WELL DONE! You accomplished your task! Much time spent on designing and choosing your first tattoo. Tattoo after Care has become your number one priority of the moment!
But are you sure you have all the right answers? You're probably thinking that there are still some issues you're not really so sure about and would like to get more information about. What is the best advice you can get to really protect your health and preserve the beauty of your new tattoo?
Tattoo after care is a big issue. We will create this article as if it were in a forum and within it answer dome of the most important and common questions.Look at the suggestions and think about what sounds right for you.
What we have eventually come up with concerning the many questions asked is that there is no one answer for everyone, so use your judgement.
We are all different and have unique needs. So know yourself:
Q: When leaving my artist’s shop I was bandaged and told to leave it on for the rest of the day. I wanted to show it to my friends so I took it off for a while and put it back on again. Did I do any damage?
A: Be patient. It’s important to avoid infection which can cause you bodily harm as well as damage your tattoo Keeping air borne bacteria out of the fresh wound (which is what you have) is the purpose of the initial bandage and it should be left on and undisturbed for at least 2-3 hours!
When you remove it, be sure your hands have been washed carefully.Using an antibacterial soap to wash them is a good idea, but overdoing it is not necessary. Be gentle. Use lukewarm water and a mild soap (also antibacterial) such as Provon or Satin. Do not use a washcloth. Use your hand and carefully rinse off any ointments as well as the blood and plasma likely to have accumulated.
When the plasma dries it will create scabs.Using a hygenically clean towel, just pat (do NOT rub) the tattooed area until it is dry, after which you should apply, gently, a coat of your ointment.There are several good choices of an antibacterial ointment which will be fine, but you must avoid any which may have a petroleum base, like Vasoline or something containing lanolin.
A&D ointment is a good choice. So is Bacitracin. Neosporin is NOT recommended because many people have reported allergic reactions to it when used for this purpose. You don't want that to happen for several reasons, but one is that the reaction creates small, red bumps and when these go away, they take the ink along leaving little blank areas where you used to have a nice, smooth line or color.
Q: After removing the initial bandage, how long should I keep a fresh one on? What other lotions should I apply after a few days?
A:No new bandage! You need to let air get to the tattoo, uncovered, once you remove the original one. Gently wash the tattoo at least twice daily for the first week and keep it moist (not soaked) by applying the ointment about 6 times daily.
By maintaining the area in a moist condition, you will effectively reduce scabbing and thereby colorfading. And remember to always keep your hands CLEAN when doing this.You will be changing over to a moisturizing cream from the antiseptic ointment after the first 3 or 4 days. Use caution and be certain it is a non-fragrance and color free lotion so as to avoid irritating the raw skin.You can consider using Eucerin or Lubriderm as well as some "made for tattoo" products which are fine, as well.
Some of the names these tattoo after care products go by are Tattoo Goo, H2OCEANFOAM, TatWax, Ink Fixx and more. Be sure you check out the ingredients of any of these you are considering to be sure they don't contain something you would be allergic to!
Q: I'm worried my tattoo isn't healing right. It looks like the ink is leaking out and it's getting muddy. Is that right?
A: Unless you have developed an infection or did anything which has not been recommended (over-exposing it to sun, letting it scab excessively, covering it with a petroleum product, poor hygiene, scrubbing with a washcloth, etc.) it should be doing fine.
You can always check with your artist to be sure, but a normal tattoo goes through healing stages. You will be oozing plasma and there will also be some “bleeding” of the fresh ink.When the process is complete, usually in 10 days or so, you will see the tattoo colors in their new bright beauty.
Q: What are some other tattoo after care suggestions you can make which I can add to these already mentioned?
A: Yes!
• Showering with the tattoo is perfectly fine. You can get it wet, but do n ot soak it, especially in a hot tub. Swimming pools and baths are not a good idea!
• Within the first few days you will notice that scabs will appear.An excessive amount could be a sign of a poorly applied tattoo, but a modest amount occasionally is considered normal.Treat scabs gently using moist, warm compresses for several minutes a few times daily to soften them up so they can eventually fall off naturally.But do not apply moisturizers to a scab. You want it to get dry.
• You will likely want to scratch. Don’t!!Remember that a tattoo is an insult to your body when first applied, and it will naturally itch as it heals. You can slap it, but just don't scratch it. If you see that it's peeling, just apply some of your lotion to it, and if you see it scabbing, ignore it!
• When outdoors on a sunny day, or eben in a bright, cloudy day, be sure you have it covered with a good SPF30 (or more) skin protectant. Thise UV rays will not be nice to your tat, and you must remember that this will always be true. So like a seatbelt, UV up!
And that just about covers most basic questions on tattoo after care. Respect your tattoo as you respect yourself. You’re one and the same from now on. Enjoy!
Related Articles
- Diet: Understanding What Master Cleanse Means …
- All You Need To Know About Reclaimed Wood …
Trackbacks
- Digital SLR Cameras - What's New for Military Photography …
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever - Facts You Must Know Before Adopting Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Re …
- [WATCH]: Clothing for Men: Tips & Advice : The Elements of a Stylish Outfit : Menswear Fashion Tips …
- [WATCH]: Damage after I dropped my motorcycle: tank protector: and frame sliders. …
