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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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If your tattoo artist has applied a bandage to your tattoo, you should leave that there for at least two hours. This bandage prevents germs and bacteria from reaching the new tattoo during its most vulnerable stage. However, if your tattoo artist has wrapped it in plastic wrap, you should remove that immediately. Plastic does not allow the wound to breathe and can actually impede the tattoo healing process.
For the first day or two after getting the tattoo, you will need to apply a little bit of antibiotic ointment to the wound. This will help to prevent infections. However, as soon as the scab forms, you will stop this part of the post tattoo care.
Normally, you will notice that a scab forms on the tattoo on or near the third day after getting the tattoo, and it is a normal part of the tattoo healing process. However, the scab should fall off around the tenth day, and in the meantime, you should be sure not to remove the scab. If you pull off the scab, you run the risk of having the ink heal. This means that the ink in that space will essentially disappear, and it will leave you with a blank spot on that part of the tattoo.
One of the most important parts of your post tattoo care regime is keeping the wound clean. Two or three times a day, you should gently wash away any lingering ointment, blood or plasma so that the entire area is clean. If the wound is dirty, it can give you an infection, or it can slow down the tattoo healing process. However, you need to take care that you wash the wound gently especially when there is a scab.
You should try to avoid using any washcloths or soaps that are too abrasive on the wound as these can remove the scab and create the blank areas that are mentioned above. Ideally, you should wash your tattoo with a very mild antibacterial cleanser and a soft cloth. If possible, you should use a soap that is as natural as possible. You should avoid soaps that contain too many synthetic elements as well as liquid ones that contain too much alcohol or list water as their primary ingredient. Too much alcohol and water can dry the skin and slow down the tattoo healing process.
The brand of soap that you prefer may depend on your particular skin and how naturally oily or dry it is. However, many people find generic brands of anti-bacterial soap to be suitable, but they consider Dial soap to be too harsh. The brands Satin and Provon are actually very effective when cleaning a new tattoo.
After you have finished washing the area, you should thoroughly rinse it. However, you must keep in mind that you need to be gentle. Thus, you should not spray the shower nozzle directly at the wound nor should you soak the wound. You should simply rinse it gently, and then, you should pat it dry.
After washing, you should apply a little moisturizer. Experts disagree about which sort of moisturizer is the best to use. However, most people agree that you should avoid substances like petroleum jelly and lanolin. These substances tend to clog the pores, and they can cause the ink to heal and create a blank spot. To help with the tattoo healing process, you should select a moisturizer that does not contain too much water or too much alcohol. You will also want to avoid ones with perfumes. If possible, you should select a natural or organic lotion.
In addition to keeping your tattoo clean and moisturized, you also want to be certain that you treat it gently. You should avoid wearing any clothing that is too abrasive, and you should avoid activities that could cause the tattoo to get hit or scraped. In addition, you should avoid strenuous activity that could make you sweat. Sweating helps the body to remove toxins, and excessive sweating could remove parts of the tattoo itself.
In addition to avoiding strenuous activity, you will need to remember to avoid excessive sun exposure. The sweat caused by that could be just as damaging to your tattoo. Even after your tattoo healing is finished, you will need to pay particular attention to the sun. Too much sunlight could cause your tattoo to fade. To make sure that your tattoo stays vibrant, you should always cover it with the highest SPF sun block that you can find.
As long as you follow the post tattoo care steps outlined in this article, you can look forward to your tattoo healing quickly and without incident. The most important things to remember about tattoo healing is to treat it gently, keep it clean, and avoid picking off the scab. If you feel worried about your tattoo healing process, you may want to revisit your tattoo artist or visit a doctor |
