How To Take Care Of A Tattoo: Common Questions Answered
So you just got tattooed for the first time and you love your new tattoo, but you still have a ton of questions. Or maybe youre a tattoo veteran and just need a refresher on how to care for your tattoos. Whatever your situation is, weve compiled a comprehensive list of tattoo aftercare instructions thats sure to give you all the answers you need.
Sleeping With A New Tattoo While Traveling
If you are traveling or getting a tattoo at a convention where you will be staying in a hotel overnight, its smart to pack your own set of sheets or plan on using wrap at night to protect your tattoo. As clean as a bed might look, you never know what is lurking on the mattress or sheets beneath you and its better to be safe than sorry.
What Kind Of Lotion To Use On New Tattoo
Your new tattoo will ooze all sorts of fluids the first few days including blood, clear plasma, lymphatic fluid, and ink. These are signs your body recognizes the trauma, and is sending cells to repair it. Your tattoo might not look so great the first few days, but youll have to trust the process. Expect scabbing and itching.
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What You Can Use To Let A Tattoo Heal Properly
Its important to get new ink from a licensed tattoo artist. Not only do they have the knowledge and experience to give you a piece of art that you can be proud of, but theyre also knowledgeable about the right aftercare techniques to prevent complications after your session.
The precise aftercare techniques will slightly differ based on the healing process stage youre in.
A fresh tattoo is bandaged for one to two hours. Your tattoo artist may put a small amount of aftercare ointment on, but youll need to take off your bandage to let the wound breathe. At this point, youll need to carefully wash the tattoo wound with antibacterial soap. Pat gently to dry.
Most tattoo artists recommend an ointment called A+D. It contains a combination of petrolatum and lanolin, which may protect your skin during the first several hours after getting your tattoo.
After the first couple of days, you can switch to a lighter, fragrance-free moisturizer, such as Lubriderm or Eucerin. This will also help alleviate itching that often occurs during the healing process.
Other tattoo aftercare tips include keeping your wound out of the sun or submerged in water. Also, avoid picking at an itchy tattoo this can lead to infections and scars.
Tattoo Aftercare: Dos And Donts
After careful planning and saving, youve finally got the tattoo you always wanted. Its fresh, the lines are perfect, the colors are popping.
Youre probably going to want to admire your new tattoo and take pictures for the world to see, right?
Sorry, but thatll have to wait.
First, the tattoo artist will apply a thin layer of petroleum ointment on your tattoo, then cover it with film and a bandage if necessary. This is to keep the tattoo protected from irritation, bacteria, and infection.
This is when the healing process begins, and proper tattoo aftercare is essential.
If you want your new tattoo looking vivid and feeling healthy, follow this list of doâs and donâts for best tattoo aftercare practices.
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Tubes Or Dispensable Packaging
When it comes to how your aftercare product is packaged, Olive recommends reaching for products that come with a dispenser . Something you have to continuously dip your hand into may harbor bacteria from the hands. That doesnt mean balms and creams that come in a pot are a no-go, just be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before scooping out any product.
Is It Bad To Not Moisturize Your Tattoo
What Happens If You Dont Put Ointment On A New Tattoo? If you dont moisturize a new tattoo, there are chances it wont heal properly. Moisturising keeps it safe from infections and allows the quality of the tattoo to be preserved. Itll also prevent you from itching, which will stop the area from healing.
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Coconut Oil And Tattoo Aftercare
Polynesian people, such as Samoans, have long used coconut oil on their tattoos. They apply it after the tattoo is completed or when it heals. One supposed benefit is that it makes the design shine.
Some websites claim that coconut oil keeps the skin under your tattoo moist and protects against infection. Yet evidence is anecdotal, and theres no scientific proof that it works.
Check with your doctor before putting coconut oil or any other unproven products on your tattoo.
Best Tattoo Lotions For Healing And Maintenance In
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment. amazon.com. The general rule of thumb when looking for a
- Hustle Butter Deluxe Luxury Tattoo Care & Maintenance Cream. ulta.com. Hustle Butter is
- Lush Ultrabalm. lushusa.com. This balm from Lush is super lightweight and a little goes a
- Aveeno Unscented Daily Moisturizing Lotion. target.com. Another expert-approved pick?
- Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion. amazon.com. If even the thought of loading up on body
- Kopari Coconut Melt. sephora.com. Theres a reason coconut oil is so highly recommended
- EltaMD Lotion. dermstore.com. Got sensitive skin? No prob, cause this tattoo lotion is pretty
- Cannuka Nourishing Body Cream. dermstore.com. This body cream is a total power
- After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotion. amazon.com. This lotion is formulated
- Eucerin Daily Hydration Lotion. target.com. It goes without saying that you definitely want to
The artist should apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the tattoo and then cover the area in a bandage or plastic wrap. This covering.
That dang bandage that the artist puts on after your session can be annoying, but its there for a reason. Your fresh tattoo is basically one giant open wound. The wrapping that they put over it keeps any bacteria or airborne particles from getting into it. How long should you keep it on? Well, listen to your artist.
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Whats The Best Way To Heal A New Tattoo
It seems like everyone is an expert on healing tattoosjust ask, and they will tell you that they know the best, fastest, and the only way to do it.
Im no expert, but I have a few tattoos and nearly all have healed well but not all! Ive gotten quite good at taking care of them over time, through trial and error Ive learned that the secret is to:
- Pay attention to how your skin feels and looks.
- Use good products.
Some will tell you to listen to your artist and do whatever they tell you, to the letter. This isnt necessarily the best advice. I know because Ive tried it a few times with poor results. Why? Everyones skin is different, every tattoo is different, and theres no one-size-fits-all aftercare sheet.
Instead, you should listen to your skin and come up with a custom method thats best for you. When you find a product your skin likes, stick with it! Learning how your skin heals best, then improving your personal technique is the secret to fast, safe healing for tattoos both big and small.
In this article, Ill share what Ive learned about tattoo aftercare and show you my preferred method. Use it as a jumping off point to customise a method for you.
Lets begin!
How Long Does It Take for a Tattoo to Heal?
Your tattoo should be healed after about 23 weeks in terms of appearance. After 45 weeks, your skin should look smooth, and there should be no itching. It can take up to 34 months for all the layers of skin to heal.
What Should I Use To Dry My Tattoo
Dont go messing up a job well done by drying your freshly cleansed tattoo with a day-old, musty-ass towel. What you dry your tattoo with matters just as much as what you use to clean it. Use a fresh, clean, chemical-free paper towel.
If we are going reusable, get a thoroughly washed and sanitized old t-shirt or thin towel. Something that bacteria isnt hiding in and that isnt scratchy or abrasive.
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Keep It Clean But Not Soaked
A fresh tattoo is effectively a wound, so its important to keep it clean in order to avoid infection. It will need to be cleaned regularly, particularly in the first 24-48 hours, says Hayley. When you take the wrap off, clean the tattoo with an antibacterial, fragrance free soap, or warm water, pat your skin dry, then apply a thin layer of fragrance-free, antibacterial moisturiser over the top. Make sure youve cleaned your hands first. You can get your tattoo wet with short showers, but it shouldnt be submerged or soaked, for instance, in the bath or swimming, for at least two to three weeks.
Avoid Too Much Sun And Be Extra Diligent With Sun Cream
While your tattoo is healing, stay out of the sun as much as possible, or wear clothes that protect the area from the sun, especially if you have a coloured tattoo. After its healed, regular sun cream should be fine to use, says Hayley. If you want to keep the colour vibrant, use a high SPF.
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What Kind Of Cream Should I Use On A New Tattoo
Here at Cloak and Dagger, we recommend a few cream options but its important you find out what works for you, here are some good and readily available options:
- Benpathen nappy rash cream, works well for most people
- Palmers cocoa butter ensure it is 100% natural with no additives, fragrances or perfumes
- Coconut oil 100% natural
- E45 cream lighter alternative, PH neutral moisturiser
Continue to apply a thin layer of cream a few times a day to help your tattoo heal and prevent it from drying out.
What Is Tattoo Swelling
Swelling is a natural response of the body to various things. Usually, its a result of an inflammation or fluid buildup. They can be caused by a wide range of things including injury, disease, hormonal changes, sting, infection, pregnancy, medication, and diseases. They can be internal or external.
Tattoo swelling falls under the external category that is caused by an injury. Since the process of tattooing involves punching a needle through the skin to deposit ink in the dermis, it can definitely damage and injure the skin. Not to mention that the tattoo machine as well can repeatedly bump on the topmost layer of the skin, so the tattooed area can really get beaten up.
