Finally, the tattoo design you've had in mind for months has now become a reality. However, in order for your skin to heal quickly, it needs appropriate tattoo care to look even cooler. But how does the aftercare work? How can you care for a fresh tattoo while ensuring it heals well and ends up looking just the way you like? Here's everything you need to know about it.
Proper tattoo care
A tattoo is a personal and permanent work of art. However, it is also a type of wound because a tattoo gun uses a fast-moving needle to inject ink deep into the skin. Just as proper care ensures that a painting can hang in a gallery undamaged for years, tattoo care is an important part of maintaining a tattoo in the long term. Aftercare can be confusing for some of you, especially if it is your first tattoo or a new tattoo afterward. For this reason, this guide contains detailed instructions on care after piercing. Here you will also receive tips on how to keep tattooed skin young and healthy.
Step by step instructions for aftercare
Proper aftercare in the first few weeks after getting a tattoo can help prevent infection and keep the tattoo looking good. The tattoo aftercare should therefore begin in the tattoo studio. Once your tattoo is finished, theTattoo artistApply a thin layer of tattoo gel or moisturizer to the entire tattooed area. You should then usually cover the area completely with cling film or a bandage for proper protection.
As tempting as it may be to remove the protective covering to look at the tattoo, the bandage or stretch wrap should remain on for a few hours after the procedure. The duration also depends on the size and the area of the body where the tattoo is located. This cover protects the open skin from bacteria, sunlight and rubbing against clothing.
The first wash
You should not remove the bandage and wash the tattoo before 5 hours have passed. After thoroughly washing your hands, you can gently finger wash the tattoo with hypoallergenic soap and warm water. The tattoo care cream can be Bepanthen or from the DM drugstore. This will dissolve onto the skin and the tattoo may appear as if ink or a thick, sticky substance is oozing through. This reaction is usually not a cause for concern as it is simply the excess fluid and ink from the tattooing process.
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After showering, you should pat the tattooed area on your skin with a clean paper towel and allow it to air dry for up to an hour. When the area is completely dry, you can apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the tattoo. However, leave it free to allow the skin to breathe. For the first few days, the tattooed skin may feel warm and have a reddish appearance. The colors can also appear very light on the rest of the skin. The tattoo will become less vibrant as the healing process continues.
Tattoo Care – First Week
As a tattooed person, you should avoid submerging the tattoo in water or otherwise moistening it other than washing it for the first 3-6 weeks. You can continue this washing technique in the first week if necessary. How often to wash depends on a person's activity level and environment. Someone who sits in an air-conditioned office all day only needs to wash the tattoo once a day. However, those who work and sweat in a hot or dirty environment may need to wash off the tattoo every few hours.
It is best to care for the tattoo only with clean fingers and not with a cloth or towel, as this can irritate the skin and prematurely remove any crusts that may have formed. Crusts often form in the first few days, and ink may still seep through the skin, which needs to be rinsed away. It is important that you do not remove the crusts and theDo not scratch skin. Redness or mild swelling usually disappears by the end of the first week.
Caring for Tattoo – Second Week
At the beginning of the second week the crusts start to come off. It is therefore important to be particularly careful with washing and moisturizing this week, as it is easy to accidentally remove scabs and damage the tattoo in the process. The skin is likely to itch during this period, but should not be scratched. However, additional moisturizer can significantly relieve the itching. Using tattoo care Vaseline or Bepanthen stored in the refrigerator can also better soothe itchy or irritated skin. If necessary, you can also take an over-the-counter product orally to relieve itching.
Third week and beyond
The final stage of healing can be slow but requires patience. Most of the larger crusts have now fallen off on their own. Small residues and dead skin areas may appear, but these will disappear as the healing process progresses. Scabby and flaking skin can cause the area to appear dry and dull. Applying moisturizers and protecting the tattoo from the sun will help with these problems.
The outer layers of skin should heal completely by the end of the third week. The inner layers take longer to heal but require less tattoo care. Once the outer layers of skin have healed, the likelihood of infection is reduced because there are no longer any open wounds that could be infected by bacteria.
If the tattoo is moistened regularly in the first few months, it will appear bright and clear. In the first few months it is also particularly important to protect the tattoo from the sun with clothing while it heals and to always apply sunscreen after healing.
Tattoo compatibility and allergy
At every stage of the healing processthe body can reject an ink color. If your skin is allergic to an ink, a severe and painful rash may form on it. To avoid ink rejection, some tattoo artists perform an allergy test on the ink in question by applying a small amount to the skin. If this causes a reaction, it is not safe to use.
Allergies to tattoo ink can occur because tattoo inks contain many different substances. For example, black ink contains carbon, while thered inkIncludes mercury sulfide. Anyone who gets a rash on or near a tattoo should see a doctor who can identify the rash and treat it appropriately. You may also want to contact your tattoo artist about this if possible.
With ointment tattoo care for aftercare
Every tattoo artist will likely have a different recommendation for which moisturizing ointment to use. General recommendations are the following:
- Alcohol-free healing ointments such as Eucerin or Curel
Coconut beer - Care for a fresh tattoo with coconut oil
- Pure cocoa butter or shea butter
- It is important not to use scented creams or lotions. Strong chemicals can irritate the wound and damage the tattooed skin.
The tattooed person should also avoid using sunscreen on a tattoo until it is completely healed, as this can clog pores and trap bacteria in the process. Tattoo care with zinc ointment, Eucerin cream, coconut oil or pure cocoa butter and shea butter also makes sense, as these are usually also available online.
Useful tips for tattooing summarized
Tattoos are a lifelong commitment and require special care to keep them looking good for years to come. You can also carry out good tattoo care in the following ways:
- When caring for tattoos, always use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic soap and moisturizer as harsh chemicals and fragrances can irritate and even damage newly tattooed skin.
- Use a moisturizer that allows your skin to breathe, as clogged pores can cause infection.
- Make sure the area is completely dry before aftercare use, as excess moisture trapped under the skin can cause irritation and rashes.
- Wash the tattoo regularly but gently, especially after dirty or sweaty activities.
- Drink plenty of water to keep skin moist and supple.
- Cover your tattoo with clothing or a bandage when exposed to the sun during the healing process.
What should you avoid?
You can support the healing process by following the following tips:
- Avoid soaps and moisturizers with fragrances or harsh chemicals. Even if a product doesn't normally irritate the skin, it may irritate the tattooed area.
- Do not pick at scabs as scar tissue may form.
Don't scratch your tattoo even if it itches. - Avoid non-cosmetic mineral oil moisturizers, which clog pores.
- Do not use sunscreen on the tattoo until it has completely healed.
- Do not swim or bathe until the tattoo has healed.
When should you see a doctor?
Tattooing can be done easily once the process is understood. However, there are times when you may also need a doctor. Infection is the most common reason for seeking medical attention after a tattoo. If you don't take care of it properly, your tattoo can become infected by aggressive bacteria. An infected tattoo becomes warm, inflamed, and painful.
In such cases, the skin can also form pus. Blood infections can also occur if the tattoo artist uses dirty needles or ink. These infections can include tetanus, hepatitis B, C or even HIV and mycobacterial skin infections. For this reason, you should contact a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection.
The most important factor for tattoo care is working with a professional, highly recommended tattoo artist. This avoids complications and makes the healing process easier. Following the tattoo artist's self-care instructions is often a person's best line of defense against infection and poor healing. Regularly caring for a tattoo can help prevent infections and keep your body art looking good for years to come.
