Aftercare For Your Tattoo
So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you donât end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals.
You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. Wear a physical blocker sunscreen with at least 7% zinc oxide sunscreen during the daylight hours and/or cover it up .
If your tattoo scabs a bit or develops hard layers, donât worry. Itâs normal. But never pick, scratch, or peel it. You could get an infection or remove the color. If you think your tattoo is infected, or isnât healing properly, go see your doctor.
The Benefit Of Using Tattoo Aftercare Ointments
Improve appearance aftercare ointments help to protect colors and designs of a tattoo to maintain the new look of the tattoo.
Nourishes skin Many aftercare lotions are formulated with vitamins and nutrients to expedite and enhance the process of tattoo healing.
Prevents infections tattoo aftercare ointments use to moisturizing the tattooed area to stop scabs from forming to prevent the spread of bacteria
Relieves irritation tattoo aftercare ointments also helps to reduce rashes, itchiness and another type of skin-irritant conditions.
How to take care of a tattoo? All of these above answers in this article for this question does not represent medical advice, we just try to advise you as the need for peoples information purpose.
People believe that after complete the total healing process, they dont need to care for their tattoo and that is a completely wrong idea. You should keep your tattooed as hydrated as you can and as well-nourished as you can.
Basically moisturizing lotions help to prevent the tattoo from faded and looking distorted as it ages. Among lots of tattoo care products, choosing the best one is confusing for you. So you may stick to the products all that is mentioned above.
Hope that from this article you could get a proper instruction of tattoo aftercare guideline. So make a routine to take care of your tattoo to keep your tattoo fresh for a long time with an attractive look.
Also, See
Phase : Initial Healing
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Why Is Tattoo Aftercare So Important
After weve seen the basic aftercare recommendations, we have to explain why the aftercare matters so much. Here are some reasons why taking care of the tattoo is essential
- Tattooing is a medical procedure the process comprises a needle being inserted underneath your skin, so naturally, we can conclude that every medical procedure, as well as tattooing, requires aftercare.
- Because tattooing is a medical procedure, it can cause infections and scarring unless the tattooed region isnt taken care of.
- Tattoo aftercare prevents skin complications and health issues.
- Tattoo aftercare promotes faster healing and lowers the chances of infection.
- Even though many tattoo artists dont provide aftercare instructions, it is essential you as a client are informed about it before and after you get a tattoo.
Keep Your Tattoo Clean
- Youll need to ensure that your tattoo is kept as clean as possible. Theres no way around it, a fresh tattoo is an open wound and you need to bear that in mind when looking after it. Whilst we take responsibility for the piece of art, tattoo aftercare is 100% your responsibility and cleanliness matters. We recommend short showers until your skin has fully healed.
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Follow The Advice Of Your Tattoo Artists
In most cases, advice for tattoo aftercare varies from the tattoo parlor to parlor. Even so, an artist in the same store suggests different ideas or advice. So, after complete your tattoo without any doubt strictly follow the advice of your tattoo artists. You may also collect the printed advice leaflet of your artist.
Wash the tattoo within a few hours of the complete tattoo. Wrap your tattoo immediately after having a tattoo for the first 2 to 5 hours. Then remove the wrap carefully and wash the whole tattoo with mild liquid soap and warm water. Apply moisturizing cream with a thin layer
After complete your tattoo washing process, put in moisturizing cream with a thin layer. Use that moisturizing cream which is recommended by your artists. Maybe your artists would advise you to continue the cleaning process at least 3 to 5 times a day. Dont use a moisturizer which is not recommended by your tattoo artists.
Leave That Bandage Alone
Open wounds are breeding grounds for bacteria and infectionand, as pretty as your new tattoo is, it’s a wound. Your artist took care to cover it up to keep airborne bacteria from invading it. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours. The excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the bandage so you can show your friends, but you must resist the temptation.
The only exception to this rule is if your artist covered your tattoo with some kind of plastic. This will prevent air from reaching your skin and may be extremely detrimental to a tattoo, so you should remove it immediately. You’re better off not having any covering than to be suffocating your new tattoo with plastic wrap. Better yet, ask your artist to use bandaging rather than plastic in the first place.
