FAQ Friday:Tattoo Healing Do’s and Don’ts
Getting a brand new tattoo is exhilarating! It is beautiful, vibrate, and fresh at the end of your appointment. Once you leave the studio, though, that gorgeous tattoo that your artist just spent hours packing into your skin is now completely in your hands. How you take care of it for the next few weeks will determine whether or not that stunning piece of art will stay that way.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts to follow while you begin the long journey of healing your new tattoo.
The number one thing to remember is that a new tattoo is an open wound, and you must treat it as such! Your skin has just been broken open with needles to push a foreign element, tattoo ink, into your body. While your tattoo is healing, you want to avoid sweating excessively which means no extenuating work outs or activities. You may shower with your new tattoo, of course, but please do not submerge it under water for an extended amount of time. This also includes no swimming because you do not want to expose your healing tattoo to the chlorine, bacteria, and moisture that comes along with it. You are going to want to protect your tattoo from sun exposure because this will damage and possibly scar your skin like a sunburn as well as cause the ink colors to fade. Wearing loose-fitted clothing over your tattoo is a great way to shield it from the sun, and other elements, while you are doing everyday activities. It will also eliminate the friction against your tattoo caused by tight-fitted clothing which can introduce contaminants and interfere with your skin’s healing process. If you do not apply sunblock when you know you will be out in the sun for a prolonged period, now would be a great time to add that to your routine! Not only will it protect your skin from sun damage, but it is highly recommended to help your tattoo not fade as quickly over time. Depending on where your new tattoo is located on your body, you will not be able to shave that area while your tattoo is healing. You run the risk of slicing the new skin trying to form causing ink to fall out and introduce possible bacteria from the blades to your new tattoo. Washing your tattoo multiple times a day is imperative during the healing process because you want to ensure it is as clean as possible. It is important that you use a non-fragranced soap, ointment, and lotion during this time because any fragranced substance can cause the ink to fall out. Your skin is going to become dry as new skin begins to form, so keeping it moisturized is key. If there are any more tips or scenarios that were not covered in this post, please leave them and any questions you may have in the comments below!
Check back next Friday for our next topic which is the different aftercare methods!
-Sam