In order to know how to properly care for your new tattoo it's important to understand what to expect. There are some characteristics of a healing tattoo that can be alarming at first. Similar to a bad sunburn, a fresh tattoo might be red, swollen and warm to the touch directly after your appointment. In addition, you might feel a bit run down, hungry and sore. The following are my tips for tattoo aftercare.
Tattoo Bandage Styles
My preferred bandages are Saniderm or Dynarex. It's nice to have some extra bandage on hand if you are getting a large project done, so purchasing a small amount of one or both of these products might be a good idea for replacement or patching. This is especially the case if you know you are getting your tattoo in an oilier area of the body (nape of neck, back, chest), or if you plan on doing cardio at some point during the healing process.
These products are basically large, wound-safe stickers that go directly onto the tattoo. They are latex-free and breathable. They are meant to protect your tattoo from bacteria, as well as keep naturally occurring plasma against the tattoo for a boost in your healing process.
Both of these products have adhesive so if you are allergic to adhesive or have other extreme skin sensitivities, communicate this to your artist and do not use them! Instead, your tattoo can be wrapped with saran wrap, dri-loc pads and coban. Keep in mind, these "Old School" bandages need to be removed within 4 hours and aftercare procedures need to commence at that point.
After Your Appointment
If you are wearing an adhesive style bandage like Saniderm you can leave your bandage on for 7 days. I do recommend leaving it on for the full week because there are healing benefits in doing this. The plasma that your body produces heals the skin faster and this style of bandage holds the plasma on the wound. Upon removal after a week, you can usually expect some light flaking and only minimal scabbing if any. In the time your bandage is on your tattoo, you do not need to worry about any aftercare procedures. Just let the bandage do it's thing. You can shower with the bandage on, but it's best to avoid standing water, saunas, and cardio (You don't want sweat to collect under the bandage).
With an "Old School" bandage, you must remove it within 4 hours. You can possibly expect more scabbing to occur when using this type of bandage.
Liquid Buildup
With a stick on bandage, excessive liquid buildup can be a concern within the first few days. A small amount of plasma, blood and ink buildup is normal, but if a large pocket is forming in your bandage you may need to drain or fully change your bandage.
If the liquid is naturally draining out the edge of your bandage and the integrity of the bandage remains intact, you can take a clean paper towel gently push remaining liquid out. You can then bandage over the channel with an extra patch of extra Saniderm.
If there is no channel for drainage you can (carefully) make a small incision in your bandage with clean scissors. The incision should be made over an area that has not been tattooed, ideally toward the bottom of the piece. Once the incision is made, you can take a clean paper towels and gently press the liquid toward the incision and into the paper towel.
If drainage isn't possible you may need to change the entire bandage or a portion of it. Make sure you use clean scissors to cut away compromised portions of bandage. Gently clean any part of the tattoo that is exposed. Let the tattoo fully air dry. Do not apply any moisturizer. Once the tattoo is fully dry, re-bandage and keep it on for the remaining 7 days.
You should only re-bandage within the first day or two of your tattoo. If you remove the bandage after that, just keep it off and proceed with aftercare.
Tattoo Care After Your Bandage (Cleanliness)
Remove your bandage carefully to avoid skin damage. You can use organic coconut oil to gently rub extra adhesive off your skin. Wash your tattoo immediately upon bandage removal.
It's important to be gentle with your tattoo while it's uncovered and still healing. Wash your tattoo 1-3 times a day depending on your lifestyle. For example, if your tattoo is regularly exposed to dirt, dish water, sweat, abrasive material etc. wash after these activities in addition to your regular cleaning regimen. Same goes for if you are always being touched by children or pets.
Wash with fragrance-free, anti-bacterial soap. I like Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser as it is not drying. Use the palm of your hand to gently wash (no wash cloth or loofahs). Let your tattoo air dry / pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
Make sure your sheets, towels, and clothing are clean if they are touching your new tattoo.
Tattoo Moisturizer
My preference for an aftercare moisturizer is Hustle Butter. I also like Mad Rabbit Repair Soothing Gel. Though Hustle Butter has no added fragrances it does have mango extract which is quite sweet smelling. It is more buttery and good for skin that tends to be on the dry side. This product does contain coconut oil which can be pore clogging. For this reason it is not appropriate for acne-prone skin or skin that is vulnerable to ingrown hairs. Mad Rabbit Soothing Gel is more like a thin, odorless gel serum and tends to be good for people with extreme skin sensitivities.
It is always important to do your own research for whatever you choose to put on your skin and do a patch test for new products.
You can apply moisturizer 1-4 times a day. I tend to moisturize most when it's in the itchy phase or if there is any scabbing.
What to Expect
The tattoo will eventually shed and new skin will emerge. This usually takes about 2 weeks. The shedding phase can make your skin itchy. Do not scratch!
The new skin will be shiny or scaly looking. It's important to treat this new skin with care. It can take a few weeks for the texture of your skin to return to normal depending on your age, genetics, skin health and type of tattoo. Continue to moisturize. Keep in mind that scar tissue, radiated tissue or stretch marks can heal slightly differently than regular skin.
Additional Tips
~ Sometimes after a session a client can feel under the weather for 12-24 hours. This is known as Tattoo Flu or Tattoo Hangover. Tattooing (particularly long sessions) takes a toll on our bodies and immune systems. It is important to take care and nourish yourself properly before, during and after a session. Drink plenty of water and relax. If you are planning to do long sessions, consider taking time off work the following day to recover. If you feel ill longer than 24 hours, reach out to your artist or doctor.
~ A multi-vitamin for the months before and after your tattoo can help give your body the nutrients it needs to heal quickly.
~ Drink lots of water!
~ Avoid sun exposure until the texture of your skin returns to normal. Even then, sunscreen is recommended to preserve the vibrancy of your tattoo for as long as possible. I like Mad Rabbit Defend Sunscreen as it has a light, whipped cream texture that does not feel greasy on the skin. It also does not leave a white cast which is more visible on melanated skin or tattooed skin.
~ Avoid standing water for two weeks after your tattoo.
~ Never scratch or pick at your tattoo. Avoid touching your tattoo at all. If the new skin is damaged the appearance of your tattoo will be affected and you may suffer from scarring.
~I have a touch up policy of $45 for setup costs for the first 6 months after your tattoo. After that, I offer half off my regular pricing. If you feel you need a touch up just send me a picture of the area and we'll get it booked.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions from pigment or additives in the tattoo ink are characterized by small bumps in the immediate area and itchiness.
Flare-ups from an allergy can be caused by heat and UV exposure. You can go months or even years without a flare-up.
If you think you have an allergic reaction to a pigment you can send me a picture to confirm. A prescription from a doctor is necessary for medications to manage pigment allergies.
Infection
Your tattoo is most vulnerable to infection in the first week or so of healing but this can depend on your age and health. Signs of an infection are extreme heat, swelling, pain and/or bumps in the area. If you suspect you have an infection you can send your tattoo artist pictures of your tattoo for advice but only a doctor can prescribe the medication needed to fully address it. A full recovery and beautiful heal are still possible with an infected tattoo!
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