sensitive and may still be painful, making it difficult to sleep. To prevent your tattoo from rubbing against rough fabric, wear soft, loose-fitting clothes when you sleep. ^{[6] X Research Source}

If you want, you can skip your pajamas if it covers the tattoo.

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Place pillows under your heels to make lying on your back more comfortable. It will be easier for you to avoid lying on the tattoo if you have a pillow or cushion to support when you sleep. If you’re lying on your back to avoid getting a tattoo on your chest, place small pillows or rolled towels under your heels.

Put extra pillows under your head if you feel too steep.
The footrest will help support the lower back, remember that you will be more comfortable.

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Place a pillow under your chest if you need a tummy tuck. If the tattoo is on your back and you feel uncomfortable lying on your stomach, put a pillow under your chest. The pillow has the effect of lifting the body up a bit, reducing the pressure on the chest.

If you are still uncomfortable, you should buy a dedicated stomach pillow or a pillow with an open face in the middle to support your head.

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Place pillows in front of and behind your back if you are lying on your side, If you have a side tattoo, lie on the opposite side. To avoid rolling over to the other side, you can place a pillow or pillow close to your chest. Put another pillow right behind your back.

Ask someone for help if you can’t fold the pillows.

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Sleep alone for the first few nights after getting a tattoo. If you often sleep in the same bed as other people, ask them to sleep in another room so you can get a good night’s sleep. This is especially important if the other person is not sleeping comfortably or you are learning to sleep in a different position.

Pillows can take up a lot of space on the bed so there won’t be room for the other person.
If you usually put your pet to bed, have them sleep elsewhere for the first few days after getting a tattoo. This will prevent pet dander and bacteria from entering the tattoo.

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Create a relaxing routine before bedtime. To make it easier to fall asleep, you should avoid bright light from the TV, phone or computer screen for 1 hour before going to bed. Instead, choose relaxing activities like reading a book, doing yoga, or talking to someone. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Consider reducing caffeine during the day to make it easier to fall asleep.

Advice

If traveling or staying at a hotel after getting a tattoo, take clean sheets with you instead of depending on the hotel.

Things you need

Clean bed sheets
Towels or some clean
Pillows, cushions or rolled up towels

Steps

Protect tattoo

Create comfort while sleeping

Advice

Things you need

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