TATTOO AFTERCARE

The way your tattoo will look after healing depends not only on my skills, but equally on the aftercare so take your time to get familiar with all the recommendations. Bad tattoo aftercare can lead to infections. 

In the healing process you will need the following things: 

  • natural liquid soap (no perfumes)

  • paper towel

  • cling film/absorbent pads and adhesive tape (if we’re planning multiple day sessions, a lot of black, tattoos around knee/elbow or if you’re allergic to second skin type of dressing)

  • healing support cream (dedicated to tattooing eg. Bepanthen cream +, Aquaphore, cream dedicated for tattoo healing available at tattoo shops)

  • baby wipes and hand disinfection gel (if cling film/absorbent pads will be applied and you’re planning to travel after the session)

If you have any questions specific about products don't hesitate to reach out to me to get more personalised recommendations.

BASICS

A fresh tattoo would take 2-4 weeks to heal on the surface. Deeper layers of the skin will heal longer, even a few months. That's why with heavier tattoos your skin might be more sensitive during this time. Freshly tattooed skin can be red, swollen and oozing. Thesis is a normal reaction for having an open wound. Depending on the size of the tattoo, technique and your immune system, this might last up to a few days. 

DO’S:

  • Maintain hygiene. Never touch the tattoo with unwashed hands, do not let other people touch it, wash the tattoo 2-3 times a day and always do it before applying cream. 

  • Protect from the sun. Until the tattoo fully heals, cover it with clothes. After 4 weeks you will be able to apply sunscreen and this will be your forever best friend if you want your tattoo to look good. Sun speeds up the aging process so tattoos on the skin that gets a lot of sun lose their sharpness faster. Applying sunscreen is especially important if you’re exposing your tattoo to the sun in the first months after healing as lower layers of your skin are not fully regenerated yet so they need extra protection from UV light. 

  • Moisturize. Apply healing supporting cream 2-3 times per day. Never use body lotions, face creams of other beauty products as their ingredients might cause irritation or fading of the ink. In Europe the most popular product is Bepanthen (choose the creamy one), in the US people usually use Aquaphore. You can get special cream in the studio. If you prefer natural methods, coconut oil or shea butter will work too but only if you’ve been already using it on your skin and you react well to it. If you are experienced in healing and prefer a dry method - it's also ok. 

DONT’S:

  • No places where it is difficult to maintain hygiene like gym, club, etc. until the wound is closed.

  • No activities that might affect tattooed area like eg. exercising, for 1-2 weeks.

  • No swimming, sauna, sunbathing for 4 weeks - unnegotiable 

  • No drinking alcohol after the session, until the wound is closed, especially if you’re oozing. Diluted blood will be oozing more.

  • No picking and scratching - this can lead to infection or scarring.

  • No sleeping with an uncovered tattoo for the first 2 nights (or until it's oozing), especially if you travel and sleep in a rented place.


If absorbent pads were applied after the session:

If I applied an absorbent pad after the session, it means that your tattoo is oozing and might continue to do it the next few days. Until it stops, you have to be very conscious about it because it also means that the wound is open and so prone to infections. This goes mostly for solid black parts, especially in mobile areas like elbow ditch, knee, neck etc. 

Change absorbent pads 3 times a day and always put a fresh one on when you go to sleep. Before applying a new pad, gently clean the area with soap and water. 

Make sure to clear all the excessive blood and ooze as they might create scabs if left to dry. After washing, apply a thin layer of healing cream and wrap the area with absorbent pads. Make sure that the pad is sticking to all the surface so that excessive blood and ooze can be absorbed by the pad. Otherwise it will dry out creating scabs. It might take one or even up to a few days until oozing stops. If any scabs appear, try to dry them out by themselves. 

When you take off the pad and it's clean it means that the wound is dry you can stop using them.  From now on clean and moisturize your tattoo 2-3 times per day for up to 4 weeks. 


If second skin dressing was applied after the session:

If I applied the second skin type of dressing after the session, it means that your tattoo is nicely dry and the wound should be already closed when you take it off. 

Keep the second skin for 2-3 days. During this time you don't have to worry about aftercare. 

It is normal to see some oozing underneath the next day. 

Second skins are water resistant, not waterproof which means that you can take a shower as usual but baths are not allowed. 

To take it off, find a spot in the lower part  to grab it and gently, slowly pull it up. Help yourself with water and soap if it sticks well. 

After you take it off, clean and moisturize your tattoo 2-3 times per day for up to 4 weeks. 

There are two cases in which you should take your second skin earlier:

  1. There is a lot of ooze coming out of it. If it creates fluid filled bubbles then it's no longer a healthy environment for a fresh wound and so you have to take the second skin off. After doing it, gently clean the tattoo, making sure to remove all the gooey stuff, dry the area and leave it for 10-15 minutes to see if the wound is still oozing. If yes, proceed with the recommendations for absorbent pads healing. If not, leave it dry (no cream) and keep it clean for next 1-2 days. After this time you can incorporate the cream to your aftercare. 

  2. If you feel itching, pulsing or any other sensation that might suggest that your skin reacts poorly to the second skin. It is rare yet some people have allergic reactions to this product and if this will be your case, remove it immediately. After doing it, gently clean the tattoo, dry the area and leave it for 10-15 minutes to see if the wound is still oozing. If yes, proceed with the recommendations for absorbent pads healing. If not, leave it dry (no cream) and keep it clean for next 1-2 days. After this time you can incorporate the cream to your aftercare. 


If you have any questions about the aftercare, send me an email. I will go through recommendations with you after the session. During the healing process, you can text me anytime if you have any questions or concerns. 

If you experience excessive pain, redness, swelling, pulsing, yellow fluid, itching -  these might be signs of infection. In this case contact a healthcare professional immediately and also let me know about it.. Infections happen even for people experienced in tattoo healing and there's no need to panic. Your doctor will most likely prescribe you an antibiotic ointment. The healing process might be prolonged and the infected area won’t look too pretty but give it time to fully heal. 

One touch up session is always included in the price of your tattoo. If you feel like it's necessary, just contact me about it. I will also appreciate sending me healed photos after around 3 months, when the tattoo is fully healed.