AfterCare
Tattoo AfterCare
Now, you have your fresh new tattoo, and you want to take good 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. The tattoo is covered initially to keep air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours. Excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the cover so you can show your friends, but your friends will just have to wait until later.
Wash and Treat
After you remove the cover, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use warm water and mild, antibacterial soap. 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. VASELINE , BACITRACIN, BETADINE OR JOHNSON BABY OIL is recommendedAfter 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. use lotion twice or thrice a day but a little bit . keep the tattoo dry and moisturize it a bit several times .
Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming
Yes, you can 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. Apply lotion 2-3 times a day to soften the scabs 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 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 sun blockage cream. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years, and it will continue to be a source of great pride.