AFTER CARE
What you will need to heal your tattoo:
1.A gentle, unscented liquid soap, the best is Dr. Bronners unscented or Cetaphil. 2. A heavy moisturizer, pure shea butter is my favorite, but if A&D or aquaphor work for you that’s fine too. 3. A light, unscented lotion such as Aveeno, Eucerin, or lubriderm.
Once you have been tattooed:
Traditional bandage: Leave the bandage on for 1-5 hours, until you can be in a clean, home environment where you can safely wash your tattoo. Never bandage the tattoo again.
If using Saniderm: leave the bandage on for up to 3 days (72 hours) IF the seal remains unbroken. During this time, you may go about life normally, but be aware of the sealed bandage on your body so as to avoid it peeling back during physical activity. You may take showers but do not take baths or submerge your body (especially the tattooed area) in any water or other liquid. This applies to both before and after the removal of Saniderm. Blood/plasma/ink leaking out of the bandage or drying around the outside edge of the bandage, or water from the shower pooling inside or running through the bandage are sure signs that the seal has broken and the Saniderm must be removed promptly and the tattoo washed.
Washing: Always wash your hands before washing or touching your tattoo. When you remove the bandage your tattoo will be covered in ink, plasma, ointment, and blood. It is super important that you wash all of this off and that no old ointment or blood remains on your tattoo. Wash your tattoo using only your clean hands, soap of choice, and warm/hot water. After washing, do a hot compress. Take clean paper towels and get them wet in steaming (but not scalding) shower water. Test the hot towels with your hand to check that the temperature is toasty (but not burning) before you place them directly on your tattoo and press firmly. For the first few seconds it will hurt, but resist the urge to pull away and your tattoo will immediately feel nice and soothed. Wash off any seepage, pat completely dry with more clean paper towels and apply a THIN layer of moisturizer just up to the edges of the tattoo. Make sure the moisturizer is sparing enough to be fully absorbed when gently rubbed in- there should never be a layer of moisturizer sitting on top of the skin.
For the first three days:
Wash and hot compress according to the above instructions at least 3x a day, and apply moisturizer after each washing as well as whenever the tattoo gets dry in between washings.
From the fourth day on:
You can cut back to washing once a day, cease hot compresses, and switch to a thin layer of light lotion. Keep the tattoo hydrated throughout the day. Around this time small colored skin flakes (like a sunburn) may come off your tattoo. Do not pick or scratch, and if scabs form do not pick or scratch them but allow them to fall off naturally. If your tattoo itches, you can wash it again.
*During the first two weeks DO NOT*:
Do not go swimming or submerge the tattoo in any type of standing water. The only water that should touch your tattoo is clean water from the tap or shower! Do not go to the gym, sauna, or yoga studio (exercising at home is fine, just be sure to avoid excessive stretching of or contact with surfaces by the tattoo, and wash the tattoo right after you finish). Stay away from gardening, powder or dust, contact with animals, and exposure to the sun. A tattoo is an open wound and must be protected from bacteria, particulate matter, and other people’s bodily fluids. Do not wear anything that is tight or could chafe the tattoo (never denim! watch out for hems and elastic). Always wear loose, cottony, comfortable clothing over the tattoo, or if you are at home you can leave it uncovered. Be sure all bedding and clothing that will contact the tattoo is freshly washed.
Infection: If you notice severe redness, swelling, painfulness, draining, or red lines coming out from the tattoo site towards the heart these are signs of an infection and you should seek professional medical attention immediately. If a small portion of the tattoo is in an area with a lot of movement (ie: inner elbow, thumb webbing) and becomes red, raised or slightly wet-looking, this could be a minor inflammation: start washing 3x or more per day and substitute vitamin E oil for your regular moisturizer. If you have questions or concerns about how your tattoo is healing, please feel free to email me and I will get back to you usually within a few days. Please also keep in mind that I am not a doctor, and if you have pressing concerns about your health be sure to contact a medical professional.