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Side Effects And Complications Of New Tattoo Healing And How To Handle New Tattoo Complications
Some possible side effects of getting a new tattoo are skin infections, allergic reactions, skin scarring, and scabbing. You could potentially experience some elevated swelling of your skin if you need to have an MRI. Be sure to properly wash your tattoo, with good tattoo soap, and if you’re experiencing prolonged issues seek advice from your tattoo artist or a doctor
Risk Of Having A Tattoo
There is a risk of having an infection and other physical complications after having a tattoo including
Allergic reactions Different color tattoo dyes may cause an allergic reaction on your body. For example, you may have an itchy rash at the site of your tattoo.
Skin infection and different skin problem after tattooing you may have an infection and also may have a skin problem like keloids and overgrowth of scar tissue, etc
Bloodborne diseases You may have blood born disease, if your artists used that equipment which is contaminated with infected blood, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc.
MRI complications as tattoo are permanent art, which may cause burning in the affected areas during the time of MRI exam.
So, if you experience any type of allergic reaction, infection and other types of skin problem, then you might need medication or other medical treatment.
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How Will It Look
Gross. Seriously, it will be flaky and scabby and you’ll think it looks craptacular, but wait for it. Like a caterpillar in a cocoon, your tattoo will emerge like a butterfly and show the world how amazing it really is.
A tattoo in the flaky stage: Resist the urge to pick!
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I bet she didn’t scratch that itch. Learn how to keep your tattoos this fresh and awesome.
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Wait For The Tattoo To Heal
It may take your tattoo some time to heal, so it is essential you stay calm, take care of your tattoo, and let it heal completely. The majority of tattoo artists will let you know the estimated time you can expect your tattoo to heal, but the time usually revolves around 6 weeks, depending on the size and type of the tattoo.
For example, colored tattoos take longer to heal than black & white ones, or if theres any trauma to the skin, you can also expect the healing process to last longer.
You should also be aware of the fact that the tattoo will become itchy and uncomfortable, so you need to control yourself and not scratch it, or peel and pick it! Here are some other tips to follow if you want your tattoo to heal fast
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun
- Avoid working out or doing strenuous work
- When exposed to the sun, make sure to wear sunscreen
- Wear loose clothes over the tattoo
- Apply a small amount of ointment or lotion putting too much can suffocate the skin and cause healing issues
- Stay away from water and swimming
- Avoid covering the tattoo with sunblock until its healed
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How Do You Know If Your Tattoo Is Healing Properly
Dont freak, but your tattoo is going to look pretty gross at first. In the first couple of days of healing, its normal to experience flaking, peeling, and a little bit of irritation, says Raeman. According to Dagger, the fine-line tattoos you see all over your feed heal pretty quicklyup to around two weeks max, he says, since theres less trauma to the skin. With non-fine line tattoos, the healing process can take about two to three weeks, says Dagger. And unless you get a tattoo on the side of your finger, where the skin is a bit more delicate and prone to friction, your ink is going to heal at the same rate, no matter where it lives.
You do want to freak out a bit if your new tattoo starts to get super red, inflamed, and veinythat means its probably infected, says Raeman. While infections are rare, they do happen, so dont ignore your aftercare. And if you think you may be experiencing any form of infection, give your tattoo artist and/or your dermatologist a quick call.
When Should You Start Using Lotion On Your New Tattoo
You want to start moisturizing your new ink from the moment you take the bandage off. Both Raeman and Dagger recommend using an unscented lotion, like Lubriderm, on your tattoo. Anything with fragrance could irritate your ink and keep it from healing properly.
And lotion isnt the only product you should use on your tattoo. Youll want to keep the area clean with a gentle cleanser, says Dagger. Dont use anything abrasive on your ink . Raeman says that you should use your fingertips to wash your tattoo gently and then pat it dry with some clean paper towels before you go in with your lotion.
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How Often Should I Clean My Tattoo What Kind Of Soap Should I Use
The tattoo should be thoroughly cleaned immediately after removing the bandage, and cleaned daily from there on out. We recommend cleaning it multiple times on the first day. Pat the tattoo dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towel to avoid irritation, and let the tattoo air out for 20-30 minutes before applying moisturizer. We recommend using a gentle, liquid antibacterial soap, such as Dial Antibacterial Soap, though other hand or body soaps can be used as long as they are thoroughly rinsed from the tattoo. You want to avoid excess absorption of water by the tattoo, so washings should be efficient and deliberate to minimize time. You can use antibacterial soap for the first 3-5 days and then regular soap or body wash is fine.
