Tattoo aftercare is vitally important to the health of your new tattoo, and it must not be ignored. Many people believe that once the needlework is done, their tattoo is a lock, but that is far from reality. The fact is that unless you properly care for your new tattoo, it could easily fade, lose saturation, flake, scar, or you could wind up with an infected mess on your body.

But herein lays the problem: no one is sure what aftercare procedure is the best for everyone. But there are many similarities among the aftercare procedures, and professionals agree that healing a tattoo fast does not necessarill mean healing a tattoo well. So the best approach is one that covers all of the common denominators in the programs, as well as other low-risk steps.

Before getting into any specifics, it’s important that you follow your tattoo artist’s directions precisely. If their guidance conflicts with this article, always refer to their instructions. But in the absence of directions, here’s what you need to know.

Tattoo Aftercare Do’s

Do use an approved aftercare moisturizer / healing cream Do leave your initial bandage over your tattoo for at least four to six hours, but no more than 12 hours Do keep your tattoo out of direct contact with water (this includes the shower) Do keep your tattoo moisturized Do pat your skin dry when the tattooed area gets wet Tattoo Aftercare Don’ts

Don’t expose your tattoo to sunlight until fully healed Don’t submerse your tattoo in water, and especially avoid chlorinated water Don’t let your tattoo dry out Don’t over moisturize your tattoo Don’t pick your tattoo scabs Don’t cover your tattoo with a bandage once the initial bandage has been removed Don’t scratch your tattoo or allow it to bruise Tattoo Aftercare Procedure

1) Your shop should give you directions on how long to keep the original bandage (or film) on your tattoo. Absent a timeframe, wait at least four hours after leaving the shop, and then wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. Like when you were a kid, sing the alphabet song while scrubbing to make sure you wash long enough!

2) Carefully remove the bandage that was placed over your tattoo at the parlor. With a gentle antibacterial soap, carefully wash the tattooed area, removing any of the ink residue, greasy covering, blood, etc. You can tell that the area is clean when it just feels like wet skin. Be very gentle with your skin. Pat your tattoo dry — do not brush or rub dry.

3) Apply a thin layer of antibiotic cream to the tattooed area. Don’t gob the ointment on; rather, drop some small beads on your tattoo, spread it around with your fingertips, and work it in. The area should be moist, but there should not be any buildup or streaks. If you have an expensive or deeply saturated tattoo, you might want to skip typical ointments like Neosporin, and jump directly to tattoo-specific creams like Tattoo Goo, H2Ocean Aftercare, or Black Cat Tattoo Cream.

4) Three to four times per day, apply a thin film of anti-bacterial ointment to your tattoo. You will want to use enough to moisten the tattooed area, but not so much as to leave streaks or allow it to build up. Your goal is to moisturize the area only, so start with a small amount and work it in with your fingers.

The problem with over moisturizing the skin is fading inks. If you slather on a thick coating of Neosporin and keep it moist throughout the day, your tattoo might heal in just over a week — but the inks will fade. If, however, you lightly coat the area three to four times per day, your tattoo might take two to three weeks to heal, but the colors will set properly. This is a tough lesson for many to learn. In some cases, letting the body heal at its own pace makes more sense to your tattoo.

5) Cover the tattooed area with light, loose fitting clothing, and be mindful of your tattoo. Don’t scratch or pick your tattoo! If you must, gently slap the skin or use rubbing alcohol to relieve any itching or irritation.

While there might seem to be quite a few steps to follow, each step is quite simple. The bottom line is that you need to be mindful of your tattoo, and allow the body to heal itself as naturally as possible. You will do everything you can to assist that process, but you don’t want to rush it — just help it. If you can do that, and stay diligent with your care for 2 to 3 weeks, you will be blessed with a rich tattoo that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Tags: Tattoos