Tattoo aftercare is vitally important to the health of your
new tattoo, and it must not be ignored. Many people believe that once the
needlework is done, their tattoo is a lock, but that is far from reality. The
fact is that unless you properly care for your new tattoo, it could easily
fade, lose saturation, flake, scar, or you could wind up with an infected mess
on your body.
But if you ask a dozen tattoo artists how to take care of a
new tattoo, you'll probably get a dozen different answers. The conclusion is
that no one knows precisely what will work for everyone, so your best bet is to
follow a conservative, consensus-driven aftercare procedure.
Before getting into any specifics, it's important that you
follow your tattoo artist's directions precisely. If their guidance conflicts
with this article, always refer to their instructions. But in the absence of
directions, here's what you need to know.
Tattoo Aftercare Do's
Do use an approved aftercare moisturizer / healing cream
Do leave your initial bandage over your tattoo for at least
four to six hours, but no more than 12 hours
Do keep your tattoo out of direct contact with water (this
includes the shower)
Do keep your tattoo moisturized
Do pat your skin dry when the tattooed area gets wet
Tattoo Aftercare Don'ts
Don't expose your tattoo to sunlight until fully healed
Don't submerse your tattoo in water, and especially avoid
chlorinated water
Don't let your tattoo dry out completely
Don't over moisturize your tattoo
Don't pick your tattoo scabs
Don't cover your tattoo with a bandage once the initial
bandage has been removed
Don't scratch, bruise, or allow anything to rub against your
tattoo with friction
Tattoo Aftercare Procedure
1) Four to six hours after you leave the tattoo parlor, wash
your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. You'll want to ensure that
your hands are free from dirt, germs, or anything infectious.
2) Carefully remove the bandage that was placed over your
tattoo at the parlor. With a mild antibacterial soap, carefully wash the
tattooed area, removing any of the greasy covering, ink residue, blood, etc.
You'll know the area is clean when it just feels like wet skin. Be very gentle
with your skin. Pat your skin dry -- do not brush or rub dry.
3) Apply a thin layer of moisturizer / healing ointment.
Popular brands recommended at parlors include A&D Ointment, Neosporin, and
Bacitracin. There are also tattoo-specific products that are designed
exclusively for aftercare, and they include Tattoo Goo, H2Ocean Aftercare, and
Black Cat Tattoo Cream. If you have a large, expensive tattoo, or a tattoo with
deep colors that you want to protect, they are probably worth the investment.
4) Three to four times per day, apply a thin film of
anti-bacterial / healing ointment to your tattoo. You will want to use enough
to moisten the tattooed area, but not so much as to leave streaks or allow it
to build up. Your goal is to moisturize the area only, so start with a small amount
and work it in with your fingers.
The problem with over moisturizing the skin is fading inks.
If you slather on a thick coating of Neosporin and keep it moist throughout the
day, your tattoo might heal in just over a week -- but the inks will fade. If,
however, you lightly coat the area three to four times per day, your tattoo
might take two to three weeks to heal, but the colors will set properly. The
lesson to learn is healing quickly does not necessarily mean healing properly.
5) Cover the tattooed area with light, loose fitting
clothing, and be mindful of your tattoo. Don't scratch or pick your tattoo! If
you must, gently slap the skin or use rubbing alcohol to relieve any itching or
irritation.
While there might seem to be quite a few steps to follow,
they are quite simple. The bottom line is that you need to pay attention to
your tattoo, and allow the body to heal itself as naturally as possible. You
will do everything you can to assist that process, but you don't want to rush
it -- just help it. If you can do that, and stay diligent with your care for 2
to 3 weeks, you will be blessed with a rich tattoo that can be enjoyed for
years.
Following these steps will ensure that your tattoo heals
quickly and properly, and will help the inks set and stay vibrant and bold.
Then you can enjoy your new tattoo for a lifetime.
Ben is a game developer and tester who loves to tinker
around with the latest consoles and portables on the market. He also has a
growing collection of body art and helps match people with their perfect
tattoos. Ben is a fan of the tattoo finder [http://www.easytattoofinder.com/],
and maintains a blog containing tattoo product reviews, tattoo tips and tricks,
tattoo-related videos and more. Visit Ben's blog for more information on how to
find the best designs for tattoos [http://www.easytattoofinder.com/].
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Swank
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