Why aftercare is important
Tattoos are more than just a work of art and a way to express your style. This is also a medical procedure because the artist uses a needle to insert ink under the skin.
Every hour you open your skin, you are vulnerable to scars and infections.
Tattoo care can prevent complications and ensure proper tattoo repair. You and your tattoo artist have the same role in this process. By going to a licensed and respected tattoo artist, you need to take care of your new tattoo at home.
However, finding out how to take care of tattoos can be difficult. Many states do not require their tattoo artists to provide instructions for aftercare. States that require post-care guidance will always let the artist decide what information to provide. Read for more information
Keep reading the daily guide to help you with tattoo care, tips on what products to use, and more. How to take care of your tattoo
Follow-up care begins when your tattoo is done.
Cover it
The artist should apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the tattoo and then cover the area with a bandage or plastic wrap. This cover prevents bacteria from entering the skin. It also protects tattoos from rubbing on clothes and irritation.
Keep dressing until your tattoo artist recommends it, which can only take a few hours. This will help absorb any fluid or excess ink that comes out of the tattoo.
Wash tattoos thoroughly
You can remove the lid after a few hours.
First, wash your hands with soap and water. Then gently wash the tattoo with warm water and unscented soap. Dry the skin with a soft cloth. Apply a small amount of unscented and non-alcoholic moisturizer to the tattoo. At this point, you can hide the cover so that your skin breathes.
Wait for it to heal
While your tattoo has healed, you should:
Wear sunscreen when you go out
Call your tattoo artist or doctor if you have symptoms of infection or other problems
You don’t have to:
- Cover the tattoo with sunscreen until it heals completely
- scratch or choose a tattoo
- wear a tight dress over tattoos
- swim or immerse your body in water (good rain)
Take care of tattoos in the sun
How quickly you recover depends on the size of your tattoo and how complex it is. Larger spots stay red and swell longer because they can cause more trauma to your skin.
Day 1
You come home from a tattoo parlor with plastic or tattoo plastic. You can delete it after a few hours.
You should ask your artist for details on how long to wait. Recommendations vary and may be based on the type and size of your tattoo. Some tattoo artists recommend that you keep your tattoo for only 1 or 2 hours.
Once the cover is removed, you will probably notice fluid coming out of the tattoo. This is blood, plasma (a clear piece of blood), and some extra ink. That’s normal. Your skin will be red and sore. It may be a little warm to the touch.
Wash tattoos with warm water and unscented soap with clean hands. Apply a non-perfumed and non-alcoholic moisturizer. Leave the cover to repair the tattoo.
Days 2 to 3
Right now, your tattoo will look dull, and cloudy. This happens when your skin is healthy. Curves begin to form. Wash your tattoos once or twice a day and apply a moisturizer without perfume and alcohol.
When washing, you may notice ink flowing in the dishwasher. It’s just excess ink coming out of your skin.
Days 4 to 6
The redness should begin to disappear.
You may notice a slight scratch on the tattoo. The scabs should not be as strong as the scabs that you get when you cut, but they rise. Do not pull the scabs – they may cause scarring.
Continue to wash your tattoos once or twice a day. Apply a non-perfumed and non-alcoholic moisturizer.
Days 6 to 14
The scabs harden and begin to flatten. Don’t invent them and don’t try to download them. Let them come out naturally. Otherwise, you can extract the ink and leave scars.
At this point, your skin may be very itchy. Carefully apply an unscented and non-alcoholic moisturizer several times a day to relieve itching. If your tattoo is red and swollen at this time, you may have an infection. Return to your doctor or see a doctor.
Days 15 to 30
In this last phase of healing, most large particles disappear and the scabs should disappear. You can still see some dead skin, but eventually, it will also be clean.
An area with tattoos can look dry and dull. Keep moisturizing until the skin looks hydrated again.
By the second or third week, the outer layers of skin should’ve healed. It may take 3 to 4 months for the lower layers to completely heal.
By the end of your third month, the tattoo should look as bright and vivid as the artist intended.
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these bright and vivid diabetes tattoos. Tattoo care products
Use a mild, non-abrasive soap or special tattoo cleaner to clean the area. Your tattoo provider may recommend a tattoo cleaner.
Soap options include the following products that you can purchase online:
Dove cosmetic stick for sensitive skin
Liquid Neutrogena
Dial Gold antibacterial deodorant soap (although this soap is not odorless, tattoos always recommend it)
For the first day or two, use an ointment like A + D Original Ointment or Aquaphor Healing Ointment is a product recommended by your tattoo technician to help heal your tattoo.
It is best to avoid 100% petroleum-based products such as Vaseline. The American Academy of Dermatology says that petroleum-based products can cause the ink to change color. However, there is one exception: The Tattoo Authority says Vaseline can help with bathing. Because Vaseline is so non-porous (waterproof), you can apply it to your tattoo in front of the shower, so it protects the place from splashing water.
It has also been noted that Vaseline can help with the healing of marks such as the skin around the tattoo when it is too dry.