Aftercare
A tattoo causes trauma to your skin. Depending on the placement, size, and type of tattoo, the healing process can vary. You should expect your new tattoo to be red, irritated, swollen, and sore. These are normal reactions to the tattoo area. Usually, you can anticipate 1 to 3 days for red or irritated skin to subside. It is also normal for your tattoo to ooze plasma after a tattoo. During the final stages of the healing process, typically 3 to 10 days, you can expect the skin to start to peel and the scabs to fall off.
IF YOU ARE USING AN ADHESIVE BANDAGE:
If you are using an adhesive bandage (such as Saniderm, SecondSkin, Tegaderm, etc.), leave your adhesive bandage on for 3-5 days. The bandage helps protect against infection and irritants, and is especially important during the first three days of healing (when the wound is especially susceptible to infection). There will be some plasma “ooze” that builds up underneath the bandage- even though this can look gross, it is completely normal and helps with the healing process. You can shower with your adhesive bandage on. After 3-5 days, remove the bandage in a warm shower- this will help the adhesive bandage peel off easier. Once your bandage is removed, clean your tattoo with a gentle, fragrance-free liquid soap. Pat dry with a single-use papertowel or clean bath towel. Apply a gentle, fragrance-free lotion to the tattoo. Remember to always wash your hands before touching and cleaning your tattoo! Clean and moisturize 2x/day for the first two weeks.
Although rare, adhesive allergies can happen. An adhesive allergy often looks like redness or irritation around the edges of the adhesive bandage, or underneath the bandage that surrounds the tattoo. If this occurs, feel free to reach out to your artist if you have questions. Remove the bandage, clean, and moisturize as per instructions above.
IF YOU ARE NOT USING AN ADHESIVE BANDAGE:
Remove the temporary bandage once you are home, or within 6 hours after your tattoo appointment. Once your bandage is removed, clean your tattoo with mild, fragrance-free liquid soap. Pat dry with a single-use papertowel or clean bath towel. Apply a gentle, fragrance-free lotion to the tattoo. Remember to always wash your hands before touching and cleaning your tattoo! Clean and moisturize 2x/day for the first two weeks. If your tattoo is exposed to irritants or bacteria, make sure it is covered (at work, running errands, etc). It can be covered with a fresh temporary bandage or clean clothes. Apply lotion whenever your tattoo feels dry, itchy, or tight.
ADDITIONAL HEALING TIPS:
Apply moisturizer/lotion generously, and any time the tattoo feels dry/itchy. It's important to moisturize your tattoo even after the first 2 weeks of healing! I recommend a gentle, fragrance-free lotion for healing (instead of Aquaphor, because Aquaphor is a petroleum-based jelly that does not let your skin breathe and clogs pores). Some common brands I recommend include Cetaphil, Cerave, and Eucerin.
Clean your tattoo in the shower. Use a gentle, fragrance-free liquid soap to clean your tattoo.
Make sure you have clean bedsheets. This is a common place for irritants and bacteria.
DON’T swim or submerge your tattoo under water for 2 weeks.
DON’T scratch or pick at your tattoo.
DON’T expose your tattoo to direct sunlight for 2 weeks. If you are going outside, make sure your tattoo is covered while it is healing! After the tattoo is healed, use sunscreen whenever the tattoo is exposed to the sun. This will help the tattoo age better and keep it looking fresh.
DON’T exercise heavily the first couple days after your tattoo. Your body is already working extra hard to heal the fresh wound, so adding the stress of exercise can delay healing. Sweat can also build up underneath the adhesive bandages and cause irritation.
DON’T touch your tattoo with dirty hands (make sure to wash your hands before touching or cleaning your tattoo!)
DON’T use a dirty bath towel to dry your tattoo after cleaning it (they can contain contaminants/bacteria). Use a clean bath towel or papertowels to dry your tattoo.
Please seek a medical professional if there are any signs of infection, including: fever, chills, abnormal swelling and warmth, red lesions, draining pus, or firm raised tissue.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me!
TOUCH-UPS
I offer free touch-ups for my work. Let your tattoo heal up at least 1 month prior to getting a touch-up. Color work, color linework, and solid fill are the most prone to needing a touch-up. If a certain color of ink is not settling into your skin well, we can look into touching it up with a different color of ink. To schedule a touch-up, please email me at kristamarietattoos@gmail.com. Please include your general availability, as well as a picture of your tattoo. I want to make sure your tattoo is looking good, so don’t hesitate to reach out for a touch-up!