Now, you have your fresh new tattoo! From this point on, your
artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your
tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. A really beautiful tattoo can turn
into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.
Guidelines:
Keep the covering on to keep air-born bacteria from invading your
wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the
bandage/cover on for a minimum of two hours.After you remove the
bandage/covering, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and
mild, liquid antibacterial soap to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or
plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything
abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. (If your tattoo feels slimy
and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much
of this as possible - when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates
scabs.) Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel
to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of
ointment. BEPANTHEN ointment would be my first choice, but if you don't have
any, VITAMEN E would also be okay.**Do not use Polysporin. This is a wonderful
product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic
reaction to the Polysporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go
away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted
tattoo.
Specialty Products and Lotions
If you prefer, you can also use a specialty product such as
Tattoo Goo or Easy Tattoo. Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5
days. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance
free..
Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and
Swimming
Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo. It's OK to
get your tattoo wet - just don't soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or
hot tub can cause serious damage, so you'll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks,
but showering is perfectly fine. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just
remove it quickly with water. Swimming - whether it be a pool, fresh water or
salt water - should be avoided for at least 2
weeks.
Scabbing and Peeling
After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a
little scabbing. Excessive scabbing could indicate a poorly-done tattoo, but a
little is sometimes normal and there is no need to panic. Apply warm moist
compresses to the scabs for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day to soften them and
they will eventually come off on their own. (Do not apply ointment or lotion to
a softened scab - wait for it to dry) You will also start to itch, just like a
sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don't pick, and don't
scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And
if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now
is not the time to ruin it!
Protection from the sun
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to
protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a
brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat,
protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sunblock. This will keep your tattoo
vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great
pride.
artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you may have with your
tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. A really beautiful tattoo can turn
into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.
Guidelines:
Keep the covering on to keep air-born bacteria from invading your
wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the
bandage/cover on for a minimum of two hours.After you remove the
bandage/covering, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and
mild, liquid antibacterial soap to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or
plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything
abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. (If your tattoo feels slimy
and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much
of this as possible - when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates
scabs.) Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel
to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of
ointment. BEPANTHEN ointment would be my first choice, but if you don't have
any, VITAMEN E would also be okay.**Do not use Polysporin. This is a wonderful
product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic
reaction to the Polysporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go
away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted
tattoo.
Specialty Products and Lotions
If you prefer, you can also use a specialty product such as
Tattoo Goo or Easy Tattoo. Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5
days. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance
free..
Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and
Swimming
Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo. It's OK to
get your tattoo wet - just don't soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or
hot tub can cause serious damage, so you'll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks,
but showering is perfectly fine. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just
remove it quickly with water. Swimming - whether it be a pool, fresh water or
salt water - should be avoided for at least 2
weeks.
Scabbing and Peeling
After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a
little scabbing. Excessive scabbing could indicate a poorly-done tattoo, but a
little is sometimes normal and there is no need to panic. Apply warm moist
compresses to the scabs for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a day to soften them and
they will eventually come off on their own. (Do not apply ointment or lotion to
a softened scab - wait for it to dry) You will also start to itch, just like a
sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don't pick, and don't
scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And
if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now
is not the time to ruin it!
Protection from the sun
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to
protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a
brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat,
protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sunblock. This will keep your tattoo
vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great
pride.