The Aftercare following a tattoo is important to promote good healing and risk of infection. For the first week or so it is normal for the area to be red and tender. As with all body art, infection is a risk. Please take the following advice regarding aftercare.
- Remove dressing after 2-3 hours– When a tattoo is freshly made it seeps, caused by the puncturing of the skin during the tattoo procedure. The dressing on the new tattoo is to catch the excess white blood cells and ink that leaks from your skin, as well as protecting your new tattoo from dirt, oil, dust etc. In the initial stages of healing
- Wash your tattoo with lukewarm soapy water and pat dry with a clean towel- When you first remove the dressing from your tattoo there will be a buildup of excess ink and dried white blood cells, it will look a bit gooey. Gently wash this away with an everyday soap and warm water, don’t use a wash cloth or anything abrasive, gently pat dry. Do not rub as this will only aggravate your skin. It is important to only use a clean towel.
- Apply the recommended cream 2-3 times a day– Apply a small amount of the aftercare cream your artist has recommended to you, to prevent drying and tightening of the skin. Do not use Vaseline, this forms a barrier to the air and prolongs the healing. Creams such as savlon have an additive containing yeast cells that can cause infections. Other medical products may contain Neosorin that can destroy the ink and cause irritation. DO NOT share your aftercare cream with another person, they may or may not be carrying an infection or bacteria that could harm you.
- A scab will form 1-3 days after the procedure– Allow this to naturally heal, DO NOT pick or scratch the tattoo whilst healing. If damage is made to the scab it will promote bleeding which can draw the ink from the tattoo, causing patches of the ink to disappear.
- Keep your tattoo clean– Avoid contact with oil, dust, dirt etc. If you work in a dirty environment, make sure to protect your healing tattoo. Loose, clean clothes are recommended to avoid irritation.
- DO NOT soak your healing tattoo– You can shower your healing tattoo but DO NOT submerge in a bath as it can cause serious damage and prolong the healing time. Avoid bathing and swimming for 2-3 weeks.
- Avoid direct sunlight– All pigment (colour) is affected by light. Both sunlight and artificial light can damage your tattoo and fade the pigment. DO NOT expose your healing tattoo to strong sunlight or sunbeds for at least 3 weeks. Once healed use a total sun block (high factor) on the tattoo to avoid fading.
If you are unsure of anything or have any questions at all regarding your new tattoo, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01827 50035 or the 'contact us' section at the top of the page.