Just got my first tattoo

[90_EF_Hatch]

Any one have any tips on the after care? I figure ill follow a general idea of all the advice I get. I just want it to heal well and not mess up.

I took the bandage off after about 3 hours and gently cleaned it with anti bacterial soap and after patting it dry, applied a petroleum jelly based ointment. Im guessing after a few days I switch to a fragrance free lotion until its all done?

thanks for any advice in advance!

 

[AHHVTEC]

well as a rule,leave the wrap on for at least 6 hours no more than 12. wash it after you take it off then pat dry if you see anything shinny on it wash it again until the shinny is gone, but since youve already moved on from this skip that part other than that dont put anything on it at all let your body heal it as its suppose to do, later if it starts getting to hard go ahead and put fragrance free lotion on it. i have sevral tats and every artist has different things they tell you to take care of it but what i posted has been the best for me and it healed a lot faster like this.never put any medicated ointment on it at all it will pull the ink out.and keep it out of the sun until fully healed then use sun screen.

 

[hondarin]

what is it exactly?

 

[civicious]

Don't keep it wrapped. Put Aquaphor on it 24/7. When you wash it, use a regular ass hand soap, but be gentle - don't scrub it. When it starts peeling, don't scratch it, and don't peel off the stuff that starts flaking off. If it starts scabbing, then you aren't keeping it moist enough and you need to put more Aquaphor on it.

Since it's on your chest, and you're pretty much gonna have to wear a shirt, make sure and wear an undershirt so that it'll absorb all the ointment. Make EXTRA sure to keep it well lubricated since it's gonna be under clothing.

Prolly give it a week or so and it'll be fine.

Source: Me. I've been at tattoo buff for several years, and I've got sleeves.

 

[jeffie7]

Clean it with soup pat it dry and use nothing more then a non scented lotion. Don't over apply, you want the tattoo to breath.

I went 5 hours nonstop last weekend and havent had any pain or any scabbing, it started to peel after 3 days. Last tattoo I got I cleaned it too often and used ointment, took much longer to heal and was a mess.

 

[BigJ]

A & D is what I've been recommended in the past but my best friend swears by aquaphor.




What ever you do, resist the urge to scratch. I have a big white spot the size of a pea from me scratching I still need to get touched up.

 

[civicious]

I've used Aquaphor exclusively for the last 5 or 6 years, and I've got a LOT of intricate line work and color. The piece on my right forearm is almost 6 years old, and it still looks just as bright and vibrant or whatever as when I first got it.

 

[90_EF_Hatch]

Where apparently I have been using aquaphor! I was just looking for some sort of something to get me by last night, and I found an unopened tube just laying on the counter ... coincidence?

Thank you for all the advice Guys! Im already planning on my next one.

And My friends I went with got a Tattoo on her wrist, and it swelled up. and last night she said her other wrist (that didn't get tatted) was hurting too. I haven't heard from her this morning to see how its going, but should she be worried?

 

[90_EF_Hatch]

what is it exactly?

Its a "tormented gargoyle." It was a picture that came off of a bottled of absinth I like. I like it because I think it shows his struggle with the drink, which I struggle with too lol.

 

[AHHVTEC]

i would only get worried if it starts getting real red and sore around the edge, more than likely he just worked that spot for to long.

 

[reckedracing]

i've used saran wrap as a guard between skin and clothing if i was in a situation where i couldn't have ointment leak through
keeping it moist seemed to work well for me to prevent the scabbing from lifting color as it heals

and go get yourself checked for hepatitis C in a few months, and keep regular on it.

 

[SlushboxTeggy]

Very nice. I have a few more planned, but IDK when I'm going to get around to it.

 

[civicious]

And My friends I went with got a Tattoo on her wrist, and it swelled up. and last night she said her other wrist (that didn't get tatted) was hurting too. I haven't heard from her this morning to see how its going, but should she be worried?

She's probably just having an allergic reaction, no big deal. It SHOULD clear itself up in a few days, just make sure she keeps ointment on it.

 

[invisibledemon]

civicious gives the best advice.

keep it moisturized and dont let it dry out.
otherwise its just going to scab up, and bleed. pulling the ink out with it.

and dont, ever, ever, ever, put anything over it other than clothing.
putting more plastic wrap over it after the initial tattooing is just asking for infection. the tat needs to breath, covering it with plastic is just going to hold in the moisture, heat, and bacteria thats inevitably present. mix the three and you have the starting to a painful tattoo.

good luck. i cant wait for my next week long on mine. and still need more. lol.

 

[jeffie7]

civicious gives the best advice.

keep it moisturized and dont let it dry out.
otherwise its just going to scab up, and bleed. pulling the ink out with it.

and dont, ever, ever, ever, put anything over it other than clothing.
putting more plastic wrap over it after the initial tattooing is just asking for infection. the tat needs to breath, covering it with plastic is just going to hold in the moisture, heat, and bacteria thats inevitably present. mix the three and you have the starting to a painful tattoo.

good luck. i cant wait for my next week long on mine. and still need more. lol.

All good advice, just remember moist = a slight coating all over, anything more is too much.

Can't wait for next Saturday, session number 2, hoping to get at least another 5 hours at most 7-8 hours in. I hate having to have down time between sessions. I want it DONNNEEEEEEE

P.S B why don't you get your legs tattooed tan.

 

[jeffie7]

and go get yourself checked for hepatitis C in a few months, and keep regular on it.

While there's nothing wrong with getting tested for anything, its media/bs studies that makes people worry about bullshit like that. Seems that most people who run studies on things like hep c and tattoos are not tattoo people. Why get a tattoo when it raises your risk for infection and or makes it hard to spot moles for cancer and such...

Bottom line, a lot of people have hep c and many of them have no idea where they got it. A lot of people have tattoos and because of that, its blamed on tattoos.

Hepatitis C Update: Is it Safe to Get a Tattoo? | Hepatitis Central News, Updates and Commentary

If you get tattooed from your home boy. I could see the risk going up, but from a legit shop..... I bet the risk of getting hep c from your dentist cleaning your teeth is higher.

 

[90_EF_Hatch]

Its coming along pretty well I think its gonna heal up pretty well.

And my friends is looking better also, but she wasn't keeping it moist so me and a few other people at work had to explain it to her lol.

 

[jeffie7]

Its coming along pretty well I think its gonna heal up pretty well.

And my friends is looking better also, but she wasn't keeping it moist so me and a few other people at work had to explain it to her lol.

Yeah, if women don't keep it moist, it will dry out and be hard to get anything up in it.

 

[CAFROG]

I used horse hoof ointment to keep my new tattoo moisturized lol. But that was 14 years ago. Got one tattoo and stopped....the addiction never set in.

Cool tattoo.....looks Sci-Fi and different.

 

[Hondadude141]

Yeah, if women don't keep it moist, it will dry out and be hard to get anything up in it.

Am I am the only one that caught this? lol...

Aquaphor, aquaphor, aquaphor. Can't stress it enough. and then after about 4-6 weeks, any time you go out in the sun, USE SUNSCREEN. Its pretty easy outside of that.

Oh yeah, get ready for the itchies lol