General Aftercare
First, every artist you are tattooed by will likely recommend a different set of care instructions! The following guidelines are specifically my recommendations. If you’ve been tattooed by me, please follow these instructions. If you’ve been tattooed often and have found a different method that works well for you, then continue with what works!
These are exhaustively detailed instructions; skip to the end for a short version!
* IF YOUR TATTOO IS BANDAGED WITH SECOND SKIN OR ANOTHER ADHESIVE BANDAGE PLEASE SEE THE COLUMN LABELED SECOND SKIN
FIRST TATTOO? WHAT TO EXPECT: Most people liken the feeling of a fresh tattoo to a sunburn. It is often tender, hot to the touch, and people experience a varying degree of swelling. These symptoms diminish over the first couple days. During the entire two-week healing time, you’ll want to be careful to clean and protect the affected area, and you won’t be able to swim or expose the tattoo to direct sunlight. Most tattoos begin to peel sometime during the first week, like a sunburn. It may be itchy at this time. The tattoo may appear shiny or milky in some areas after peeling, which will dissipate as the new skin settles. After this subsides, any touch up that is needed can be scheduled.
BANDAGE: After getting tattooed, I will apply a bandage or plastic wrap which I ask that you leave on overnight or take off right before you go to bed. The reason for this is that your tattoo initially will seep plasma for several hours, and if allowed to dry out at this point it will form a scab. Ideally, a sterile bandage left on overnight can help prevent potential dangers that might occur while you’re asleep.
FIRST WASH: When the bandage is removed, the tattoo must immediately be washed. The first washing is the most important. A buildup of plasma, excess ink, and melted ointment must all be thoroughly removed. To do this, start by washing your tattoo with lukewarm water (so as to not scald). Use a liquid hand soap (Dial, Softsoap, or *Dr. Bronner’s) directly onto the tattoo, without any washcloth or loofah. Using just your hand, wash gently by rubbing the tattoo with soap in small circular motions and then rinse. Turn the temperature of the water up a little. Wash and rinse the tattoo again. Continue to wash your tattoo for about 5-10 minutes, all the while increasing the temperature of the water until it is hot (but not scalding). The hot water will help open your pores and melt any residual ointment. Continue washing until there is no more slippery feeling to the tattoo and no “shiny” spots. Rinse one final time (optionally with cool water) and immediately pat the tattoo dry with clean paper towels. Do not cover or rebandage the tattoo, leave it open and let air dry for about an hour.
*If using Dr. Bronner’s, opt for a gentle “flavor,” such as almond, lavender, or unscented. If using peppermint or eucalyptus, dilute with water before applying onto the tattoo or you will experience a pretty intense tingling sensation!
LOTION: After an hour or more, wash your hands and apply a thin layer of fragrance free lotion to your tattoo. I recommend Aveeno, Curel, or Lubriderm. The more basic, the better! Lotions with fragrances often have alcohol in them, which can burn and dry out the tattoo. Avoid “ultra healing” or “intensive care” lotions, they can contain ingredients that burn as well.
SUBSEQUENT WASHING: You will need to wash your tattoo about 1-2 times per day during the healing process, or more often if you feel it has gotten dirty. Every wash aside from the first should be very brief: wash the tattoo once with liquid soap under warm water, rinse and immediately pat dry with paper towels. Air dry before applying lotion. Do not touch your tattoo unless you are washing or applying lotion, and only then with clean hands.
SCABBING: At first your tattoo will not require much lotion. After roughly 3-6 days, the tattoo will begin to peel like a sunburn, or sometimes form thin scabs. At this point, you can start to apply lotion more frequently, whenever your skin seems dry. DO NOT PICK ANY SCABS.These areas will require longer healing time, but if left to fall off naturally they will not affect the healed tattoo. The tattoo may be itchy during this stage of healing; DO NOT SCRATCH. Scratching and picking your tattoo, even after it appears healed, can lead to loss of color and lines, abrasion and scarring of the new skin, or infection.
SUNLIGHT: During the first couple weeks after getting tattooed, it is also important to avoid direct sunlight on the tattoo. Wear loose clean clothing over the area and/ or do not spend long periods of time in the sun. Sunburn on a fresh tattoo can destroy it!
