Tattoo aftercare

Yas786

Yas786

Yas786

Caporegime
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After about 12 yrs of umming and ahhing about getting one...i finally plucked up the courage to get one done yesterday...went pretty well...didnt hurt as much as i thought it would although where i have my tattoo ie on my upper arm, when he went to colour it in near my shoulder...as it was bone there..that flippin hurt:eek::p...but i grinned and beared with it and it went pretty well

Anyhow i asked him about after care and he put some bepanthen, nappy rash cream on then wrapped it in clingfilm...told me to go home and after about 2 hrs...take the clingfilm off and gently wipe the blood and other gunk away. Then said to wrap it up in clingfilm again after putting the cream back.

Been looking around the net and there are conflicting stories ie dont use clingfilm etc but use a bandage or something breathable...at the moment i havent got anything like that...the tattooist said clingfilm will work just fine.

Anyways i know theres a lot of people here with tattoos so what the guy told me...is that ok or should i really use a bandage...god knows where im gonna get one as the nearest boots is a bit far and im stuck at the office till 8pm.

Heres a pic of the tattoo i had done:
tekken09.jpg


Thats not my arm by the way...at the moment havent got a camera to take a pic plus its healing at the moment.
 
PiKe said:
Looks like from that pic it's on an action man or something!
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lol whats with the shiny bod.

ops just read this "Thats not my arm by the way...at the moment havent got a camera to take a pic plus its healing at the moment. " soz
 
The best way is to leave the tattoo exposed to the air, just keep it moist with the Bepanthen. Once a night wash it gently with warm water then apply more cream. You do not need to cover it with anything

Edit - Try not to scratch it when it gets to the itchy stage :)
 
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Spawn said:
*snip*
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First off dont panic, itll heal fine.

Take off your cling film, wipe away with warm water the gunk, dont scrub! then pat dry with a towel.

then let it dry naturally for 5mins.

i dont use cream until day 2 to let it breathe (leave it 24 hours without cream) but keep cleaning and reapplyin clingfilm every 2-4 hours, when you feel it needs it.

after 24 hours start using cream, no clingfilm, and keep it creamed, but not overly dont make it soggy! keep cleaning it if it needs it but i doubt it.

alo at night i recommend you use clingfilm to protect it from scratching or rubbing.

That should be fine.


-From me! who has pretty much most his arm done :)
 
PiKe said:
Looks like from that pic it's on an action man or something!
Click to expand...

Its actually a Jin Kazama tattoo...character from Tekken who has the same tattoo...its the only design in the last 12 yrs that ive been contemplating on getting a tattoo, that really appealed to me.
 
Cling-film will be ok for a couple of days but I would then change to a tube bandage. Buy it on a roll as you would normal bandage and cut a length to cover the tattoo so that no germs/bacteria can get in. After another couple of days and it's healed, leave uncovered don't pick the scab for any reason at all, try not to scratch no matter how much it itches and keep out of the sun or swimming pools for at least 3 to 4 weeks, should be fine then. :)

Edit: There wasn't any replies when I started typing and forgot to check before posting. Good advice from above even though it all differs slightly. You should be fine which ever way you go but remember the sun and swimming pools.
 
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djohn said:
Cling-film will be ok for a couple of days but I would then change to a tube bandage. Buy it on a roll as you would normal bandage and cut a length to cover the tattoo so that no germs/bacteria can get in. After another couple of days and it's healed, leave uncovered don't pick the scab for any reason at all, try not to scratch no matter how much it itches and keep out of the sun or swimming pools for at least 3 to 4 weeks, should be fine then. :)
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Bandage? Christ no, dont do this! if he does what ive said he shouldnt scab bad at all.
 
