Tattoo Aftercare

Long Live Your Tattoo!! Proper Tattoo Aftercare

Tattoo aftercare is an important and often overlooked aspect of tattooing.  In addition to keeping infections at bay, proper aftercare is key to ensuring that your tattoo settles in perfectly and stays looking vibrant and beautiful for a long time. 

There are 2 equally important elements to caring for your tattoo; one is the immediate after care and the second is the daily, long-term care.

Immediate Aftercare for your Tattoo
 
Considering that there will be a fair amount of blood during the tattooing process, the primary concern then is to stave off any potential infection.  These 3 steps are absolutely crucial when it comes to preventing any kind of infection settling in:

1. Keep the Tattoo Covered: After the tattoo is completed and before you leave the tattoo parlor, the tattoo artist will cover the fresh tattoo with a light bandage. Keeping the tattoo covered for at least 3-4 hours will help to keep air-borne bacteria at bay, which would otherwise settle on the open wound causing an infection.

2. Wash the Tattoo:  After the 3-4 hours are up and you’ve taken off the bandage, it is essential to wash the tattooed area well in order to remove the residual ointment, blood and plasma from the area. Avoid using any kind of washcloth to wash off the area; washing is best done gently with your hands. Using lukewarm water and a mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap will help make your tattoo less prone to bacterial infections.

3. Dry & Treat the Tattoo: Stop! Don’t rub that tattoo! When drying your tattoo you will need to be as gentle as you were when washing it.  Just take a clean, dry paper towel or soft fabric towel and pat the area gently till it is dry.  Once you’ve done that you will need to apply a thin coat of anti bacterial ointment over the tattooed area. This is again to stave off any potential infection. Ointments that contain vitamins A and D will help shorten the healing time.

Daily, Long-Term Care of your Tattoo
• Keeping your tattoo clean on a daily basis is paramount. Continue using mild products and be gentle when washing the area.
• Applying a mild, fragrant-free hand or body lotion to the whole area after it is clean and dry will help keep the skin soft and supple.
• Avoid prolonged baths for at least 2-3 weeks after getting your tattoo done. This means no soaking in the bath tub and no swimming either. Even when taking a shower, do not stay in for too long. Have a quick shower while keeping the water at medium temperature and wash off the soap from your tattoo as quickly as possible.
• Inevitable peeling and possible scabbing of the tattoo should be dealt with by applying a warm, moist compress to the scab twice or thrice day for about 5 minutes at a time.
• You can expect some amount of itching as the tattoo begins to heal. As much as you may be tempted to, picking and scratching the area will only intensify the discomfort. Instead, apply a mild, fragrance-free skin lotion and slap the area! You heard right- slap the area! When nothing else works, slapping helps alleviate the itching. 
Last but not least, avoid exposing your tattoo to the direct sunlight as ultraviolet rays can cause your brand new tattoo to fade and look dull before you even get a change to flaunt it.  If exposure to the sun is unavoidable, cover the tattoo with a sunscreen with minimum 30 SPF.