So you got a new tattoo.
Congrats! Here’s the aftercare I give my clients at the end of a session. Please keep in mind that every artist’s aftercare is different.
Non-Tegaderm dressing:
Your dressing can be removed anywhere from 1-4 hours after the appointment. Do not leave the dressing on overnight. Once it has been removed, follow Basic Tattoo Care instructions below.
Tegaderm care:
Inspect the tattoo site at least once a day without removing the dressing. Tegaderm dressing can be left in place for up to 7 days. Change the dressing if:
– Ink or blood leaks out;
– It is no longer sticking to the skin where the tattoo is;
– There are holes in it;
– The skin around the dressing is red and itchy.
It is normal for fluid to appear under the Tegaderm dressing. However, a strong odor, red and inflamed skin, and discolored puss is a sign of infection and should be reported to your healthcare provider.
Remove the Tegaderm Dressing:
The easiest way to remove Tegaderm is in a warm shower. Start by allowing the water to spray gently on the skin to help loosen the adhesive. Then, with one hand stabilizing the skin next to the dressing, slowly pull out and away from the skin slowly. As the dressing is removed, continue moving the stabilizing hand to support the newly exposed skin.
If you have trouble removing any adhesive remaining on the skin, coconut oil can be used to help break it down.
Basic Tattoo Care:
After removing your bandage, you should gently wash your new tattoo with fragrance-free, antibacterial soap and hot water. Let it air dry, or pat-dry with a clean paper towel. Proceed to wash the tattoo twice a day for up to 14 days, or until the tattoo is no longer flaky or shiny.
Do not moisturize your tattoo within two days of the appointment. Only moisturize after two days if the tattoo is itchy, uncomfortable, or dry. Do not moisturize more than twice a day. Use a small amount of unscented lotion to moisturize. Vaseline and Aquaphor are NOT recommended.
Sleeping with your tattoo:
Once the dressing is removed, your tattoo will become flaky. Please be aware that the healing area can shed ink and dry skin up to a week after the appointment. Make sure to use clean sheets on your bed to prevent infection.
Touching:
Only touch your tattoo if you have washed your hands. Keeping your tattoo clean is rule #1 in the healing process and washing your tattoo every day will help reduce the chance of infection.
Submerging:
During the healing process, avoid water contact. Showering is exempt. Do not submerge your tattoo in baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, or any body of water.
Sun Exposure:
Over the first month after getting tattooed, the tattooed skin is going to be extremely sensitive to sunlight and UV rays. You MUST keep the tattoo out of the sun until healing is complete. You will require touch-ups if the tattoo is exposed to direct sunlight before it has completely healed.
Do not apply sunscreen to a healing tattoo. The ingredients included in most sunscreen will be too harsh for the sensitive area. It can cause irritation and prolonged healing times. After the tattoo has completely healed, about 3-4 weeks, it is highly recommended to use sunscreen to protect the skin and keep the tattoo from fading. Sun exposure significantly reduces the longevity of a tattoo.
Picking & Scratching:
Peeling skin is a normal part of the tattoo healing process. DO NOT PICK THE SKIN. Peeling skin will typically be the same color as the pigment that was used in the tattoo. If you pick or scratch your tattoo, you risk pulling out the color or causing hypertrophic scarring. Unnecessary touching also transfers germs into a healing wound, which leads to infection.
When to Contact a Doctor:
A skin infection may be present if you experience any of the following symptoms a up to a week after having the tattoo:
– Increased pain, swelling, redness, heat, or tenderness around the tattoo site;
– Red streaks extending from the tattoo site;
– Puss coming from the tattoo site;
– Swollen or tender lymph nodes;
– Fever.
Infection may start at the tattoo site on the surface of the skin. If fluid from a tattoo site is creamy yellow, brown, or red, and has a distinct odor, it may be infected.
Please keep in mind that a healing tattoo can swell and be warm to the touch. If you are unsure if there is an infection, please read out to me via email.
If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact a doctor immediately.