HOW TO TREAT YOUR NEW TATTOO
Your new tattoo is basically an area of tiny skin breaks which have been caused by the penetration of needles carrying ink into your skin. It is important that you keep wearing the sterile dressing applied by your tattooist for at least an hour after it is applied. This should provide enough time for the tattoo to stop bleeding or weeping.
Once you remove the dressing, you should wash the tattoo gently with warm tap water and pat it dry with a clean tissue - try to avoid using towels, and definitely dont use towels that other people have been using. After washing and drying your tattoo, apply a moisturising skin cream (we recommend Tattoo Aftercare or Bepanthen - unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients) to stop the skin drying out and reduce scabbing.
You should aim to wash the area and apply the moisturising cream approximately 2 to 3 times a day for the first few days. Cream should continue to be applied 2 to 3 times a day to keep the skin moisturised until your tattoo is fully healed. Everyone heals at a different rate and healing times depend on many factors. However, most scabbing should disappear within approximately 2 weeks - the next stage is for the tattoo to be covered in a silver skin which will last for about a week - in total, your new tattoo should be completely healed within about 4 to 5 weeks.
SOME GENERAL TIPS FOR AFTERCARE OF YOUR TATTOO
If possible, shower rather than bathe during the healing period this prevents unnecessary water exposure always pat your tattoo dry with a separate towel or tissue until it is fully healed. Do not pick your tattoo as this will increase the healing time and will also lessen the quality of your healed tattoo.
Avoid swimming, sun bathing and sunbeds until your tattoo has fully healed sunlight and chlorine can interact with the dyes in your tattoo causing irritation or inflammation of your skin. Where possible, minimise the amount of rubbing from clothing by wearing loose fitting clothes around the area of the tattoo this will minimise irritation of the skin around your new tattoo. Keep your new tattoo covered if working in a dirty or dusty environment.
If you have any problems or questions at any time then you should contact your tattooist contact details are provided below - to ask their advice in the first instance. It may be the case that they may refer you to your GP, or reassure you that what you are seeing is part of the natural healing process.