Wash The Tattoo With Antibacterial Soap
It is not only important to wash your hands when handling the tattoo you also have to wash the tattoo and the tattooed area as well. Apply Antibiotic Ointment Or MoisturizerTo do this, make sure to remove the bandage that is covering the tattoo , and wash the area with antibacterial soap and lukewarm water.
However, you cannot wash your tattoo immediately after it is done. The bandage needs to cover the tattoo for several hours, or how many hours the tattoo artist recommends. Only after several hours can you remove the bandage and clean the tattoo, when all the blood or plasma starts oozing from the tattoo.
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No : Protect It With Sunscreen
Sunscreen is essential for healthy skin, but when it comes to your tattoo, it serves an equally important secondary purpose: keeping your ink from fading in the sun.
Tattoos should remain covered and protected for about the first three months, but after that, its fine to let them out for some fresh air and sunshine. However, the more exposure to sun your tattoo receives, the faster it will fade. Lighter inks will fade faster than darker inks, so while black, dark blue and purple hues may not fade as quickly, theyre still being compromised by the suns rays.
You can use the same sunscreen as you use for your normal sun protection routine, and be sure that you use it all over. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen containing zinc that has a rating of at least SPF 30. Then, get diligent about applying it to your tattoo and any exposed skin every time you go outside.
Which Products Should I Use For Tattoo Aftercare
Your new tattoo needs to breathe to promote the healing process which is why most professional tattoo artists will recommend lotions, butters, or natural oils free of synthetic chemicals, ointments and fragrances that often clog and suffocate the pores and act as irritants to broken skin. The more organic and natural, the better for your tattoo. This brings us to our personal favorite healing method.
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Week 5 And Beyond: Dont Slack On Your Longer
To keep your tattoo looking good for years after you got it, make sure to apply sunblock and moisturize frequently!
One of the biggest issues Ive had since I got my tattoo is dry skinI can even see the skin cracking in a few spots. But this is my bad for slacking on lotionjust a simple unscented Lubriderm or hand cream is fine. Explains Chmura: The idea is to not let your tattoo dry out. If it does, it’s no big dealyou just end up doing what is called a dry heal which just tends to take a bit longer. The other risk with a dry heal is, as a tattoo is flaking, you risk the chance of ripping out the scabs which will take the ink with it! Bottom line: Moisturizer is your best friend.
A couple more risks to avoid when your tat is healing: any swimming activities. Youre basically healing a wound, and need to treat it as such! Specht says. You dont want to introduce any bacteria to the area, or any possible sun damage that could ruin the healing process.
Along those lines, youll also want to avoid direct contact with pets: Pet fur, dander, and saliva can cause infections to fresh tattoos, Ilett says. If your tattoo gets sweaty or licked by a pet, wash it immediately with clean hands and fragrance-free soap.
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A Brief History Of Traditional New Tattoo Care Using Plastic Wrap And Other Aftercare Products
In traditional tattoo care, covering the fresh, clean tattoo with household wrap is usually the first step in the healing process. This piece of wrap generally stays on for 2-24 hours. Next, the tattoo is washed and an aftercare product is applied . Steps two and three are then repeated for a minimum of 3-4 times per day until the tattoo is fully healed. This can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the size, location, and style of tattoo. Although this new tattoo care method has been sufficient for many, there are plenty of cons to using this healing method.
Despite the common use of petroleum-based products for new tattoo care, these products tend to suffocate skin pores. When pores are not able to breathe, the skin may develop rashes, and hair follicles become irritated or inflamed. This may do more harm than good to a new tattoo. Additionally, since oxygen itself plays a huge role in allowing a tattoo to heal properly, smothering a new tattoo in plastic wrap and petroleum-based aftercare can be detrimental to the healing process.
Still, aftercare product is extremely helpful in preventing itchiness and scabbing. Scratching a new tattoo can result in loss of color and detail and may cause bleeding, irritation, or infection. And not covering a fresh tattoo can expose the tattoo to unavoidable contaminants. These include bacteria, germs, and dirt from your household or work environment, pet dander, and more. This is the conundrum Saniderm was created to solve.
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