NEVER itch or pick your tattoo: Picking off scabs or itching your tattoo will delay healing and may damage your ink. Drying your tattoo with washcloths or towels can also remove scabs and delay healing. Friction from wearing tight pants or shirts over your tattoo can also irritate the skin.
Apply a mild moisturizer to the tattooed skin several times a day. Avoid sun exposure. Keep the tattooed area out of the sun until it heals. Don't go swimming.
For these reasons, it's best to avoid alcohol for at least the first 24-48 hours after getting a tattoo, however, practitioners recommend longer for maximum results and health benefits. During this time, your body works hard to heal the tattoo, and any additional stress or strain can impede the healing process.
A high-protein diet can speed healing by providing the necessary nutrients for skin repair. Some excellent protein sources include lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts.
When getting a tattoo alcohol and caffeine should be avoided for 24 hours prior to the tattoo session and 3 days after the tattoo session. Both alcohol and caffeine thin the blood. They both can increase bleeding which can causes the ink not to stay as well resulting in a blotchy tattoo.
Tattoo Aftercare Don'ts:
It's crucial not to pick, scratch, or peel them off, as this can pull out the ink and also lead to scarring or colour loss. Avoid Soaking: For the first few weeks, avoid prolonged exposure to water, such as swimming or soaking in hot tubs. Quick showers are preferable to long baths.
Infections: Excessive redness, swelling, or pus are red flags. Allergic reactions: Persistent itching, rashes, or irritation may indicate a reaction to tattoo ink or products. Prolonged healing: If your tattoo isn't healing within the expected timeframe, consult a medical professional.
The answer is no. Tempting as it is to speed things up, picking or pulling at peeling skin can damage your tattoo. Those flakes are holding onto ink and skin cells that are still healing.
Seafood, particularly raw fish, prawn, and shellfish, can carry bacteria that might increase the risk of infection, especially when your tattoo is still healing and the skin is vulnerable.
In conclusion, you can shower after getting a tattoo, but don't submerge the tattoo in water for any prolonged period of time. Follow the instructions your tattoo artist gives you, and if you're bandaged with Saniderm, you can keep the covering on your tattoo while you shower because it is waterproof.
Foods to avoid include those that promote inflammation – red meats, foods high in sugar, salt and additives, as well as overly processed foods. These can interfere with the body's natural healing processes. The same is said to be true for an excessive amount of dairy.
Bad tattoo aftercare often leads to infection, so listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut. See a doctor immediately if you develop any of the following uncomfortable symptoms: Excessive redness, bumps, or rash.
Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo? Yes, but try not to after the few initial days after application. If you do, make sure you change your clothes frequently. In our experience, tattoos can weep onto the clothes and if you don't change them, it can cause infection.
If possible, avoid wearing a bra post-procedure and during the healing process. Whenever possible, let the area be exposed to air to aid in healing.
Using Castile Soap for Tattoo Aftercare
No need for alarm as this is quite normal. What you're seeing is in fact excess fluid (plasma) and ink from the tattoo process. Using Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap for tattoos is perfect for this step!