What to Avoid After Getting a Tattoo: From Food to Daily Habits

You’ve just gotten a unique tattoo masterpiece at MaxDuong Tattoo – a studio known for delivering world-class artistic tattoo services. To ensure your new ink heals perfectly and retains its vibrancy and sharpness, strictly following aftercare precautions is essential. With over a decade of experience and thousands of tattoos created annually, MaxDuong Tattoo proudly shares comprehensive aftercare insights – drawn from deep expertise and professional reputation – to help you protect your body art through proper diet and lifestyle habits.

Why Is Post-Tattoo Aftercare So Important?

A tattoo is essentially an open wound created by needles penetrating the epidermis to insert ink into the dermis. Neglecting proper care can lead to serious consequences that MaxDuong Tattoo has witnessed firsthand:

• Severe infections: Open wounds are highly vulnerable to bacteria if not properly protected.

• Color fading and loss of sharpness: Directly affects the aesthetic outcome of your tattoo.

• Keloid scarring: Can distort the original artwork permanently.

• Prolonged healing: Leads to unnecessary pain and discomfort.

Foods to Absolutely Avoid

To maintain the quality and longevity of your tattoo from MaxDuong Tattoo, the right food choices during the healing phase are crucial. Below is a list of foods you must avoid, along with the reasons and recommended duration.

Red Meat & High-Protein Foods

• Beef (Avoid for 7–10 days):
  Red meats contain inflammatory compounds that may cause discoloration or dullness in the tattoo. Avoiding beef during the first week helps ensure optimal color retention.

• Chicken (Avoid for 5–7 days):
  The high protein content can overstimulate cell activity, slowing down healing and increasing the risk of raised scars. Chicken may also cause excessive itching.

• Eggs (Avoid for 3–5 days):
  Though a good protein source, eggs can lead to faded or uneven tattoo colors. It’s best to avoid them in the early healing days.

Seafood & Allergy-Prone Foods

• Shrimp, crab, clams, snails (Avoid for 7–10 days):
  Shellfish may trigger inflammation and allergic reactions, causing swelling, itching, or prolonged healing — and in worse cases, leave behind unsightly scars.

Processed & Sugary Foods

• Candy, sweets, soda (Avoid for 10–14 days):
  High sugar intake can interfere with your body's natural healing process, promoting inflammation and delaying skin regeneration. Avoid sugary snacks, carbonated drinks, chocolate, and desserts during recovery.

Traditional Vietnamese “Taboo” Foods

• Sticky rice-based dishes (Avoid for 7 days):
  Items like sticky rice and sweet rice puddings are believed to promote pus formation and delay scab formation in the healing tattoo.

• Morning glory (rau muống) (Avoid for 7 days):
  Though it contains healing compounds, it’s linked to raised scar formation. Better safe than sorry – avoid during the first week.

Drinks to Avoid

Alcohol & Stimulants

• Alcohol (Avoid for at least 72 hours, ideally 2 weeks):
  Alcohol can thin the blood, affect ink retention, and weaken the immune system – all of which increase infection risk.

• Strong coffee (Limit for 5–7 days):
  Caffeine disrupts sleep, which is crucial for skin healing. If necessary, drink only mild coffee.

Activities & Habits to Avoid

Caring for a tattoo goes beyond diet – your daily habits matter too. Here are the main things to avoid:

Physical Activity

• Gym workouts or intense sports (Avoid for 10–14 days):
  Sweat contains salt and bacteria that may infect the wound. Muscle stretching can also reopen healing areas.

• Swimming (Avoid for at least 3–4 weeks):
  Water in pools, oceans, or lakes carries bacteria that can cause infections. Many tattoo complications come from swimming too soon.

Hygiene Practices

• Hot showers (Avoid during the first 2 weeks):
  Hot water dilates blood vessels, increasing bleeding risk and potentially fading the ink. Stick to lukewarm showers.

• Sauna or steam rooms (Avoid for 3–4 weeks):
  High heat and humidity can over-soften skin and lead to infection or faded ink.

Environmental Exposure

• Direct sunlight (Avoid throughout healing):
  UV rays can fade ink and cause sunburn on healing skin. After it heals, always apply SPF 30+ when going out.

• Dusty or polluted environments (Avoid for 1–2 weeks):
  Stay away from environments with heavy dust or chemicals to reduce infection risk.

Personal Habits

• No scratching or peeling scabs:
  This is the most common mistake. Doing so can:
  

  • Remove ink prematurely

  • Leave permanent scars

  • Cause secondary infections
    

• Don’t apply unapproved creams or ointments:
  Only use aftercare products recommended by MaxDuong Tattoo. Self-prescribed antibiotics or unsuitable creams may cause allergic reactions.

• Avoid tight clothing:
  Tight clothes may rub against the tattoo, causing pain and slowing healing. Opt for loose, breathable cotton fabrics.

Warning Signs – When to Seek Medical Help

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Widespread redness around the tattoo area

• Increasing pain after 5–7 days

• Pus with a foul odor

• High fever over 38.5°C (101.3°F)

• Red streaks spreading outward from the tattoo

Emergency Hotline (24/7): +84 934 823 837

Expert Advice

“Many clients underestimate post-tattoo care, but it actually determines 80% of the final outcome. A stunning piece of art can easily lose its magic without proper healing.”
– MaxDuong, Founder of MaxDuong Tattoo Studio

Conclusion

Following proper aftercare and avoiding harmful habits after getting a tattoo not only ensures your health but also preserves the beauty and precision of your body art. MaxDuong Tattoo is here to guide you through your healing journey, with 24/7 consultation and detailed instructions.

Be patient. A few weeks of mindful aftercare is a small price for a lifetime of stunning ink.

MaxDuong Studio – Tattoo Shop & Piercing
📍 Address: 205 – 207 Le Quang Dao St., Da Nang City
📞 Hotline: +84 934 823 837
🌐 Website: maxduongtattoo.com
📸 Instagram: @maxduong_tattoo