Having a tattoo is cool; having an infected tattoo; not so much. When the ink penetrates your skin to create the tattoo, it opens it. When your skin breaks; it becomes prone to scarring and infection. A tattoo is an art and a medical procedure; that is why one is advised to go to a certified artist, like someone who works at one of the many San Diego tattoo shops, who is licensed and keeps a sterile environment.
Caring for our tattoo requires effort from both you and your artist. Since it is fresh, the tattoo needs to be dressed to protect it from bacteria and irritation. The tattoo artist will also apply some antibiotic ointment on the area, but what next?
The healing process to go smoothly requires you to care for the tattoo after leaving the shop properly. Figuring out how to care for the tattoo can be stressful. Your tattoo artist could leave you with a list of after-care instructions; however, sometimes, they may leave some things out. Let’s cover the basics of taking care of your tattoo throughout the healing and preserve it for years to come.
1. Keep it covered
Once the tattoo is complete, fluid and sometimes excess ink leak from it, the dressing the artist used to cover the tattoo will protect the tattoo from bacteria and act as an absorption material for the fluids. Ensure you leave the bandage on until the time recommended by the artist elapses.
2. Wash the tattoo
After removing your dressing, you can uncover the tattoo and let your skin breathe. But first, you have to clean the tattoo gently. Wash your hands with soap and water, then using warm water and fragrance-free soap, wash the tattoo.
Use a cloth to pat the skin until dry, ensure it is clean and soft, then apply some moisturizer sparingly on the tattoo. Ensure the moisturizer is fragrance-free and alcohol-free to avoid skin irritation or drying out the skin.
3. Keep it clean
Keeping your tattoo clean is crucial to your healing; that is why cleaning it at least three to five times a day is advised. When cleaning, use lukewarm water and liquid soap. To be safe, use only unscented soaps, as some mild soaps could irritate the skin. There are after-care creams you can buy on your artist’s recommendation that will help with the healing.
4. Avoid soaking it in water
While keeping your tattoo clean is crucial, you should also ensure it remains dry. For at least a month, avoid soaking it in water. Baths and long showers are a no-no; however, you can use a cling film to keep the area dry when taking showers.
5. Do not pick at it
As the tattoo heals, slabs and flakes will appear on the area. It can be tempting to pick at them, but we’ll tell you this; don’t. Picking at slabs interferes with the healing process; you could end up bleeding or removing the ink on that area. If you’ve ever had itching and wondered why does my tattoo itch? You should not be concerned; mild itching is normal in the first few weeks.
Avoid itching but if you can’t help it, slap it lightly instead of scratching or use safe numbing creams for tattoos to minimize the itching. However, if it persists and skin becomes raised, you should go back to your tattoo artist or seek medical advice.
6. Avoid exposure to direct sun
What happens when clothes are exposed to direct sunlight? They fade. Tattoos work the same way, especially colored ones. As the tattoo heals, avoid exposing it to direct sunlight. Once it heals, use SPF creams to cover it whenever you plan to be under the sun. Avoid tanning in the sun to ensure your tattoo remains fresh.
7. Keep an eye out for infections
Although rare tattoo infections exist, there are cases where tattoos become infected so ensure you watch out for the signs. If bleeding persists days after the tattooing, you need to see your doctor. Additionally, possible signs of infection include swelling for more than a week, redness, and oozing on the tattoo site. Fever and chills are also signs of an infection, so you need to get checked out by a medical physician immediately.
If you want to preserve your tattoo and avoid other complications, you should take care of it. After-care routine is essential to healing. Knowing how to clean your tattoo, what to use and what to avoid plays a part in your healing. With this guide, you can take care of your new tattoo and monitor its healing at home.