Treat your tattoo like a healing wound (because it is). Make sure you are washing it clean at least 2x per day. Be gentle, don't scrub, and pat dry. When you wash your tattoo, always use products with ingredients meant for tattoos, such as Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap.
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water while the tattoo is healing. Choose clothing carefully. Don't wear anything that might stick to the tattoo.
A few key tips - Keep it clean: Gently wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day and pat it dry. Apply ointment: Use a tattoo-specific ointment or fragrance-free lotion 2-3 times a day. Avoid tight clothing and excessive moisture. Protect from sun exposure and avoid scratching or picking at the tattoo.
After about a month, the skin still internally heals. The best way to ensure proper healing and avoid infection is to keep your tattoo clean, apply ointment/lotion, and keep it out of the sun. If your tattoo continues to ooze or swell—or you have a rash or fever—contact your healthcare provider.
It's generally recommended to wait at least 24 hours before jumping into the shower. This initial waiting period gives your skin time to begin healing. When you do shower, try to minimize direct contact with the tattooed area and limit its exposure to water.
Benefits of Dry Healing
Natural Healing Process Dry healing allows the body to use its natural healing mechanisms, which can result in a more vibrant and detailed tattoo. Simplified Routine Without the need for multiple applications of ointments or creams, the aftercare routine becomes simpler and less time-consuming.
Use the Aquaphor for the first 2-3 days then switch to a regular FRAGRANCE-FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance-free brand. 5. Fresh tattoos sometimes “weep” during the first couple of days, meaning that plasma and ink form a thin moist coating on the skin. This can be DABBED with a clean paper towel.
While it's healing, don't pick or scratch your tattoo — even if it's flaking, Wei says. Also, avoid submerging your tattoo, so stay out of pools, hot tubs, and any bodies of water for two weeks. Don't expose your tattoo to the sun either.
If scabs develop, they can remove the color beneath them if prematurely removed. It's important that they're allowed to dry out completely, and not get waterlogged at any time. The scab will eventually fall off on its own, and the tattoo should be fine if no deep cracks have formed.
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.
Cleaning and Excessive Water Exposure
Who would have thought that cleaning the tattoo could also sabotage healing? Avoid submerging your fresh tattoo underwater or apply excessive water while showering. Our skin could absorb the water and damage the tattoo.
Avoid water.
Swimming, bathing, Jacuzzis, hot tubs, the ocean. For the first two weeks after getting tattooed, avoid being submerged in water all together. And if you're reading this during the summer while your friends scamper and frolic past you on their way to the beach, take a moment of silence for yourself.
You can shower 3-4 hours after getting a tattoo, if you have a Saniderm bandage on, however, if you have a plastic wrap wait 24 hours to unwrap your tattoo and shower. In either case, shower in cold or lukewarm water and avoid prolonged soaking or submerging your tattoo in water for 3-4 weeks.
There hasn't been an official study on how much ink (if any) Aquaphor can remove or fade from a tattoo. In the interest of fairness, plenty of tattoo artists claim that they've never experienced ink loss in their clients that use Aquaphor.
So, how long should you keep the cling film on for? “I'll recommend to keep the tattoo covered with cling film for anywhere between two and four hours,” advises Sarah. Liv's in agreement, “a few hours gives any soreness time to settle and excess plasma/ink – that gooey stuff!
Both Paul and Shuliar recommend Aquaphor healing ointment for tattoo aftercare because it's unscented and designed to create a protective healing barrier while allowing oxygen to pass through.
Others will tell you that antibacterial ointment is a major "no-no." And the old-school artists advise against using any ointments or lotions at all, saying they may be vehicles for bacteria and can cause infection and scabbing.
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!