WATER: Do not fully submerge or soak the tattoo during the healing process. This includes baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, and saunas. The tattoo can become waterlogged, prone to bacterial infections, or dried out by chlorine.
CLOTHING: During the healing of the tattoo, wear loose clean clothing that does not cling to the tattoo. Do not wear anything that is tight or abrasive. It is a good idea to change your bedsheets.
WORKING OUT: The tattoo must be kept clean, so minimize exposure to dirty environments. Be mindful of workout regimens that might cause friction, impact, or stretching to the affected area, and wash the tattoo if it is exposed to sweat.
PETS: If you have pets with fur, it’s a good idea to change your sheets and vacuum up any pet hair and dander on furniture, etc. And of course, don’t let your animals touch the tattoo!
INFECTION: Infections are rare, however since tattooing breaks the skin there is always potential for infection. It is more likely that you may experience a varying degree of irritation. Signs of potential trouble include excessive swelling, redness, heat, and pain. More severe signs would be discoloration and pus. If you experience these symptoms, contact the shop immediately. Most likely your conditions can be improved by simply washing and drying thoroughly and avoiding further irritation. Severe infections require antibiotics but the tattoo is usually salvageable.
ALLERGY: Ink allergy is even more rare with the ever evolving technology and regulation in the tattoo industry. Symptoms might include severe itchiness that lasts long after the tattoo should be healed, continuing redness or burning sensation in the area, with only specific colors appearing to be affected. Contact the shop if you believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction.
TL;DR: Keep bandage on overnight. Wash thoroughly in the morning using liquid soap, 5-10 minutes under hot water. Rinse, pat dry with a clean paper towel. Air dry 1 hour. Apply fragrance free lotion. Do not rebandage. Wash twice daily for around 2 weeks or until fully healed, but wash quickly and briefly, never as long as the first wash. Lotion as needed, at first not often, but more and more frequently as skin feels dry or tight. Tattoo will begin to peel around day 5 and may be itchy. Avoid sunlight, submerging in water, touching or scratching.
Second Skin
These aftercare instructions are for tattoos that have been bandaged with an adhesive bandage. (Scroll to the end for a short version)
The brand I use is called Second Skin. Their website is: http://secondskin.ink
Other brand names for adhesive bandages include Tegaderm, Saniderm, Tatu-Derm, and Dermalize. These instuctions reflect the methods I have found to be the most successful. I recommend leaving the bandage on for 4-5 days (or longer). Try not to remove the bandage early as the adhesive is very strong and can irritate the tattoo. However, if the bandage becomes compromised (e.g. part of the tattoo is revealed, the bandage burst, bandage is loose to the point where shower water is getting inside the bandage), remove immediately, wash thoroughly, and follow instructions in the GENERAL AFTER CARE column.
PLASMA BUILDUP: The tattoo naturally exudes plasma and excess ink during the initial healing process. Since the bandage is impermeable, that means all that buildup stays inside the bandage. It can look really gross! Do not worry, it is natural and does not indicate infection or smearing or loss of ink. It is possible that the buildup may dry out inside the bandage and the result will be a smeary residue of plasma and ink within the bandage. Once again this is not a concern. Monitor the bandage a couple times a day to check that it hasn’t been compromised, and watch for signs of possible infection: extreme swelling, excessive heat accompanied by redness. If any of these symptoms are present, email me at robotattoos@gmail.com or call the shop.
ALLERGY: Adhesive allergy is a possibility with this type of bandage, so if redness and irritation or even blistering occurs under or around the bandage then remove it right away. Do so very carefully and slowly using plenty of soap in the shower, and take antihistamines if necessary. For tattoo pigment allergy, symptoms might include severe itchiness that lasts long after the tattoo should be healed, continuing redness or burning sensation in the area, with only specific colors appearing to be affected. Contact me or the shop if you believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction, either to the bandage or the tattoo.
REMOVING THE BANDAGE: Remove the bandage in the shower using plenty of soap and water. Go slowly and peel back holding the film against the skin rather than straight up and away from the body. After the bandage is removed, the tattoo must immediately be washed. (The following instructions are my usual tattoo aftercare instructions. Your tattoo may be nearly healed after using the adhesive bandage and not all these steps need to be followed as closely).
