Unhealthy foods (e. g. food that has high fat or sugar content) should be avoided after you get a tattoo. as they can cause skin inflammation and interfere with the healing process. Examples include fresh sausage, smoked sausage and ham.
Anyone who is getting treatment for skin problems or who has severe skin inflammation (which happens a lot after getting a tattoo) should follow this advice.
Along with eating well, it’s important to take care of your tattoo properly by doing things like protecting your skin, not scratching it, and staying out of the sun. Both of these combined will promote better healing and a more beautiful tattoo.
Getting a new tattoo is an exciting experience that requires proper aftercare for optimal healing. An important part of caring for a new tattoo is paying close attention to your diet. But when it comes to post-tattoo eating, recommendations seem to vary So what’s the verdict on consuming pork after getting inked?
Let’s take a closer look at how pork and other dietary factors can impact the tattoo healing process,
Overview of Tattoo Healing
When you get a tattoo, the artist uses needles to puncture your skin and deposit ink into the dermis, the second layer of skin below the epidermis. This causes trauma to the skin and triggers the immune system to start the healing process
Tattoo healing happens in three main stages:
Inflammation – The skin becomes inflamed as plasma and immune cells rush to the site of trauma. This causes swelling, redness and tenderness.
Proliferation – New tissue forms around the ink as fibroblasts produce collagen. Scabs will develop.
Maturation – The cells become more organized to strengthen the skin. Scabs fall off and the tattoo brightens.
This entire healing process takes around 2-6 weeks depending on size, location and your body’s healing ability. Proper aftercare helps optimize healing.
Why the Right Diet Matters for Healing
Eating a healthy diet is important for the immune system and skin regeneration. However, certain foods can disrupt the healing process:
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Inflammation – Foods high in sugar, fat and salt promote inflammation, which interferes with wound healing.
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Dehydration – Not drinking enough water slows healing.
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Nutrient deficiency – Lack of vitamins and minerals impairs collagen production needed for skin repair.
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Digestive issues – Hard-to-digest foods deprive the body of energy needed for healing.
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Toxins – Alcohol, processed foods and sugary drinks introduce toxins and impede healing.
Following doctor’s orders for proper tattoo aftercare and avoiding dietary pitfalls will help your ink heal beautifully.
Are Pork Products Off Limits After a New Tattoo?
Many sources advise avoiding pork products like bacon and ham after getting tattooed. But why exactly are cured and processed meats discouraged?
Several factors make pork less than ideal for post-tattoo healing:
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High sodium content – The salt used to cure pork can dehydrate the body and cause inflammation.
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Nitrates/nitrites – These preservatives may interfere with wound healing.
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Fat content – Pork products tend to be high in saturated fats, which are pro-inflammatory.
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Histamine levels – Cured meats contain high levels of histamines that promote inflammation.
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Difficult to digest – Fatty pork can tax the digestive system and divert energy from healing.
While an occasional piece of lean, uncured pork may be fine, it’s best to avoid highly processed pork products when recovering from a new tattoo.
12 Foods to Avoid After Getting a Tattoo
To allow your new ink to heal properly, avoid these potentially problematic foods for 1-2 weeks:
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Processed pork (bacon, deli meat, sausage, pepperoni)
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Fried foods
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Fast food
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Excess sugar (soda, candy, ice cream)
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Dairy products
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Alcohol
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Spicy foods
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Salty snacks
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Citrus fruits
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Tomatoes
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Cruciferous vegetables
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Nuts and seeds
These foods tend to be either highly inflammatory, difficult to digest, or dehydrating for the body. Some may also disrupt the skin barrier.
9 Foods to Eat for Better Tattoo Healing
Focusing on nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods can provide key vitamins, minerals and compounds to optimize skin repair after a tattoo. Helpful foods include:
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Colorful fruits and veggies – Contain antioxidants to reduce inflammation.
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Leafy greens – Packed with vitamin K for blood clotting.
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Salmon – Provides anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
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Sweet potatoes – Full of vitamin A needed for cell growth.
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Beans and lentils – Plant-based proteins help repair damaged tissue.
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Nuts and seeds – Good sources of vitamin E and zinc for skin integrity.
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Bone broth – Contains collagen, gelatin and amino acids.
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Fermented foods – Improve gut health to support immunity.
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Herbal tea – Soothes, hydrates and provides antioxidants.
Balancing all necessary nutrients while avoiding potentially disruptive foods offers the ideal diet for healing tattoos.
Sample Post-Tattoo Meal Plan
Here is a sample high-protein meal plan to promote healing after getting a new tattoo:
Breakfast: Veggie omelet with spinach, peppers and mushrooms with berries on the side.
Lunch: Turkey pinwheels (turkey, avocado, lettuce wrapped in whole grain flatbread) and kale salad.
Dinner: Baked salmon over zucchini noodles with beets and walnuts.
Snacks: Hummus with carrot sticks, chia seed pudding, kefir smoothie.
Aim for lean proteins, anti-inflammatory fats, and fruits/veggies rich in vitamins C, A and K for optimal healing from the inside out. Stay hydrated with herbal tea and water.
Tips for Safely Reintroducing Pork After Tattoo Healing
Once your new ink has passed the initial healing phase, you may wish to incorporate some pork back into your diet. Here are some tips for eating pork safely post-tattoo:
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Stick to lean, uncured cuts like pork tenderloin. Avoid fatty, heavily processed options.
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Watch portions and avoid overdoing it.eat pork in moderation twice a week at most.
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Cleanly cook pork to an internal temperature of 145°F to kill any parasites or bacteria.
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Pair pork with lots of vegetables for added nutrition and fiber to help digestion.
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Stay hydrated and limit high sodium dishes to mitigate salt content.
