Congratulations on your new tattoo!
TATTOO AFTERCARE
1. After your tattoo procedure leave your bandage on for 4 - 24 hours.
2. Wash your hands and remove the bandage. Wash your tattoo with warm water and unscented anti-bacterial liquid soap (Dial, unscented Dr. Bronners). Blot dry with a clean paper towel and apply a Chapstick thin layer of aquaphor.
*Do Not heavily coat with ointment *Do not re-bandage tattoo after removing initial bandage!!!
3. Clean your tattoo 2 times a day (once in the morning / once before bed) for 2 weeks. For the first 2 days, apply a Chapstick thin layer of aquaphor after each cleaning. After 2 days, switch to a fragrance free hand lotion (Lubriderm, Curel, Cerave).
4. Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight. You may wet the tattoo to clean it in the shower, but do not soak (No swimming, tubbing, Sauna, etc.) for 2 weeks or until the tattoo is healed. Wear clean, loose clothing and avoid contact with gym equipment, pets/fur, and any other materials that may introduce bacteria into your new tattoo.
5. If you accidentaly soil the tattoo or sweat due to physical activity, be sure to immediately clean the tattoo and change into clean clothing.
What to expect during healing
*In the first few days, your skin will be hot to the touch, slightly raised/sore or possibly swollen.
*After a few days, your tattoo will begin to peel/flake off as you clean it. This is normal. if you encounter larger areas of skin that scab, do not pick, peel, or scratch them off. Let the skin heal on its own.
*Your tattoo may start to itch. Do not scratch. Your tattoo may look fuzzy, flaky, and raised during the healing process. After 2 weeks this should go away and will be smooth to the touch. It will have a shine to the tattooed skin, but will be healed enough to enjoy all normal physical activities again. It may take a few more weeks for your skin to lose it’s shine / return to normal.
*Infections are rare, but if you experience persistent redness, swelling, red streaks, heat or oozing that does not go away after the first 5 days, stop using your lotion and contact me / seek medical care immediately.
*Once fully healed, wear sunscreen to protect your tattoo for years to come.