The first washing is the most important. A buildup of plasma and excess ink must all be thoroughly removed. To do this, start by washing your tattoo with lukewarm water (so as to not scald). Use a liquid hand soap (Dial, Softsoap, or *Dr. Bronner’s) directly onto the tattoo, without any washcloth or loofah. Using just your hand, wash gently by rubbing the tattoo with soap in small circular motions and then rinse. Continue washing until there is no more slippery feeling to the tattoo and no “shiny” spots. Rinse one final time (optionally with cool water) and immediately blot the tattoo dry with clean paper towels. Do not cover or rebandage the tattoo, leave it open and let air dry for about an hour.
*If using Dr. Bronner’s, opt for a gentle “flavor,” such as almond, lavender, or unscented. If using peppermint or eucalyptus, dilute with water before applying onto the tattoo or you will experience a pretty intense tingling sensation!
LOTION: After an hour or more, wash your hands and apply a thin layer of fragrance free lotion to your tattoo. I recommend Aveeno, Curel, or Lubriderm. The more basic, the better! Lotions with fragrances often have alcohol and other additives in them, which can burn and dry out the tattoo. Avoid “ultra healing” or “intensive care” lotions, they can contain ingredients that burn as well.
SUBSEQUENT WASHING: You will need to wash your tattoo about 1-2 times per day during the healing process, or more often if you feel it has gotten dirty. Every wash aside from the first should be very brief: wash the tattoo once with liquid soap under warm water, rinse and immediately pat dry with paper towels. Air dry before applying lotion. Do not touch your tattoo unless you are washing or applying lotion, and only then with clean hands.
SCABBING: Within a couple days after removing the bandage, your tattoo will begin to peel like a sunburn. It is also very possible that your tattoo will not peel at all; it may have skipped this part of the healing process while under the bandage. Apply lotion frequently, whenever your skin seems dry. DO NOT PICK ANY SCABS.These areas may require longer healing time, but if left to fall off naturally they will not affect the healed tattoo. The tattoo may be itchy during this stage of healing; DO NOT SCRATCH. Scratching and picking your tattoo, even after it appears healed, can lead to loss of color and lines, abrasion and scarring of the new skin, or infection.
SUNLIGHT: During the first couple weeks after getting tattooed, it is also important to avoid direct sunlight on the tattoo. Wear loose clean clothing over the area and/ or do not spend long periods of time in the sun. Sunburn on a fresh tattoo can destroy it!
WATER: Do not fully submerge or soak the tattoo during the healing process, even when protected by the adhesive bandage. This includes baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, and saunas. The tattoo can become waterlogged, prone to bacterial infections, or dried out by chlorine.
CLOTHING: During the healing of the tattoo, wear loose clean clothing that does not cling to the tattoo. Do not wear anything that is tight or abrasive. It is a good idea to change your bedsheets.
WORKING OUT: The tattoo must be kept clean, so minimize exposure to dirty environments. Be mindful of workout regimens that might cause friction, impact, or stretching to the affected area, and wash the tattoo if it is exposed to sweat.
PETS: If you have pets with fur, it’s a good idea to change your sheets and vacuum up any pet hair and dander on furniture, etc. And of course, don’t let your animals touch the tattoo!
INFECTION: Infections are rare, however since tattooing breaks the skin there is always potential for infection. With an adhesive bandage this is minimized, UNLESS bacteria gets into the bandage during initial bandaging or by the bandage becoming compromised. Signs of potential trouble include excessive swelling, redness, heat, and pain. More severe signs would be discoloration and pus. If you experience these symptoms, contact me via email (robotattoos@gmail.com) or call the shop immediately. Most likely your conditions can be improved by simply washing and drying thoroughly and avoiding further irritation. Severe infections require antibiotics but the tattoo is usually salvageable.
TL;DR: Keep adhesive bandage on for 4-5 days, unless it becomes compromised. Remove carefully in the shower. Wash thoroughly using liquid soap. Rinse, pat dry with a clean paper towel. Air dry 1 hour. Apply fragrance free lotion. Do not rebandage. Wash once or twice daily for around a week or until fully healed. Lotion as needed, when skin feels dry or tight. Tattoo may or may not peel and may be itchy. Avoid sunlight, submerging in water, touching or scratching.