Can You Lick Your Lips After a Lip Tattoo? Essential Care

Lip tattoos including the popular lip blush tattoo are a cosmetic procedure to enhance the natural lip colour, shape and overall appearance of the lips. This involves using a handheld device to implant natural pigments into the skin to create a long lasting pop of colour. But just like any cosmetic tattooing procedure proper aftercare is key to getting the best results. One of the most common questions we get asked is can I lick my lips after a lip tattoo? In this article we will go into why licking your lips can interfere with the healing process and give you the essential tips for proper care to get long lasting results.

The Healing Process of Lip Tattoos

The healing process after a lip tattoo is key to getting the best results. The initial healing period is 4-8 weeks and you will go through several stages of healing. These stages are skin turnover where your body sheds dead skin cells and the new pigment settles into the skin. During this time your lips may feel dry, sensitive and swollen but the end result will be a gorgeous flush of colour that enhances your natural lips.

Healing time can vary depending on skin type, pain threshold and aftercare. Some people may have faster skin cell turnover or slower healing, especially those with dry skin, others may be prone to keloid scarring or hypertrophic scarring due to medical conditions such as keloids or autoimmune diseases.

Don’t Lick Your Lips After a Lip Tattoo

Licking your lips after a cosmetic lip tattoo is a big no no for several reasons:

Moisture Interferes with Healing: The lymph fluid and saliva when you lick your lips can introduce moisture that can interfere with the healing process. This moisture can prevent the scab from forming which is crucial for pigment retention. Without it you can lose pigment or fade.
Infection Risk: Saliva has bacteria and introducing it to a fresh tattooed area can increase the risk of infection. Since your lips are a mucous membrane, bacteria loves to thrive in these areas and bacteria from your mouth can cause complications.
Prolonged Healing Time: Wetting your lips with saliva constantly delays the scab formation, resulting to longer healing time. It can also cause swelling, irritation and discomfort. Instead of licking, apply the recommended healing balm or aftercare cream to keep your lips hydrated without compromising the healing process.
Scarring Risk: Licking your lips can cause additional irritation which can lead to blistering or scarring. This is especially true for those with fair skin as they are more sensitive to excess moisture. Scarring can affect the natural lip shape and lip colour, leaving you with an uneven or imperfect tattoo.
Pigment Disruption: Licking your lips too much can disrupt the tattoo’s natural pigment which can lead to uneven color or fading. The range of pigment used in the procedure is carefully chosen to match your skin tone and personal style and saliva can make the color lighter than expected.

Steps to Take After Accidentally Licking Your Lips

Accidentally licking your lips once or twice is not a big deal but repeated licking is a problem. If you accidentally lick your lips, don’t panic. Instead, follow these:

Dry the Area: Use a clean tissue or cotton pad to pat the area dry. Don’t rub or wipe.
Apply Aftercare Ointment: If your tattoo artist gave you an aftercare ointment, apply it to create a moisture barrier for your lips.
Avoid Contact: Be aware of your actions and try not to lick your lips again. If you feel dryness, use a clean applicator or your clean fingers to apply the recommended ointment or healing balm.

Effective Ways to Stop Licking Your Lips

Since licking lips is an unconscious habit, here’s how you can stop:

Use a Balm: A good aftercare balm, like the one recommended by your tattoo artist, will keep your lips moisturized so you won’t want to lick them.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration causes dry lips. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and reduce lip dryness.
Be Aware: Practice self awareness and don’t touch or lick your lips all day. You can even set reminders on your phone to check in with yourself.
Lip Guards: Some people use soft breathable coverings while they sleep to prevent licking or touching their lips while they’re asleep.

Aftercare Tips

To heal and keep your lip blush tattoo healthy for life follow these aftercare tips:

Don’t Lick Your Lips: As I mentioned above, don’t lick your lips at all during the healing process. If your lips feel dry use a lip balm or healing gel recommended by your tattoo artist to keep them moist.
Don’t Pick or Scratch Scabs: The scabs that form during the healing process are like a shield for the tattooed area. Picking at scabs can cause loss of pigment or infection. Let the scabs fall off on their own.
Use the Right Lip Products: Don’t use regular lipstick or lip gloss during the initial healing period. Use a non-irritating healing balm or moisturizing lip products. These are crucial to keep your lips moist and the colour in place.
Keep Your Lips Clean: Gently wipe your lips with a damp cotton pad to remove any dirt or debris. Don’t use harsh cleansers that can disrupt the healing process.
Protect Your Lips from the Sun: Sun exposure can fade your lip tattoo. Once the healing process is done, you must wear a lip balm with SPF to protect the natural lip colour.
Avoid Spicy and Salty Foods: Spicy food and salty food can irritate the tattooed area and cause unnecessary discomfort. Eat bland food during the healing process to heal smoothly.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated from the inside out to aid in the healing of the tattooed area.
Avoid Intensive Exercise: During the initial healing process avoid excessive sweating or intense treatments that can cause irritation.

Conclusion

You may think it’s no big deal to lick your lips after a lip tattoo but it can actually hinder the healing process and cause complications like infection or colour fade. To get the best results, you must follow proper aftercare and not lick or irritate the newly tattooed area. By following these aftercare tips and choosing a skilled cosmetic tattoo artist, you can have vibrant and long lasting lip colour for months to come.