Tattoo Aftercare

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

Soldato
Joined
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Stoke area
Hi all,

First off, this is a tattoo thread (obvious from the title). If you don't like tattoo's or have something daft to say about them please just press the backup button :)

I had my first tattoo on Monday and it's just got to the really itchy stage, in fact, it's killing me :)

I was told to leave the plastic wrap on for an hour, then remove and wash it gently with luke warm water and apply Bepanthen to it throughout the day for week, then you can start applying it at less regular intervals. Keep moisturising for at least a month and it should take 3 months to completely heal.

I've just been reading about aftercare and there seems to be so many different techniques and lotions out there it makes it difficult to know which one is best.

If you've had a tattoo, what method did you use regarding aftercare?
 
I was told to run warm water over it, then wash it with soap, wash off and dab dry. Repeat in the morning and at night and jobs a good 'un. Had no problems with mine and didn't use any cream/lotion.

Just saw 3 months to heal! Mine took maximum 14 days until completely healed.
 
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wow...3 months to completely heal???

For each of my tattoos, I left the plastic on for an hour, washed it, drying it very carefully.

Then kept it uncovered as much as possible (had to very loosely cover it for work - but made sure plenty of air could get to it) And three times a day gave it a gentle wash and dry and applied a very thin layer of a vitamin e (IIRC) gel. Who thing was fully healed within a week!!!

Valve
 
The standard one of used on most of my stuff is;

Leave film on overnight
Hot water wash
Bep twice a day for 3 or 4 days
Swap to E45 cream twice a day until it stops flaking/feeling dry


I did preperation H on one tattoo instead of Bep. Bad idea, it irritates the skin a lot more and causes more flaking.

The only variation I've done is on y elbow where after the first wash/bep put fresh film on fro another 24hours.

Hope that helps...
 
the 3 months thing is for your skin to completely heal, something to do with it fully recovering. The tat can be classed as healed within 2-4 weeks.

One of the main reasons for this thread is that I saw this:

Ok, well, for the most part folks are right. But many of them are not up on the latest techniques on tattoo after care that have developed and began to take over the old ways of after care (specially for color pieces).
Typically once the piece is finished an artist will cover the piece with plastic wrap. This should be left on for 4-6 hours then removed and the piece cleaned. And this is also something that came about in the last couple of years. Artist, including myself, use to always apply a breathable bandage over the piece. But the new technique goes totally against anything we have all been taught in after care and actually has amazing results but primarily with color pieces.
The old teaching of letting the piece breathe has been thrown out the window completely!!!!!!! Now, in most any custom shops like my shops where color work is involved the new technique is to use this plastic wrap on the piece for at least 3 days. Yup, completely covered and moisturized for 3 days and cleaned often. It is simply amazing at how bright the colors turn out and how minimal the ink loss is during the healing due to the area staying so moist. This technique is taking the industry by storm and not all artist even recommend it except to there customers that are getting truly amazing work. And of course the only artists that are familiar with this technique are ones that actually attend conventions and siminars in the tattoo industry. But many artists today are overly prideful and think there crap don't stink but in this industry there will always be something to learn. I recommend and have all of my artists recommend this method on any piece that involves color.

ALSO, DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTIC OITNMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simply use one of the ointments they may sell at your shop or just get you some A&D ointment (the A&D in the brown dispenser not the yellow). You can use what ever after care ointment you want just make sure it is NOT neosporin, does not contain frangrancies, does not contain dies, does not contain antibiotics or any healing attributes.
Source(s):
artist and shop owner in the industry over 20 years and always learning and teaching
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Leave the wrap on for an hour. Clean 3 times a day with baby soap and dry with kitchen roll and I got given stuff like vaseline to keep on it. Mine healed in about a week or so.

I got to the point where I was wanting to rip my skin off it was so itchy and to cure it liquid Pyratin (sp?) works wonders. Within 5 minutes the itching stops! It's great!
 
Itching means healing as you know. Just keep the cling film on for a little while then let it heal. Keep it clean, its an open wound. When I had mine done I left the film on for a few hours then took it off, kept it clean and moistened so as to prevent cracking. Vaseline should be okay.
Do not use antiseptic cream as this could draw the colours out as its how it works, unless you think it is infected in which case you should seek medical advice.
 
I wouldn't use Vaseline, it's far too greasy and won't let the skin breathe.

Bepanthen or Aqueous cream is great.
 
anticonscience said:
I was told to run warm water over it, then wash it with soap, wash off and dab dry. Repeat in the morning and at night and jobs a good 'un. Had no problems with mine and didn't use any cream/lotion.

Just saw 3 months to heal! Mine took maximum 14 days until completely healed.
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Not supposed to let it stay dry though, need to keep it moisturised or it may crack and pull ink our with some of the hard bits.


Also mine took a few months too, depends how big/how much work is done over the skin. My Letters were quick, shaded areas, ouchy :)
 
Breeny said:
I wouldn't use Vaseline, it's far too greasy and won't let the skin breathe.

Bepanthen or Aqueous cream is great.
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Its not too bad as long as you do not apply it with a shovel, if its rubbed into the affected area regularly it shouldn't be a problem ;)
 
All my tattoos heal within 3-4 days :)

so i use this method:

1. When home, remove cling film and wash tattoo with hot water, no soap, pat try, DONT RUB!
2. Reapply clingfilm.
3. (Repeat process every 3-5 Hours)
4. After 24 Hours, Do the same but this time apply bepanthen, as well as still using cling film
5. However long later Remove clingfilm, and just use the bepanthen...

Dont have to stick to this but it helps me anyhow.

And this isnt just for small tattoos, as i dont have any small tattoos, were talking a good half sleeve in size tattoos each time.
 
Why wrap with cling film? Surely air is best for it?

Then again mine was a small one and it healed within 3 weeks. I have got some slight ink run under the skin though. I was told that's because too big a needle was used though.
 
i do pretty much what you've said!
i have only ever had clingfilm on for the time it takes to get from the studio to my shower!
keep it clean (i use warm water and gentle antibacterial liquid soap) but don't soak it
bepanthen a few times a day
wear clothes over it that you don't mind getting inky (days 1+2) or greasy!!
i don't imagine it would take three months to heal, a couple of weeks tops. (mine have always looked/felt worse about 4/5 days after)

obvious advice - as with any 'wound' never touch it with grubby hands! give them a good scrub before touching / washing / or creaming your tattoo :)
no swimming / hot tubs / long soaks in the bath until it is healed!!

as there are a few tattooed others on here - does anyone else bruise when they get inked?
 
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Tobes said:
Why wrap with cling film? Surely air is best for it?

Then again mine was a small one and it healed within 3 weeks. I have got some slight ink run under the skin though. I was told that's because too big a needle was used though.
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slight bleed because of the needle? thats daft... wheres the tattoo?
 
goldilocks said:
i do pretty much what you've said!
keep it clean (i use warm water and gentle antibacterial liquid soap) but don't soak it
bepanthen a few times a day
wear clothes over it that you don't mind getting inky (days 1+2) or greasy!!
i don't imagine it would take three months to heal, a couple of weeks tops. (mine have always looked/felt worse about 4/5 days after)

obvious advice - as with any 'wound' never touch it with grubby hands! give them a good scrub before touching / washing / or creaming your tattoo :)
no swimming / hot tubs / long soaks in the bath until it is healed!!

as there are a few tattooed others on here - does anyone else bruise when they get inked?
Click to expand...

on the joint of my arm i did very badly, it was completey black, you bruise with all of them? i couldnt bend my arm when it was on the joint at all due to bruising.
 
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