A new tattoo is similar to a scrape. Poor care and unsanitary aftercare can cause wound infections and scar tissue. Also, wound infections can lead to a less beautiful tattoo. If you take good care of the tattoo, it will take two up to six weeks for the wound to heal. Your tattoo artist will provide a written explanations about the aftercare of tattoos. Read it carefully.
Aftercare instruction
During tattooing, the skin breaks, causing a wound. If you take good care of the tattoo, it will take about six weeks for this wound to heal. If the tattoo is covered with a sterile compress or cling film, you can remove it after 3 to 5 hours. Wound spray should remain in place until it wears off on its own. You can remove a second skin transparent patch after 5 days.
You can take a shower with a tattoo, but do not shower too long and not too hot.
Treat the uncovered tattoo wound as follows:
- wash the tattoo twice a day with a mild unscented soap;
- pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel or kitchen paper after washing;
- Apply an ointment that the tattoo artist has given you or that he or she recommends 3 times a day. Spread the ointment thinly over the tattoo so that the skin is still able to breathe.
During the healing process, make sure you:
- touch the tattoo wound as little as possible (wash your hands before taking care of the wound);
- do not scratch the tattoo wound;
- do not cover the tattoo wound with soiled or tight clothing, non-breathable fabric, denim or fluffy fabric;
- do not cover the tattoo wound with bandages;
- avoid (bubble) baths, swimming pools, saunas and steam baths for 2 weeks;
- do not expose the tattoo wound to sunlight or the tanning bed for 6 weeks. The tattooed skin remains very sensitive to sunlight even after healing. After these 6 weeks, we recommend to always protect the tattoo with a factor of 50 during exposure to sunlight or while tanning in a tanning bed/solarium;
- as mentioned above: do not shower too long and not too hot;
- no perfume-containing substances should come into contact with the tattoo.
Warning: contact your doctor in case of extreme redness, swelling, bleeding, wound fluid, color change or chronic pain.