First of all, always listen to the advice that your tattoo artist gives you for the aftercare of your tattoo. Be sure to ask what the aftercare procedures are throughout your tattoo healing process.
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Typically, the tattoo artist will apply some ointment and cover the tattooed area before leaving the salon, to help prevent infection of the tattoo. The infection can be caused by dirty hands, dirty clothes, and any airborne bacteria that can get into the raw area. There are two lines of thought among tattoo artists when finishing the tattoo.
- The artist wears a gauze that allows the tattoo to breathe, which is essential to the healing process. However, as cool tattoos spill blood and lymphatic fluids, this can seep through the gauze and onto your clothing. Also, gauze sometimes sticks to the tattoo, so when gauze is removed, you may need to apply a cool (watery) damp sponge to smooth the area before removing so that none of the color is washed off of the tattoo.
- The artist uses a cling film that prevents blood and liquid from seeping onto clothing and not sticking to the tattoo. The downside is that tattoos need to breathe, so you should only leave the wrap / film on for no more than 2 hours. If body sweat occurs under the cling film / wrap, this will cause bacteria to grow and lead to a tattoo infection.
Washed
When removing the wrap, take a shower and wash the tattooed area with warm water and a non-fragrant antibacterial or antimicrobial soap such as Provon. Only use your fingers to gently wash off the ointment, blood and liquids and do not use a cloth. The wash cloths are too rough for the wound and can cause the ink to bleed. Pat the area dry (do not rub) with a clean paper towel or towel.
Unction
For 3 to 5 days, twice a day, apply an antibacterial healing ointment such as Bepanthen or a cream rich in vitamin A and D. Do not use petroleum jelly, lanolin, alcohol, calamine lotion, or Neosporin, which can cause red bumps that can remove your tattoo ink. Basically, only use ointments that are fragrance-free and do not contain chemicals that can damage your tattoo. When applying the ointment only a thin layer is required, it should leave the tattoo damp but not mushy, so wait 10 minutes to allow the ointment to penetrate the skin and wipe off any excess ointment. You want the tattoo to be wet but also to breathe to help prevent too much scabbing on the skin.
Clothing
Wear loose-fitting clothing that won’t rub against the tattoo. Tight-fitting clothing can remove the protective layer of skin over the tattoo, which will increase the healing time and could remove the color from the tattoo and possibly cause infections. New clothes should be washed first before wearing them, as many new clothes contain toxic chemicals and can also have an excess of dye.
Hydrates
After the fifth day, you need to hydrate the tattoo for about 2 weeks. One suggestion would be to use Keri or Vaseline intensive care cream. Do not re-bandage the tattoo as the bandage could stick to the tattoo when removing it and also remove the ink from the tattoo. If re-bandaging is necessary due to your work environment, seek the advice of your tattoo artist.
Sun and water
The first 3 to 4 weeks are a crucial time to maintain the appearance and longevity of your tattoo. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight as it causes discoloration. It only takes about 3 minutes for your tattoo to get sunburned as the skin is very sensitive. After the tattoo is fully healed and you venture into direct sunlight, always apply 30SPF sunscreen to ensure the tattoo does not fade. Do not “register” your tattoo, do not swim in salt water, pools, spas, hot tubs, or allow your tattoo to get hit by water in the shower.
Scabs and flaking
From about day 3 to 10, your tattoo may scab over or peel. Apply a warm, wet compress to the scab for 5 minutes, 2-3 times a day, to soften the scab and allow it to fall off on its own. Do not pick up the scab. Only use moisturizer to peel the skin and not for the scabs, let the scabs dry. If the scab itches, put it down, don’t pick it up! Instead, pat the area to control the itch with your hand.