I learnt it's a bad idea to smother it in cream, you want to keep the scab on as long as possible, most tattoo places put some dressing on it just so you don't bleed everywhere, but after an hour or two, leave it open and uncovered, let the air get to it, it'll bubble with blood for a while after, just keep dabbing with a clean tissue, use savlon or bepanthen to keep it moist, but not soggy, else the scab falls off and you end up looking patchy, I got one and the guys in the "show us your tattoo"thread were a font of knowledge :) i've also been recommended "tattoo goo" which helps keep the colour bright and edges defined :)


EDIT: or listen to neoni >.< he's got waaaaaay more experience hehe
 
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Neoni said:
First off dont panic, itll heal fine.

Take off your cling film, wipe away with warm water the gunk, dont scrub! then pat dry with a towel.

then let it dry naturally for 5mins.

i dont use cream until day 2 to let it breathe (leave it 24 hours without cream) but keep cleaning and reapplyin clingfilm every 2-4 hours, when you feel it needs it.

after 24 hours start using cream, no clingfilm, and keep it creamed, but not overly dont make it soggy! keep cleaning it if it needs it but i doubt it.

alo at night i recommend you use clingfilm to protect it from scratching or rubbing.

That should be fine.


-From me! who has pretty much most his arm done :)
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Cheers Neoni...ive got clingfilm on it now...i took off the one i had last night...put some cream on it then wrapped it new clingfilm around it..

I was told that for the next 4 days to put cream then wrap clingfilm around it...but if your saying theres no need then i wont bother...ill just keep it moist.
 
Spawn said:
Cheers Neoni...ive got clingfilm on it now...i took off the one i had last night...put some cream on it then wrapped it new clingfilm around it..

I was told that for the next 4 days to put cream then wrap clingfilm around it...but if your saying theres no need then i wont bother...ill just keep it moist.
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i leave it on for the first day because it collects all the crap and gunk, but it shouldn't be weeping or bleeding still after 24 hours.

if it is by all means put clingfilm on it until it stops, but fresh air is the best bet after the 24 hours, you only need a tiny amount of bepanthen, dont make it so its soggy just rub a thin lair on it.

and definately cover at night times, to protect it!

theres honestly no right or wrong to tattoo heal, but i am seriously AGAINST any cloth based protection, such as bandages etc, you'd be asking for trouble especially with cream, it would fuse to the tattoo and pull off scabs if you do scab.

and also dude if it doesnt heal 100% dont worry, just get it touched up, it happens to a lot of people, but dont worry im sure it'll be fine!
 
Neoni said:
i leave it on for the first day because it collects all the crap and gunk, but it shouldn't be weeping or bleeding still after 24 hours.

if it is by all means put clingfilm on it until it stops, but fresh air is the best bet after the 24 hours, you only need a tiny amount of bepanthen, dont make it so its soggy just rub a thin lair on it.

and definately cover at night times, to protect it!

theres honestly no right or wrong to tattoo heal, but i am seriously AGAINST any cloth based protection, such as bandages etc, you'd be asking for trouble especially with cream, it would fuse to the tattoo and pull off scabs if you do scab.

and also dude if it doesnt heal 100% dont worry, just get it touched up, it happens to a lot of people, but dont worry im sure it'll be fine!
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Cheers dude ill keep your advice in mind...im going back next week for him to look at it so he can see how its come along...said if it needs to be touched up he will do so.
As for the tatt itself its not really weeping anymore but id rather be safe than sorry and its only a thin layer of cream i put on.
 
Spawn said:
Cheers dude ill keep your advice in mind...im going back next week for him to look at it so he can see how its come along...said if it needs to be touched up he will do so.
As for the tatt itself its not really weeping anymore but id rather be safe than sorry and its only a thin layer of cream i put on.
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mate you should feel my pain, my tattooist tattooed me not realizing her gun settings had changed, and when it healed it had to all be redone all the colour, it just wasnt hitting hard enough. :(

my i add i was sat for 5-6 hours too. so it had to be redone. i was suspicious at the fact it wasnt hurting no where near as much as my other full day sessions.
 
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