How To Care For A New Tattoo – Tattoo Aftercare

March 21, 2009 – 7:28 pm -

How to care for a new tattoo, depends on how well a tattoo ages and how long the colors remain vibrant, and they are most affected by the first three weeks of tattoo aftercare given. This statement implies what often goes unstated in the world of tattooing but what is tacitly understood by all—that tattoos do change over time. Because we know that the skin is constantly changing, we know that the appearance of a tattoo must also change. As skin stretches or shrinks, becomes injured, or simply ages, tattoos also stretch, shrink, and age. In addition, certain colors (red) are more likely to fade than others (blue) and will change more quickly.

How to care for a new tattoo describes the changes that the tattooed can expect and how they can help to prevent unwanted changes with detailed tattoo after care information and also preventative measures that can be taken during the lifetime of the tattoo.

Tattoo Aftercare Transition
It’s natural to keep looking at your new tattoo in the mirror at this point, so don’t feel too narcissistic. People in the shop will no doubt be looking also. Now that the tattoo is complete, your artist will dispose of all the single-use items and remove the tattoo machine for later disassembly so that the tubes and needles can be cleaned and sterilized. The work area will have the Saran wrap removed, if it was used, and then he wiped down, just as when the whole process started.

Your tattooist will tell you how to care for a new tattoo. These instructions are the all-important after care instructions. The burden of infection prevention now shifts to you. Despite all efforts made on your behalf by the tattoo your artist, assuming that you’re happy with your new tattoo and you can afford it. Tip or not, though, if you’re happy with your tattoo, you might want to say so before you leave.

How To Care For a New Tattoo Calendar
The next couple of weeks are a critical time for you and your new tattoo, which is why tattoo shops will go to the trouble of providing written tattoo after care instructions for their clients. If you’ve looked into aftercare at all, though, you quickly realize that these instructions vary from shop to shop, and they have also changed over time. There are a few reasons for that variation. Different products for aftercare are available in different places, even on the same continent.

The following is a generic aftercare calendar of what you can expect during the first few weeks and how to care for a new tattoo.

DAY 1: This is the big day—the day you’re tattooed. Although most tattoo artists will instruct you to leave your bandage on for a minimum of two hours and hopefully somewhere between two and twelve hours, what they’re really shooting for is that you’ll leave it on overnight. You want the tattoo to remain moist and protected for as long as possible.

DAY 2: Wash your hands! Always, before touching your tattoo, including removing the bandage, wash your hands with an antibacterial soap. Let this become your new ritual, much like the tattoo artists before they put on their gloves. Remove the bandage, slowly, in case it has stuck to the tattoo. If that’s happened, then moisten the bandage with warm water (in the shower might be the easiest way) until it comes free without pulling. Gently, oh so gently, wash your new tattoo with a mild soap and warm water.  You will not be applying a new bandage.

DAY 3: Take your shower as normal and do your best not to soak your tattoo, although you can gently wash it as on

DAYS 4 To 14: Unless you notice signs of an infection or allergic reaction, your tattoo will go through a couple of different phases in this two-week time period. Ideally, your tattoo will not actually scab in the sense that we normally think of it. Instead, the colored and damaged epidermis may simply peel, just like a sunburn, becoming flaky and falling off. Like a sunburn, you don’t want to help it. Never scratch or pick at the skin (or scab) of your new tattoo.

DAYS 15 TO 21: In general, tattoos will he completely healed somewhere between two and three weeks, although most will take only two weeks. Until your tattoo has completely peeled or the scab has completely fallen away, your tattoo is not complete. Even if the peeling has finished or the scab is gone, the new epidermal layer that forms over your tattoo is going to be quite sensitive. By week three, if your tattoo is completely healed, you should still avoid sun, although you can go back to all your other vices—swimming, sauna, etc.

In conclusion, the best defense for tattoo aftercare, is to follow the “how to care for a new tattoo” instructions you were given by your tattoo professional, and do not deviate.

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Tattoo Aftercare – Proper Tattoo Care

March 21, 2009 – 12:00 pm -

Tattoo aftercare is as important as choosing the right tattoo design and its placement on your body. Unique tattoo designs can become a total mess if you fail to properly follow the instruction given by your tattoo artist on the aftercare instructions. You are under special care while you are with your tattoo artist but the responsibility becomes yours as soon as you leave the tattoo shop. It is your duty and depends on you how you take care of your new tattoo inked on your body, that gives additional attraction to your looks.  Checkout the links throughout our site for further tips.

For tattoo aftercare, it is extremely important to follow the guidelines your tattoo artist has given you and the tattoo after care instructions the tattoo artist gave you. Make sure the instructions are explicitly followed. For instance people often feel uncomfortable with bandages tied around area of the body where it has been inked to prevent air-born bacteria from infecting the fresh wound. People tend to remove them before the stipulated hours which they should not do. They should leave the area untouched for at least two hours.

Extra tattoo care of the area after the removal of the bandage.
Use luke-warm water, and mild liquid antimicrobial soap to wash away any ointment, plasma, or dry blood from your new tattoo. Take care not rub that area with anything abrasive. While washing that area use your hand or soft paper towel. The same care should be taken while drying that area. Just pat but never make the mistake of rubbing that area with clean towel or dry paper towel. Then you need to apply a thin layer of D&D ointment, Bacitracin ointment, or H2Ocean. Avoid using Neosporin because it can causes excess healing and dry out. This further causes cracks and pigment loss. Such tattoo care should be practice 2-3 times daily and should be continued for 5-7 days until the skin is smooth. You can then apply un-scented lotions such as Lubriderm after the stipulated time of treatment.

Other activities like showering and bathing, swimming in swimming pools, lakes, or ponds and hot tubs, scabbing and getting expose in sun also requires certain type of precautions. While taking shower avoid soaking your tattoo for 2-4 weeks.

Further Tattoo Aftercare
Avoidance of contact with the chemicals present in the pool, and hot tub environment for at least 4-6 weeks after getting your tattoo is very important. Even swimming in lakes and ponds should be avoided as you may get infected through the untreated water. Do not pick, or scratch at the scabbing and protect your tattoo from harmful sun rays with an SPF of 30 and by your clothing.

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