Tattoo Aftercare

For bandaging, I use second skin bandages called Easy Heal (other common brands include Saniderm, Ultraderm, etc.). They are waterproof, breathable bandages that you’re going to want to keep on for 3 days, up to a week. Second skin bandages were originally created for burn injuries and maintain a moist enviroment that speeds up the healing process, while keeping bacteria and dirt out.

While the bandage is on, you may notice your tattoo gets mucky with goo and liquid, causing the bandage to bubble. This is normal, and happens more intensly with darker pieces (lovingly called an ink sac). It is the result of your body’s immune system, and consists of extra ink,, blood, and plasma. Should you notice this liquid leaks out, or your bandage simply tears or exposes your tattoo at all, you must remove the whole bandage asap, as the seal has been breached and can now harbour bacteria.

Due to being an adhesive, sometimes these bandages trigger an allergic reaction. This usually results in redness around the perimeter or a burning, itchy feeling underneath the bandage in areas where there is no tattoo. Redness and soreness on the actual tattoo is normal. If you notice you are having a reaction, take of the bandage as soon as possible. Sometimes, adhesive reactions can get worse or trigger from bandage removal, but its better to have the source removed than keep it on. If you know you are prone to reactions, we have found washing the area with distilled water helps remove any green soap (which can sometimes be the cause of the reaction).

If you feel the need to remove the bandage before the recommended time, whether from pain, discomfort, or a reaction, you absolutely can. Dry healing is a little tougher than wet healing, but is still a viable way to heal your tattoo- you simply need to baby it a bit more.

To remove your bandage, hop in a nice warm shower and allow the water to run over the area to warm and loosen the adhesive. Avoid having the water spray directly onto the area. You are going to want to peel the bandage in the direction of your hair follicles to minimize pulling. Some hair may come off with it, but if you work slow and allow water to continue heating the adhesive, you should be able to get it off with minimal discomfort.

Once the bandage is completely off, you may notice a “ghost” of your tattoo on the bandage. This is normal, and is just the result of extra ink staining the bandage. Use a small amount of unscented soap to gently wash away any excess.

Once your bandage is off and you hop out of the shower, you’re going to want to gently pat your tattoo dry- don’t scrub or wipe. Your tattoo is likely going to be very sensitive, so it’s time to baby it for the next week or so.

Once dry, apply a small amount of unscented moisturizer. You will want to repeat this in the morning and afternoon, or whenever the area is feeling very itchy. You do not want to overmoisturize, as the tattoo needs to breath in order to heal. Avoid using polysporin or vaseline products, as they are too thick and will smother your tattoo.

Polysporin has the potential to pull out ink, and is not recommended unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. The only time I would use it if a very small infection seems to be starting- if you need to apply a very tiny amount of polysporin to keep it contained, then do so at your own discretion. Signs of infection include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Pain

• Pus

• Fever

If you think your tattoo may be infected, go see a doctor for antibiotics as soon as possible. It is normal for a fresh tattoo to maybe be irritated or sore, but anything that seems out of the ordinary, likely is not normal. If an infection is left untreated, it can lead to scarring, the infection spreading, and other serious health concerns.

To avoid infection and the spreading of disease, I use fresh barriers for every appointment to cover and protect my tools from cross-contamination. Gloves are frequently changed to avoid spreading contaminate. All needles are opened in front of my client, and are never reused. After the appointment, my entire station is disinfected with Cavicide. Before tattooing, the area is cleaned with green soap, then sanitized with 70% alcohol. All this is to make sure your tattoo is set up for success, but this care must be continued by you after you leave the shop. Be careful, and the risk of infection lowers substantially.

Now that you have an open wound, you want to do your best to get it to the end of healing so that all the lines and details stay put. Carelessness will effect the end result, and there are a few things that are garunteed to put your tattoo at risk. It is recommended to avoid the following until your tattoo is fully healed.

Scratching and Itching

Your tattoo is going to be itchy, and the best way to work around this is by keeping it lightly moisturized in the morning and afternood. If you’re desperate, sometimes lightly patting your tattoo can calm the itch. Scratching your tattoo has the potential to pull any dryness or scabbing off early, and take ink with it. Fingernails and hands are also super gross, so make sure you wash your hands before touching your tattoo for any reason to help avoid infection.

Soaking

Soaking your tattoo in any water source is a no-go. Water softens scabs, and like with scratching, can pull them off too early and take ink with it. However, now you have the added risk of whatever is floating in the water with you. This is especially true for natural bodies of water- there is a ton of nasty stuff that can, and will harm your tattoo. The amount of times we artists tattoo clients only to see them swimming in a lake the next day is mindblowing. Don’t do it!

Sun Exposure

The sun is the #1 tattoo fader, and will always effect your ink whether or not its fully healed. The sun emits ultraviolet radiation (UV), which penetrates deep into the skin and breaks up ink particles. This makes it easier for white blood cells to pick up and flush these particles out, leading to increased fading. Think of it as long-term tattoo laser removal. Fresh tattoos are particularily prone to sun damage. During the healing process, you want to avoid sunscreen on your fresh tattoo, so simply avoid exposing your tattoo to the sun if possible. Wear loose clothing to cover it and block these intense UV rays. Once your tattoo is healed, apply sunscreen whenever you’re outside to ensure your tattoo lives as long as you do.

Your tattoo will take 4-6 weeks to fully heal. You may hear people say “my tattoo healed so fast, it only took a week!”, but this is not possible. The length of time your tattoo takes to heal depends on factors such as the lineweight, darkness, and location. A tattoo may not by itchy and sore after a week, but it is not yet fully healed and you must still be careful.

You will know a tattoo is fully healed when it’s no longer glossy and has more of a matte finish. At this point, your skin has fully recovered and the ink now sits under that top layer. If there is any itchyness, scabbing, or flaking, or your tattoo still looks glossy and shiny, it is not healed. At this point, you can assess how it healed, and book for touchups if needed.