Tattoo Aftercare
Tattoo Aftercare:
This is my recommended Tattoo Aftercare. After an hour or when you get home remove bandage. Wash area with warm soap and water; use a good liquid Anti-Bacterial soap like “Dial”.
Pat dry with a clean towel, apply a thin thin coat of Neosporin or other triple anti-biotic ointment. Do it twice a day or when ever it feels tight or dry. After about three days you can switch to a good water based lotion. It should be fragrance and alcohol free. I suggest Jergens.
Your tattoo is going to lose ink from the top layer of skin and the body’s natural fluid secretion from healing. I suggest sleeping in a crumby shirt, sheets or lay on a dark towel. Depending on the size and type of work done (Tribal) you might ruin clothing and bedding the first night.
Your tattoo is going to be warm and red the first day or two and then start to itch as your tattoo heals. Don’t itch or scratch or touch with dirty hands. Your tattoo will start to peel between two and five days and should be completely healed in two weeks or less. Legs may take longer.
Keep tattoo away from sunlight (will burn in the light) no hot tubs, baths or swimming pools until after healing or ink will leech out and may cause a possible scar. Stay away from alchohol or serious pain medication the first night so as not to thin the blood and cause ink loss
Tattoo should feel like a sunburn and heal just like it. The tattoo shouldn’t scab or bleed longer then the first hour or so. If pain, swelling, redness, fever or blisters occur during healing please consult a physician. People with Diabetes, any heart or blood dieses should be extra careful. You might experience complications or extended healing times. Consult your physician before considering a tattoo.
Keeping the tattoo clean is very important,. Artists try to take as many precautions with using sterile practices and equipment but after the tattoo leaves the artist it is all on the client for aftercare. Touching with dirty hands can and has caused Staph-infections.
People who smoke or work with their hands need to take extra care to not hold or touch open tattoo wounds unless they have just washed their hands or are in the shower. Staph-infections aren’t necessarily fatal but can cause puss pockets along area of tattoo, scarring and fever. Serious infections may require an antibiotic regimen from your physician.