TATTOO AFTERCARE
*Remove the bandage after one hour, two maximum.
*All wounds need to breathe if they are to heal properly.
*Wash the tattoo using your fingertips or hand only.
*Use a mild antibacterial soap and warm water.
*Take care to remove all traces of blood as this will
cause scabbing.
*Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the
two week healing period.
Always gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean soft cloth
or just let it air dry.
Apply a thin coat of ointment to the tattoo,
Bepanthen is what we recommend
, a little goes a long
way...) Work it in well.
Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. You should
barely be able to tell that
it's there... This is just enough to keep the
tattoo moist and to keep it from scabbing. Your body
heat
will liquefy the ointment
and it may become glossy looking or runny. This means
there's too much on there. Dab more off. Too
much ointment will only suffocate the tattoo and liquefy
any scabs that may have formed causing the ink to fall
out and look blotchy. There is no need to re-bandage
the tattoo. Aquaphor, A&D Ointment, Tattoo Goo and
Vitamin E Oil can all be very good for your new tattoo.
Ointment
can
be applied whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry
but bew
are of over-moisturizing.
Your bo
dy will absorb
what it needs where it needs it. Apply
ointment twice a day for
two
to three days then switch to a regular moisturizer
like A
veeno, Eucerin,
Keri, Lubriderm, Curel, Jergens, or Vaseline Intensive
care. Apply moisturizer
twice
a day for the remainder of two weeks. Do not
use lotions that contain color or fragrance or sparkles
until the healing is complete. (Usually anywhere from
ten days to two weeks;
Possibly
longer for slower healers.)
Your skin will form a protective layer no matter what
you do. If you do not keep it moist or if you keep it
too mo
ist (it's a personal
balance, different for each individual), it will
form a
thick, hard scab that
may crack when you move. When you form this kind of
a scab the ink sits within it and slowly heals into
the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have
a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane
to protect the tattoo while it heals. This layer peels
off very similar to a sunburn (do not peel your tattoo,
you will pull the ink out!) and it is perfectly normal
to see small flakes of colored skin falling off during
this stage of healing.
You must keep your tattoo clean, however, long showers
or baths must be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking
can and will loosen scabs if any have formed, or will
soak through the soft tissue turning i
t
into a soggy mess and cause your ink to flow
down the drain. This includes Swimming in the Ocean
or a Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas. Short showers are best,
under ten minutes if possible.
Please refrain from scratching or picking at the tattoo.
Scrubbing with a washcloth can be very harsh on a tattoo
and will cause your colors to fade.
Disrupting the tattoo while it's healing can also cause
scar tissue. It is normal for the tattoo to become
very itchy during the healing time. To relieve this,
spray the tattoo with rubbing alcohol or slap it with
your hand (this will sting it and take away the itch).
No but's about it, the sun is BAD for
your tattoo,
even if you've had it for a loooooong time. A sunburn
on a new tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will
dry out your tattoo and cause it to form a horrendous
scab much of the time causing the tattoo to fade before
it is even healed. It will take much longer to heal
completely. It promotes scarring in a new tattoo. Wait
until it is fully healed to go back in the sun or a
tanning bed and make sure you put on a high quality
SUNBLOCK
(not sunscreen).
But,
do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing.
The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form
above it. If you get too dark, some colors (white, yellow,
pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they
could. Over time, excessive exposure to sunlight will
cause your tattoo to fade no matter what colors are
used.
Just a note:
Remember that
hands and feet reproduce skin cells much
faster than other parts of the body. A tattoo in these
areas will sometimes take an extra two weeks to heal.
During this time refrain from washing dishes, wearing
gloves, or wearing socks and shoes (sandals must not
rub the tattoo). Any friction of this type WILL wear
away the tattoo within a very short period of time.
Tattoos in these areas are
almost
never guaranteed.
