Tattoo Care

Tattoo Care

After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap Satin and Provon are my highest recommendations. Dial tends to be too harsh generic brand antibacterial soaps are actually better to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much of this as possible when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates scabs.

Then pat do not rub the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of ointment. A vitamin enriched ointment would be my first choice, but if you dont have any, Bacitracin or a similar antibacterial ointment is acceptable.

Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polkadotted tattoo.

Specialty Products and Lotions

If you prefer, you can also use a specialty product such as Tattoo Goo or H2Ocean. Its not necessary, as many over the counter products work just fine, but its your choice. Use the products as directed as continue for 35 days.

After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance free. A lot of artists recommend Lubriderm, but I have found that Lubriderm stings when I apply it. Instead, I have had great success with Eucerin. See also: Aftercare Contradictions: Why there are so many views on what product is best.

Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming

Yes, you can and should! shower with a new tattoo. Its OK to get your tattoo wet just dont soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so youll want to avoid those for 23 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you dont saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just remove it quickly with water. Swimming whether it be a pool, fresh water or salt water should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.

After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. Excessive scabbing could indicate a poorlydone tattoo, but a little is sometimes normal and there is no need to panic. Apply warm moist compresses to the scabs for about 5 minutes 23 times a day to soften them and they will eventually come off on their own. Do not apply ointment or lotion to a softened scab wait for it to dry You will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, dont pick, and dont scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!