Tattoo Aftercare

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• Tattooing is a medical procedure and every medical procedure requires aftercare.
• Failure to properly care for a tattooed area can lead to infection or scarring.
• Tattoo aftercare will ensure that your tattoo looks its best for years to come. 
• Proper care promotes faster healing, reduces the chances of any complications and makes the entire experience more enjoyable.

** NOTE** Your artist is a professional, heed their advice. They will discuss aftercare with you before you leave. The following guide should serve as a refresher for what they explained to you.

After the completion of your tattoo, you can expect your artist to clean the tattooed area and then cover it. Our artists typically use cling film, Dri-Loc pads, or a self-adhesive tattoo bandage such as Saniderm or Black Derm Shield.

Cling Film

Remove the cling film once you've returned home. This allows the skin to breathe which is very important during the healing process. Cling film is not breathable, and as such, should be removed at the first opportunity. Gently clean the area using unscented antibacterial soap and warm water. Pat dry with a clean towel and air dry before applying your aftercare ointment as outlined in the next section.

Dri-Loc Pads
You should leave the pad on your newly tattooed skin for 1 to 2 hours. The pad will not only protect the skin but absorb any excess ink or blood. After you remove the pad it should be thrown away, and the area cleaned with unscented antibacterial soap and warm water. Pat dry with a clean towel and air dry before applying your aftercare ointment as outlined in the next section.

Self-adhesive Tattoo Bandage
You can leave the self-adhesive bandage on your new tattoo for 8 to 24 hours. Everyone heals differently so the length of time will depend on how much fluid your tattoo leaks, which will affect the adhesive. If you notice excessive fluid under the patch, then you will need to remove it and replace it.

The best way to remove the bandage is in a warm shower where water will help to loosen and release the adhesive. Simply find an edge and pull gently in the direction of hair growth. Then, clean your new tattoo with unscented antibacterial soap and warm water.

After cleaning, you can use another patch, which can be left on the tattoo for 3-5 days, or you can apply your aftercare ointment as outlined in the next section.

It is essential your new tattoo is kept clean, allowed to breathe and kept slightly moist during the healing process. These general instructions below will help you achieve great results.
 

• Wash the tattooed area twice a day using an antibacterial soap with warm water. Gently blot the skin dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Do not rub or wipe the area to dry it.
• With clean hands apply a small amount of ointment creating a thin, nearly invisible layer, 2-3 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks. Aquaphor and A&D are both great choices here. Keep the layer as thin as possible so as to allow the tattoo to breathe.
• Your tattoo will itch during the healing process. DO NOT scratch it. The itching can last up to two weeks. Once it subsides, feel free to switch to a non scented lotion to keep your tattoo moisturized. 
• Do not swim, soak in a hot tub or take a bath for two weeks after getting your tattoo. It is okay for the tattoo to get wet while in the shower, but try not to allow water to soak into it too much.
• Avoid exposing the fresh tattoo to sunlight as much as possible.

A tattoo is trauma to your body. Depending on placement, size, hygiene and daily activities healing will be different for everyone. Tattoos are open wounds, and as such, they are susceptible to infections. It is best to follow the aftercare instructions listed above to lower your risk of problems during the healing process.

You can expect your new tattoo to be red, irritated, swollen and possibly bruised. These are normal reactions . Typically you can expect it to take 1 to 3 days for red or irritated skin to subside. Swelling or bruising could last for up to a week, particularly if you are tattooed in a sensitive area such as the feet.

Occasionally, a new tattoo may present some scabbing. If you experience any scabbing, it is imperative that you do not pick at it. Let the scab fall off naturally. You will also want to make sure that you keep the area clean as well as moisturized per the instructions above.

During the final stages of the healing process  you can expect the skin to start to flake and peel. It is imperative that you do not pick or scratch at the area as this could remove ink from the tattoo and damage it. A light slap, preferable over clothed skin, will give you relief when itching occurs.

During the healing process, if you experience bubbles forming on the surface stop applying any ointments as the moisture can get trapped and lead to possible scabbing. You want your tattoo to dry out. Make sure you wash the tattoo, pat it dry and let it air dry for a while longer until the skin is tight before applying more ointment, this time being sure to use the least amount possible to cover the area. Any scabs should fall off on their own, and if no trauma occurred such as scratching, the ink should remain.

• WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
• SALINE rinse as needed during healing. For certain placements it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. A brief rinse afterward will remove any residue.
• If your piercer suggests using soap, gently lather around the piercing and rinse as needed. Avoid using harsh soaps, or soaps with dyes, fragrances, or triclosan.
• RINSE thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing. It is not necessary to rotate the jewelry through the piercing.
• DRY by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

What Is Normal?

• Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
• During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
• Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
• A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. This is because tissue heals from the outside in, and although it feels fine, the interior remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period.
• Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.

What To Do

• Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning. During healing it is not necessary to rotate your jewelry
• Exercise during healing is fine; listen to your body.
• Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
• Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.

What To Avoid

• Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.
• Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing. 
• Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
• Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
•  Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
•  Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound sealant bandage. These are available at most drugstores and work best for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.
•  Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
•  Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed. • Sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing can cause irritation, even causing shifts in the piercing’s angle. Placing a travel pillow, on top of your pillow, and then placing your ear in the opening can be helpful to avoid this