Tattoo Aftercare - How to Take Care
of Your New Tattoo
Now, you have your fresh new tattoo, and
you want to take good care of it! 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. It is
very important that you follow these guidelines. A really
beautiful tattoo can turn into a disaster if the proper
aftercare is not taken.
Leave That Bandage Alone!
Your artist took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very
good reason - to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound.
Yes, as pretty as your new tattoo is, it is still a wound. Open
flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. Leave the
bandage on for a minimum of two hours. Excitement of
having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the bandage so
you can show your friends, but your friends will just have to
wait until later.
The only exception to this rule is if
your artist covered your tattoo with
saran wrap
or some kind of plastic. This is extremely
detrimental to a tattoo, so it should be
removed immediately. You're better off not
having any covering than to be suffocating your new tattoo with
plastic wrap.
Wash and Treat
After you remove the bandage, you will
want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid
antibacterial or antimicrobial soap (Satin
and
Provon
are my highest recommendations.
Dial tends to be too harsh - generic brand antibacterial soaps
are actually better) 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.
A&D vitamin enriched ointment would be my first choice, but if
you don't have any, Bacitracin or a similar antibacterial
ointment is acceptable.
**Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for
cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the
Neosporin, 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
H2Ocean. It's not necessary, as many over the counter products work just fine,
but it's your choice. Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5 days.
After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use
lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion
you use, it should be dye and fragrance free. A lot of artists recommend
Lubriderm, but I have found that Lubriderm stings when I apply it. Instead, I
have had great success with Eucerin. See also:
Aftercare Contradictions: Why there are so many views on
what product is best.
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 as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. 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.
First Page >
Return to Start of Beginner's Guide Feature
Related Articles
|
