After Care
How Do I Care For My New Tattoo?
Luckily, proper tattoo care is not difficult, but it is necessary.
The size and intricacy of your tattoo will determine how long its healing process will take.
Bigger tattoos will always take longer to heal because they cause more stress to your skin.
Smaller tattoos don’t usually take quite as long, but that doesn’t mean the healing process isn’t as important!
Solid patches of ink also take longer to heal.
Do I have to keep my tattoo covered?
After your new tattoo is finished, I will apply a Saniderm bandage to the area. I recommend waiting generally up to three to four days before removing the bandage.
Once the bandage is removed, you will need to ensure you wash the tattoo with warm antibacterial soap twice a day until the tattoo is healed (About two weeks).
Washing Your Tattoo
Remember to wash your tattoo with a light touch when first removing your bandage. The area will be sensitive, even if you’re a quick healer and experience minimal discomfort.
There’s a reason to use lukewarm water when washing. If the water is too hot, you may cause further irritation, while ice-cold water may cause the skin to retract and slow the healing. Stick with unscented antibacterial soap and avoid harsher formulations or soap bars with exfoliating properties. I recommend Dial Gold.
When in doubt, go easy on your tattoo and treat it like you would a cut or scrape on the skin. For the first few days, you may see some continued oozing from the affected area, combined with some ink. It’s 100% normal and a part of the skin’s natural healing process.
Moisturize!
Keeping the area moist will protect it from cracking, drying, and bleeding. I recommend using Aquaphor two to three times daily (every eight to 10 hours) until the scabs have fully healed.
Use a thin layer- if it’s shiny, it’s too much. This can actually suffocate your tattoo!
Avoid using products with petroleum jelly in the ingredients list. These products can damage your newly acquired ink and disrupt the natural healing process. Tattoo lotions or creams containing harsh perfumes and chemicals can also cause damage to the skin and affect the healing process.