Congratulations! Now that you have a brand new tattoo, here is all the information you will need to properly take care of it.
Your tattoo is covered with a sterile bandage. Please leave this on for 24 – 48 hours or the length of time recommended by your tattoo artist. If the artist has used a second skin bandage product, there may be excess ink/liquid/blood pooling under the bandage during this time. Don’t panic, this is normal with this type of bandage. Some people have skin sensitivities to the bandage adhesive, if you notice significant itching, burning or painful sensations underneath or near the bandage please remove it as soon as possible and follow the after care instructions below.
When you remove the bandage, do so by slowly peeling it off from the edges. When the bandage is completely removed, wash the tattoo thoroughly with warm water and unscented soap ensuring that the area is clean. DO NOT USE a sponge, loofa, or wash cloth – use your hands. Gently pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel or let it air dry. You may wish to sleep with your tattoo covered, wear loose clothing to avoid abrasion with rough fabrics, pet dander etc.
For the next two weeks wash your tattoo once a day in the shower with unscented soap. Do not use scented body wash and avoid putting your tattoo directly under the stream of water.
Within the first 3 days – 1 week (after the bandage is removed) you will notice a scab begin to form on the tattoo. This is a normal part of the healing process! Please do not pick at the scab as this can lead to issues with how the tattoo looks after healing. Once the scab has formed and the tattoo has dried out, you can apply a small amount of UNSCENTED moisturizer to the tattoo area once a day or as recommended by your artist.
DO NOT use products such as petroleum jelly (vaseline), polysporin, sunblock, chapstick or any oil based products.
DO NOT submerge your healing tattoo in any body of water such as baths, swimming pools or lakes for 2 weeks.
Minimize the amount of direct sunlight on your tattoo while it is healing. Once the tattoo is fully healed ( approximately 2-4 weeks) remember to always wear sunblock on it while spending a long period of time in the sun! This will keep your tattoo from fading or becoming discoloured.
If you have any questions or issues with your tattoo while it is healing PLEASE feel free to contact your tattoo artist or the shop with any concerns! We will be able to recommend the best solution to any issues you might have. You can also contact your general health care provider. Thanks!
LUCKY 13 TATTOO
lucky13tattoostoronto@gmail.com
(416) 537 7376