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Aftercare

Aftercare is crucial for ensuring your new body art heals correctly and looks great. Not following these recommendations can lead to undesirable effects, such as infection, scarring, and diminished life of the tattoo. 

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The First Few Days

  • You can remove the protective covering when you get home (if an adhesive bandage was used, like Dermshield, this can stay on for 3 days. Remove if you have any discomfort or leakage)

  • Weeping some blood and plasma is normal, as well as mild swelling, redness, and heat (like a sunburn) as your body reacts to heal itself

  • Your tattoo is an open wound. Avoid touching with your hands and wash right away if exposed to any unclean or unsafe materials

  • Wash with lukewarm water 2-3 times daily using just fingertips and gentle pressure (no abrasive surfaces). Only use mild, unscented soap (dye and alcohol free). Dr. Bronner's castile soap is a great choice

  • Pat dry using a clean paper towel or air dry

  • Moisturize using a mild, unscented lotion - a thin layer is all you need. Aquaphor is a time-honored product. Coconut oil is another alternative

  • Avoid excess moisture - if you shower, try to keep your tattoo out of direct water. No sweating if avoidable (try to hold off from the gym for at least a week).

  •  Absolutely no submersion (bathing or swimming) for 4 weeks

  • Dark, clean clothes are recommended to cover your tattoo, especially when sleeping (otherwise, blood and ink may stain your sheets). 

  • Protect your tattoo against direct sunlight - UV rays break down ink. After healing, always wear sunscreen to keep your art looking great

Days 4 - 6

  • The tattoo should be healing over and have some barrier protection but is still delicate and in need of care

  • If your tattoo was wrapped with Dermshield, now's the time to remove it. The best way to do this is in the shower. Get the whole area wet and loosen a bottom corner. Slowly pull downwards, like removing a command strip from the wall

  • Continue limiting exposure to UV and to moisture

  • Continue washing/moisturizing 2-3 times daily

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Weeks 2 - 4

  • You may have some scabbing at this stage - don’t pick or scratch! This can ruin your tattoo and cause permanent scarring. Anti-itch lotion can relieve some of the discomfort (CeraVe Itch Relief is a great choice). The skin will naturally flake off

  • There shouldn't be any redness or swelling around the tattoo - if these are present, it may be a sign of infection and you should see a health care provider immediately (​signs of infection may include fever, nausea, red streaks on around the tattoo, painful swelling and tenderness)

  • The lower layer of the skin may take longer to heal, especially for highly saturated and detailed pieces. There may be some cloudiness to the surface of the skin while it's still settling

Onwards

  • Your tattoo is now a part of you! Take care of it as you would the rest of your skin

  • UV rays are easily the most damaging and avoidable degrader of your ink. If sunscreen is too hard to remember, consider getting a UPF 50+ layer for throwing on when going outside. Umbrellas can be a great choice, too

  • Your tattoo will never be as vibrant as the day you got it (you're now looking at it through a layer of healed skin and hair) and over the years it will naturally age with you. The body slowly metabolizes some of the pigment and details can slowly soften and spread. Touch-ups are always an option, but a lived-in tattoo can age gracefully and be admired for its changes, the same as the rest of the body  ♥

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