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Take care to monitor skin; if inflammation flares up, avoid pork and consult your artist.
While small amounts of lean pork can be reasonably enjoyed about 2-4 weeks after getting a tattoo, it’s wise to err on the side of caution and limit intake during the initial healing phase.
Focus on a Healthy Lifestyle for Tattoo Success
A balanced, wholesome diet and healthy lifestyle habits go hand in hand with proper skincare for helping new tattoos heal their absolute best. Be sure to:
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Eat a nutrient-dense diet and properly hydrate
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Avoid taboo foods including pork for at least 2 weeks
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Get plenty of restful sleep to optimize skin regeneration
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Reduce alcohol since it delays healing and dehydrates
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Don’t pick scabs or scratch the tattooed area
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Carefully clean and moisturize the tattoo as directed
By avoiding dietary pitfalls like cured pork and focusing on proper aftercare, you can set yourself up for Tattoo Success! Your artist will appreciate you taking measures to help your body heal your new art properly.
List of foods you should avoid
Examples of the main food to avoid include:
- Ready-made juices and sodas;
- Fast food and fried foods, like french fries, chips, and pastries
- Fast food
- Meats that have been processed, like salami, ham, bacon, fresh and smoked sausage, and ham;
- Sweets, stuffed biscuits, cakes, ready-made cakes, chocolates, cereal bars;
- Stock cubes, ready-to-eat frozen meals, ice cream, etc.
- Alcoholic beverages.
Excessive consumption of these foods increases inflammation and hinders the skin’s healing process. This type of diet can also lead to other health problems such as headaches, high cholesterol and diabetes. These foods should not be eaten at all, and they shouldn’t be eaten for at least a week after surgery, piercing, or tattoo.
What to eat to speed healing
To help your skin heal faster, eat foods that are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, like omega-3 Foods like tomatoes, red fruits, citrus fruits like orange, and herbs like garlic, onion, and saffron are the ones that have the most antioxidants.
Eat foods that are high in good fats, like nuts, avocado, salmon, tuna, sardines, olive oil, peanuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and sesame seeds. You can also help your body heal by drinking one to two cups of anti-inflammatory teas. Herbs like chamomile, ginger, and rosemary can be used.
A healthy diet is important after getting a tattoo, but there are other things you need to do to make sure your tattoo heals properly. Among these are washing the area with mild soap for at least two weeks and staying out of the sun and the water. Learn more about tattoo aftercare and what you can do to promote healing.
The last thing you should do is get the tattoo done in a safe place that is licensed and where everything used is completely germ-free. This is essential to avoid the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS.
Clinical review:
Nutrition studies completed at Catholic University of Santos. Licensed to practice through the CRN-3 #15097. Share
Are you interested in how we can make this text better? Name: Email address where you want to receive the reply: Check the confirmation email we sent you. Why you’re here: Are you a health care professional? Update History: To keep the highest level of quality, we regularly add the newest scientific information to our content.
- Version 16 December 2021 (Updated by Daisy Oliveira, Registered Nurse)
- 30 November, 2021 Updated by Manuel Reis – Registered Nurse
- 5 May, 2021 Updated by Manuel Reis – Registered Nurse
- 26 February, 2020 Updated by Manuel Reis – Registered Nurse
- On March 27, 2019, Tatiana Zanin, a registered dietitian, wrote a clinical review.
- Published in March, 2019
References
- EUR J CLIN NUTR. A 6-month randomized controlled trial found that drinking sucrose-sweetened soft drinks raises uric acid levels in the blood of overweight and obese people. 2015. Available on: . Access in 23 Oct 2020 .
- ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE ENDOCRINOLOGIA & METABOLOGIA. What role does diet play in preventing and managing chronic inflammation? 2008. Available on: . Access in 23 Oct 2020 .
- PLOS ONE . In adipose tissue, sucrose cancels out the anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil and makes mice fatter. 2011. Available on: . Access in 23 Oct 2020 .
- INT WOUND J . Changes in the cooking method can make green leafy vegetables more antioxidant-rich. 2016. Available on: . Access in 23 Oct 2020 .
- FOOD CHEMISTRY. Total antioxidant activity and phenolic content in selected vegetables. 2004. Available on: . Access in 23 Oct 2020 .
Clinical review:
Nutrition studies completed at Catholic University of Santos. Licensed to practice through the CRN-3 #15097.
6 Food to Avoid After Getting a Tattoo
Can you eat food after getting a tattoo?
Greasy and spicy foods can also cause inflammation and irritation to the tattoo area. Additionally, consuming foods high in histamine, such as aged cheese, pickled vegetables, and processed meats, can trigger an allergic reaction. To avoid these risks, it is recommended to avoid eating certain foods for the first few weeks after getting a tattoo.
Can one eat pork?
A cooked, medium pork cutlet or steak provides 239 calories, 34 grams protein, 10 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 697 milligrams sodium, and 0 grams carbohydrate, if you eat only the lean part of the steak. Pork contains many of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) found in beef and it is high in protein, but can be lower in fat than beef—depending on cut and preparation. Meat from any kind of mammal, including pork, can cause an allergic reaction (and some people who are allergic to mammalian meat also react to poultry).
Can I eat spicy food after getting a tattoo?
No, it is not safe to eat spicy or acidic foods after getting a tattoo. The skin is especially vulnerable to irritation and infection in the days and weeks following a new tattoo, and both spicy and acidic foods can irritate the area.
Can I eat burgers after getting a tattoo?
Where I live it is common knowledge that after getting a tattoo you should not eat certain types of food, e.g. seafood, chocolate, burgers. Apparently eating those foods will slow down the healing process and might even trigger an inflammation.