Your tattoo artist can assist in determining your specific requirements.
1. Remove the Plastic Wrap
On the first day following your tattoo session, it’s common for your artist to wrap your new ink in plastic and a bandage to prevent plasma and fluid leakage onto clothing and sheets and protect the skin during its initial healing phase.
Once the initial wrap has been removed from your tattoo, it is now time for its cleaning and nurturing. After applying your tattoo, make sure to cover it with a new Saniderm bandage to prevent irritation or infection. We suggest keeping this on for 3-6 days, but you may remove it sooner if your tattoo appears irritated, the bandage comes off prematurely, or you see fluid buildup under it.
2. Cleanse
Once your tattoo has been wrapped in plastic and bandaged, cleaning the area is essential to eliminate any remaining blood or plasma. Doing this will allow your new tattoo to heal quicker while also helping prevent infection.
Employ an antibacterial, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water to clean your tattoo with your hands. Carefully rub the soap onto the skin to gently expel excess plasma and ink from its pores.
After cleaning the tattoo, pat it dry using a paper towel or clean cloth – don’t use anything too abrasive, like a washcloth, sponge, or loofah, as these could lead to further irritation. After thoroughly drying your tattoo, use Aquaphor healing ointment from Eucerin to provide moisture and speed up its recovery.
3. Moisturize
If you have a tattoo on your body, moisturizing is essential to your aftercare routine. While this might not seem significant at first glance, regular application of moisturizer can make an enormous difference to its healing and appearance.
To moisturize your new tattoo, begin using products designed specifically for tattoos (such as Aquaphor healing ointment) two to three times per day after washing it with warm water and antibacterial soap. Moisturizers play an integral part in the healing process for tattoos by helping keep skin hydrated and speeding healing and by preventing too much peeling, which could harm their design or cause itching, scratching, and scabbing. Professional tattoo artists suggest moisturizing the area once or twice each day.
4. Apply Ointment
Wash your tattoo at least twice daily with warm water and unscented soap, rinse well, and pat dry afterward. At first, it may cause redness or scabs to form on your skin; this is perfectly normal and will soon disappear once the ink fades. Do not pick or scratch at your tattoo; doing so may make matters worse and leave permanent scarring from pulling out ink particles.
Apply an unscented, alcohol-free lotion like Cetaphil three times daily to keep your tattoo healthy and safe from infection.
