Proper aftercare is crucial to the health of both you and your tattoo. Poor aftercare can cause your tattoo to blur or fade and can lead to infection.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to ensure your ink stays as crisp as the day you got it.

For SANIDERM or SECOND SKIN coverings: Leave the bandage on for 24-72 hours. When you remove it, do so slowly and carefully in the shower. If you feel at any point that your skin is reacting negatively to the adhesive, remove the bandage and begin standard aftercare.

For PLASTIC WRAP coverings: Leave the plastic on for 1-3 hours. Once it is removed, begin standard aftercare.

STANDARD AFTERCARE

• Wash your tattoo twice daily with unscented antibacterial soap and either pat dry or air dry. After each wash, apply a thin layer of an ointment like Aquaphor or Lubriderm. Continue this for 3-5 days after your appointment.

  • Avoid heavier ointments like Neosporin, as they can clog your pores and negatively impact how your body retains the tattoo ink.

  • If you will be going someplace with increased risk of infection (gyms, doctors’ offices, etc.) or sweating, wash your tattoo again afterwards.

• After 3-5 days, switch from washing to applying an unscented lotion like Cetaphil or CeraVe twice daily. Continue this for two weeks. After this period, your tattoo should be fully healed.

IMPORTANT!

• DO NOT submerge your tattoo underwater for at least two weeks after your appointment. Going into baths, swimming pools, lakes, etc. with a fresh tattoo are all exceptionally likely to result in an infection.

  • Showering is perfectly acceptable, but if possible do not let the water hit your tattoo directly.

• DO NOT expose your tattoo to prolonged periods of direct sunlight for at least two weeks after your appointment. Excess sunlight on a fresh tattoo will cause it to blur, fade, or spread.

  • DO NOT use sunscreen as a workaround to this. Sunscreen can negatively impact healing similar to other heavy lotions.

• DO NOT pick or scratch at your tattoo. Doing so can dislodge the ink and cause it to smear.

• DO NOT exercise or perform physical labor for the remainder of the day after your appointment. As fun as tattoos are, your body still interprets them as physical trauma and it will devote its resources to begin the healing process.

  • This will of course vary based on the size of your tattoo; smaller pieces will require less downtime. Use your best judgement!

FAQ

• Is it normal for a new tattoo to be red, sore, swollen, or warm?

  • Yes, absolutely. As mentioned before, the body reacts to a tattoo as it would most other wounds. Any combination of the above symptoms can and do persist for a few days after your appointment.

• My tattoo looks like it is leaking ink. Is that normal?

  • Yes, this is another expected part of the healing process. A certain amount of ink is deposited in the outermost layer of skin during application. This ink will be ejected from the body with a mix of blood and plasma in the days following your appointment.

• How can I tell if my tattoo is infected?

  • Generally speaking, signs of infection will be quite obvious. If the symptoms noted above appear days after your appointment and/or continue to worsen, that is one potential sign. More obvious signs include fever, opaque pus, and the presence of open wounds. Any of those symptoms will necessitate a visit to a doctor.

• How can I continue to care for my tattoo after it is healed?

  • A very astute question! While tattoos are generally considered fully healed after two weeks, continuing care via moisturizing and applying sunscreen will give your ink extra longevity. Time and sunlight are tattoos’ mortal enemies, but we at least have some tools to delay them.

• I still have questions. Do you have other resources?

  • If anything here still leaves you with questions, feel free to get in touch with me! I’m always more than happy to help.