How To Take Care Of A Tattoo
Getting your first tattoo is an exhilarating experience. It fills your heart with joy and a sense of accomplishment that mere words can not describe. Sadly, this happiness is short-lived by most people just because they are not up for what comes next, which is taking care of the tattoo.
A tattoo, although art, is actually a medical procedure. And just like any medical procedure, it requires attention and aftercare to last. The majority, especially beginners, forget all about taking care of their tattoos after its etched in their skin. This leads to rashes, swelling, and even discharge, reducing the design that once meant something to ashes. Well, not literally to ashes, but you get the gist of it.
So, to avoid this from happening, you need to know how to take care of a tattoo. And that’s exactly what we will dive into in this read.
Fun Fact:- Permanent tattoos are created by inking the tissue underneath the outer layer of skin. So, to do this, a tattoo machine naturally punctures the skin’s surface, leaving a wound behind which needs to be taken care of.
Tattoo Aftercare: The First Day
A tattoo needs to be taken care of in the short run, as well as in the long run. So, to make things easier for you, we will cover the steps needed to treat a newly etched tattoo first before moving on to precautions that will help your tattoo last longer.
Most professional tattoo artists carry out the initial aftercare measures once they are done finishing a new tattoo. They will apply an antibacterial ointment over the tattoo and cover it up with either bandages or plastic wrap. Some might even use Tegaderm, which is just a fancy form of bandaid. Regardless, once they are done covering it up, they will advise you about the time the dressing needs to stay on.
Removing it early or late might lead to infections and ink bleeding, so lend him your ears. If he doesn’t give you any guidance, make sure to ask and not assume anything. Usually, it’s advisable to leave it covered for up to 2 to 5 hours. But then again, the duration largely depends on the type of tattoo and its size.
After you remove the bandages, wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap and cold water. Pat the tattoo dry with a soft cloth and avoid scrubbing at all costs. You can also let it air dry if you have the patience for it. Repeating this process for a couple of days will speed up the healing process.
Once the tattoo is clean and dry, apply any ointment (or alcohol and fragrance-free moisturizer) recommended by your artist an excellent product that we can recommend to take care of your new tattoo is Balm tattoo aftercare to keep the tattoo moisturized. Following these steps will help you get over the first day unscathed.
Tattoo Aftercare: The Long Run
Things become easier once you get through the first day, although you do need to keep repeating the rinse, pat dry, and apply moisturizer process for some time. The upcoming days will also require a bit of planning.
First off, you need to figure out what you are going to wear for a week or two. Tight clothes made of rough material are a strict NO. Your tattoo needs room to breathe and enjoy fresh air, so wear something loose and avoid covering it up. But this does not mean that you can expose it to sunlight. Direct exposure to sunlight can cause the colors to fade and also burn tissue as the skins quite vulnerable once inked. So avoid the sun as much as possible.
A few days into the healing process, your tattoo will scab naturally. During this time, refrain from picking on it no matter how tempting it might seem. Honestly, the more you avoid touching it, the better. Refrain from heavy workouts that involve the muscles around the tattoo as well. These movements will cause your skin to crack and delay healing.
Although all these precautions will help your tattoo to last longer, there’s still room for error. So, it’s best to always keep an eye out for any signs of infections, and contact your artist ASAP if you notice anything strange.