Week 1

Day 1-2: Color is 20-40% darker than what it will look like healed. The color is more solid, and the strokes are more crisp. Mild swelling, slight bruising, redness, and discomfort will subside. Apply balm (Aquaphor), don’t touch otherwise.

Day 3-7: Outer skin begins healing and exfoliation starts where top layers of skin shed, causing the excess pigment to flake away. Don’t pick at the peeling skin or scabbing. Skin starts to itch. Don’t scratch, only tap lightly around the area to alleviate itching. The color may appear gray. Keep applying the balm.

Week 2

Day 8-10: Flaking is in the final stages. Apply balm until day 14. Color may look gray, light, or spotty. In some cases, may temporarily disappear only to reappear later.

Day 11-14: skin begins to take on typical characteristics again.

Week 3

Inner skin healing begins. Color starts to come back after disappearing or looking gray, light, and patch. Color and strokes start to soften.

Week 4-8

Inner skin healing reaches the final stages. Color and strokes continue to soften. This will be the time to schedule a touchup.

Phases of healing:

Hemostasis, Day I

Inflammation, Day 1-10

Proliferation, Week 1-6

Remodeling, Week 4+