Tattoos are called body “art”, and rightly so. They are “art” in a very personal form, with them being skin-inked reflections of your personality. However, they require much more care than you might think.
On that account, we’ve spoken with experts regarding what you should practice when preserving the vibrance of your new (and skin-raw) tattoo. Plus, we’ve included a couple more tips on preventing infections and scarring, too. Oh, and if you ever wanted to know how to work at a shop check out this guide to finding tattoo shop jobs!
New Tattoo Care Tips
1. Antibiotic Topical
Upon getting up from the chair after your tattoo has been inked in completely, use a cotton swab to ever so gently dab it with ointment. Antibiotic topicals will act as a protective film over the fresh wound. And yes, tattoos are medically considered “open wounds”.
There are tattoo artists who add this step to your tab, should they have a medical ointment or topical on hand.
2. Gentle Wash
Slowly uncover your tattoo. Next, wash and rinse it around 5 hours after its final application. Experts say that lukewarm water and a non-fragrant soap is the best combination for this task. You can then leave it to dry for half an hour before patting it down with a disinfected fibre-free and/or lint-free material.
3. Hydration
In the context of tattoo upkeep, water is not merely for cleansing the target area on your skin. It’s for hydration as well. Of course, drinking water should already be a part of everybody’s hourly-to-daily ritual in the first place.
Still and all, hydration here is for restoring your skin’s natural elasticity. This is directly related to how this very component is what can aid in reducing the likelihood of your tattoo-wound cracking, and later, incurring scars.
4. Tattoo Care Products
Tattoo Aftercare Products differ from antibiotic topicals in that each one has specific functions. For instance, salves have a cooling quality for tattoo wounds that sting during the healing process. Lotions can keep the tattooed portion moisturized. It may even prevent skin-rawness when a bit of shedding and cell replacement takes place along the way. Thirdly, washes are for disinfecting the region.
There are a variety of aftercare products you can choose from. You can ask your supplier about the most ideal variety for your tattoo.
And no sunblock! Sunscreen contains chemicals that can irritate the wound and lengthen its healing period.
5. Loose Clothing
Wear loose clothing, especially around where your tattoo is situated. This is a practical tip that mainly has to do with how tight clothing may aggravate any pain felt on the said area. In fact, cotton comes highly recommended because of its breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
Bandages are another no-no! Although a tattoo is, technically, a kind of gashing (albeit beautiful) on your skin, cloth pads or similar textured materials should not be used on it.
These fabric types can be abrasive on your skin art. Your tattoo specialist or medical physician can provide you with proper advice regarding the best material you should use for patching over your tattoo.