As a result, the body reacts accordingly to heal the area. To help heal the injury, the body diverts white blood cells in the area which can result in localized fluid retention. By putting more fluid in the affected locale, you also get to move the body part with less ease, preventing the injury from worsening. So, all in all, its one of the bodys ways to help heal you.
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How Often Should I Put Lotion On A Scabbing Tattoo
When your tattoo begins to scab it can become exceedingly dry. Although you may automatically think that applying more lotion is the best solution, you must be very careful.
Although most tattoos scab over very lightly, some tattoos can contain quite thick, dense scabs .
However, these big, thick scabs can also become very absorbent, and by applying too much lotion, especially when the scabs are still wet after cleaning/showering , you can cause the scabs to soak up too much moisture, making them become gooey and gloopy.
The main cause of this is the new layer of lotion trapping moisture beneath it, and with nowhere for the moisture to go, it is absorbed by the scabs. This is known as tattoo bubbling, and these sticky scabs then become much more prone to being pulled or ripped off.
Therefore, you should continue to apply lotion as often as you normally would unless the scabbing becomes very dry and looks like it may begin to start cracking, in which case clean the tattoo and make sure its completely dry before applying a small amount of lotion afterward.
You can make sure the area is completely dry by gently patting it with a clean paper towel to get rid of most of the moisture, and then allowing the tattoo to air-dry for another 10 minutes. Avoid using a towel that may transfer dirt and increase your risk of infection.
Without doing this your tattoo may look dry, but there is likely still moisture trapped within the scabs.
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Tattoo Goo Aftercare Lotion
This is one of the most loved and used lotions after tattoo. This lotion has some specialties. At a time, Tattoo Goo has Olive Oil that will help heal the tattoo pain quickly and it will keep your skin softer and moisturized. Besides this, Tattoo Goo has a color glowing quality. You will find your tattoo is glowing even more than before. You may try this one.
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When It Ok To Put Vaseline Or Petroleum Jelly On A New Tattoo
The first 24 hours after getting a tattoo are critical to your aftercare. Your tattoo artist may advise that you wear special bandages for added protection. After a few days, you may be able to safely take showers, but youll still need to avoid submerging the tattoo in water when bathing.
While your tattoo is bandaged, this may allow for a very small window for using Vaseline too, since your tattoo is already covered. However, youll want to verify this with your tattoo artist first.
Generally, theres no need for Vaseline on a new tattoo whatsoever. Once your bandages are off, youll want to stay away from Vaseline during the healing process, too.
You may be able to use Vaseline on a newer tattoo only after its completely healed. The only use for petroleum jelly on your tattoo is for extremely dry skin around the area.
Can I Use Coconut Oil On My Tattoo
Coconut oil is gentle enough to use during any stage of the tattoo process. You can apply it to new tattoos, old ones, or even those that are undergoing removal or retouching. This can prove beneficial if you have more than one tattoo, or if youre thinking about getting additional ink in the near future.
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The 10 Best Lotions For Tattoos In 2021
Tattoo lotions are an essential part of tattoo aftercare and the overall healing process. After getting a tattoo, regular use of a lotion provides protection to your skin and helps stop your tattoo from becoming excessively dry or flakey. They can also prevent that annoying itch that accompanies a healing tattoo, as the last thing you want to do is scratch at your new ink it is an open wound, after all!
Choosing a tattoo lotion can be an extremely daunting process. You want to be sure to purchase something that is both free of skin-irritating ingredients and sufficiently moisturizing. To help you make your decision easier, weve collected a list of the top 10 tattoo lotions out there and analyzed the benefits of each one. Keep reading to learn about our favorite options!
How To Replace The Cling Film On Your New Tattoo
You might see that under the cling film, theres a build-up of plasma and ink , but dont worry. This is completely normal, and its a sign that your tattoo is starting to heal. It will also mean that its time to change the cling film. To do this simply
If you notice a small rash appear surrounding the tattoo, its usually from the cling film but feel free to contact the studio to ensure that everything is as it should be.
Top tip: Heading on holiday or somewhere warm? We advise you to book holidays once the healing is completed, as tattoo aftercare is even more important in warmer climates. Should this be unavoidable, you should try to keep the tattoo out of direct sunlight and change the cling film more frequently to allow your skin to breathe.
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