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Remove the dressing
in 3 to 4 hours
The purpose of the dressing is to protect your new tattoo from filth, dirty hands, airborne bacteria and other infectious things that we all come into contact during the course of the day. The other reason is to keep the small amount of blood and lymph fluid that will seep from dripping onto your clothes. A freshly done tattoo will seep fluids for about 30 minutes after the procedure, this is normal, and with a plastic wrapping it does not get absorbed into the bandage, it remains locked in. Do not be alarmed. On larger tattoos, you may wish to leave the bandage on even longer to give the entire area a period of time to seal up and be ready to face the outside world. The dressing should remain on for at least 3 hours, but no longer than twelve. Unless told otherwise by your tattoo artist, DO NOT RE-BANDAGE.
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Wash your tattoo with
soap and water, but wash your hands first!
This is one of the most important steps in the care of your tattoo. As soon as you remove the dressing you must wash the tattoo thoroughly with warm water, mild soap and a clean washcloth. The area will be tender, but it is important to remove all the dried blood, ink and fluid. This is the only time you should use a washcloth while your tattoo is healing. When the tattoo has been thoroughly cleaned, pat it dry with a clean towel. Remember - only use a washcloth this once!
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Keep your tattoo from
drying out
For the first 36-48 hours after getting your tattoo, all you need to do is wash it morning and night very gently with a mild soap, warm water and your fingertips, no washcloth. Also, keep it out of harms way, no bodily fluids or other possibly infectious things should ever come into contact with a healing tattoo. It is not necessary at this point to apply any creams or lotions. Wear loose cotton clothing when possible and keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight at all times for the first 30 days. It is perfectly normal for your new tattoo to seep and push out ink and leave marks on sheets and clothes, be careful! But don’t panic,
NEVER apply alcohol, peroxide, POLYSPORIN, Vaseline, calamine lotion or any other type of ointment without first consulting YOUR tattoo artist, friends may mean well, but can cause more harm than good when it comes to tattoo advice. Do not listen to any tattoo advice from experts in bars for at least one month after getting your tattoo.
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Wash your tattoo daily
After the second day of washing and patting dry your tattoo, it will start to feel a little dry and tight as it heals naturally. This is good. At this point you can apply and rub into the skin a liberal amount of Bepanthen Cream available from the front counter of the shop or from the local pharmacy. 10 minutes after applying the cream take a new piece of paper towel and dab off all the extra cream that was not absorbed into your skin/tattoo. This will ensure a quick natural healing process and prevent you from unnecessarily drowning your tattoo in cream, resulting in colour loss. Natural healing is good and healthy, the cream only acts to keep the tattoo moist and supple. Repeat this exact process 1-3 times a day for 7 days or as needed. Don’t overdo it. After 7 days of bepanthen you may switch to an unscented moisturizer cream to keep your tattoo from drying out.
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If a scab does form,
do not pick at it
Most tattoos heal in 3 to 10 days. When properly cared for by a healthy individual most tattoos are healed with only a light flaking, in about 5 to 7 days. Occasionally a scab will form. If a scab should form, do not pick or scratch at it or help it to fall off. When a scab does form, the itching that accompanies it is normal. A thin application of cream will generally ease the itching, make sure to remove the excess. If you do pick at the scab a new one will form and you will probably suffer from colour loss. After your initial flake falls off, some people experience a secondary flake known as milky skin. If, after healing, your colour seems to be cloudy, but brightens up when wet or when lotion is applied, then you have milky skin. This will go away in a few days to a week with regular application of cream and the avoidance of sunlight.
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Avoid excessive water
and direct sunlight
You may bath or shower with your new tattoo. If you bath, do not allow your new tattoo to remain submerged for more than a few moments. Do not allow the shower to beat on a fresh or healing tattoo. This may prematurely release any flaking that you may have, resulting in colour loss. Always pat your tattoo dry. Do not be alarmed if some of the flake should happen to fall off. This is normal after 3 to 5 days. Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight ever. A new tattoo has no sunblocking capabilities and will sunburn in as little as 3 minutes in direct sunlight. Sunburn will result in prolonged healing time, excessive scabbing and certainly some colour loss.
Do not take fully submerged baths, swim in the sea (or any fresh water) until ALL the flakiness has stopped and it is fully healed, and for chlorine pools give it about 3 extra days to avoid burns.
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Avoid tight clothing and go easy!
Avoid wearing exotic materials, tight, new, or restrictive clothing in the area of your new tattoo. New clothes from the factory carry lots of infectious material and toxic chemicals, wash those new clothes first. Tight clothing and nylons, polyesters etc can rub and wear off the protective coating on your tattoo, this increases healing time and can cause colour loss and infection. For the first week take it easy at the gym and whatever physical activities that can cause excess perspiration and let your tattoo heal. Its only a week, a nice tattoo lasts a lifetime, just like a blotchy one. It is solely up to you.
