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Tattoo Aftercare 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 three hours. It is even better if you
can just keep the bandage on overnight. 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 tomorrow
morning. If you think you just absolutely cannot resist the temptation
to show off your new possession, ask your artist if they can cover
it with clear cellophane wrap, so the tattoo can be viewed without
the protective layer being removed. Wash and Treat After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo.
Use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap to gently wash away any
ointment and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth
or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case.
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 ointment. Bacitracin would be the first choice in ointments,
but if you don't have any, A&D
vitamin enriched ointment (medical grade - not the kind used
for diaper rash) is also 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.** Continue this procedure at
least twice a day for two or three days. After that, continue to
keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment,
to keep the skin soft. See also: Aftercare Contradictions: Why there
are so many views on what ointment is best. Scabbing and Peeling After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little
scabbing. Excessive scabbing indicates a poorly-done tattoo, but
a little is sometimes normal and no need to panic. 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.
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