Tattoo Care and Advice
96Before Tattooing
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Before You Get Tattooed
If you're getting ready to go get your first tattoo, here are a few things you should know:
Since tattoos are a healing surface wound, you really should to avoid hot tubs, swimming pools and soaking in bathubs of water during the healing period. Before the surface heals, the skin is susceptible to infection and public pools and water are easy sources of bacteria. Also, the soaking can cause the scab to come off too soon, which can also hurt your new tattoo. So don't go get tattooed the day before that beach vacation or cruise!
Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before your tattoo appointment and be sure to eat a good meal a hour or two ahead of time. The process of enduring being tattooed is more tiring than most people would imagine and it often stresses the body the same way vigorous activity does, even though you aren't being highly active.
Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin before you get tattooed. Both of these thin the blood and can cause you to bleed heavily during the tattoo process.
If you are going to be tattooed for a long time, make sure you have a way of getting home that is safe, or have someone else drive you. Some people become disoriented or a bit fuzzy-headed after long tattoo sessions due to the endorphin rush.
If you have any allergies to antibiotic ointments, latex or petroleum products, be sure to tell your tattoo artist BEFORE they start to do any work on you. That way they can make sure any equipment or products they might use on you will be safe.
During Tattooing
- Tattoo Healing and Aftercare Products
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While You're Getting Tattooed
The actual tattoo process is the most exciting part. It's also the most painful. But here are a few suggestions to help you hang in there.
Try not to move around to much, or watch what the artist is doing. Any sudden movements on your part may result in a permanent mistake! Be sure to ask your tattooist to stop if you suddenly realize you have to cough or sneeze.
Bring along water or juice for you to drink. With larger pieces, sometimes people find they like to take a break and have a small snack to help them get through the process.
If there is music you really like to listen to, bring along some earphones and your portable music player.
If you are going to have to lay down to get tattooed, you might want to bring along a favorite pillow or a blanket to be more comfortable.
Some people bring along a friend for support. Make sure to ask ahead of time to make sure your tattooist is ok with someone hanging out and watching, or even if they can sit with you and talk or hold your hand.
After Tattooing
Moisturize With Tattoo Lotion
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Taking Care Of A Tattoo
Once your tattoo is done, it's not too hard to make sure it heals the best that it can. And it is worth the few days of special care after all that cost and discomfort it took to get it!
Whatever you do, do NOT pick at the scab on your new tattoo. If the scab comes off too soon, you run the rick of having the ink "heal out," which leaves a blank spot in the design and then you'll have to get that part redone. This can happen a little bit during natural healing, but picking at a scab pretty much guarantees it. No matter how much it itches, don't scratch it.
You can shower with your tattoo, but don't let it sit under the spray and get soaked. Wash it gently with a mild, natural soap using just your fingertips, and try to roll or scrape off as little scab as you can. Rinse quickly and make sure when you dry off to pat (not brush/scrape) the tattooed area.
Now and for the rest of your life, your tattoo needs as much sun protection as it can get. If the surface is still raw, do not put sunscreen on it, as it can can skin irritation. Keep it covered with soft clothing and out of the sun. Sunburn causes tattoos to lose colors or fade in intensity, and it can make fine lines and details turn blurry.
Tattoos that are totally brand-new get a light smear of antibiotic ointment on them, until the scab forms. Once the scab starts, you will want to switch to a natural or organic, unscented lotion to keep the skin moisturized. You do not want to use anything that contains lanolin or petroluem jelly in it for healing your tattoo, as these will clog the pores and often contributed to the ink healing out. I personally tell people to avoid diaper rash creams as these very often do contain lanolin. I've also learned that the Australian product Lucas Paw Paw Ointment contains petroleum jelly (although it doesn't say so on the label) so avoid that one too!
Initial healing from new tattoo to scabbed is about 3 days on average and the scab often falls off around days 7-10 but your individual skin healing can vary. The tattoo usually still has some dry skin on top (nicknamed "the saran wrap" phase by many because the tattoo can look shiny) after the heavy scab comes off and after two weeks the skin surface is often healed. The tattoo may be flat to the skin at this point, or it might take a little longer to become flush with the skin.
Remember: your individual skin healing and reactions may vary! If you think you are having a problem, go back and talk to your tattoo artist!
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How To Recognize An Infection
Tattoos can be red, swollen (raised-up), weepy/bleeding and just plain sore when they are done. The more complex a design and the longer you sat there, the greater the chances for these symptoms. If your tattooist had a really firm grip on you or if you tend to be sensitive to it, there might even be a few bruises.
If your tattoos increase in redness, become more painful, and either the skin or the fluids weeping out become yellow-greenish in color, those are all classic signs of an infection. In those cases, either go back to your tattoist or doctor to have the infection confirmed and evaluated.
If left untreated, infections can not only damage the tattoo itself, they can potentially lead to something life-threatening like blood poisoning.
Some people have allergic reactions to tattoo inks or and experience adverse skin reactions. To determine this, you need to see a doctor or dermatologist.
If you have more questions about if your tattoo might be infected, Go See Your Doctor!
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Tattoo Aftercare Info
- "Care of Pet" - Tattoo aftercare instructions
Tattoo care sheet I was given with my third tattoo - Pre-Tattoo and Post-Tattoo Self Care - Body Art
Make sure to take care of yourself both before and right after you get tattooed. This can help make for a more pleasant experience and consequently better body art - HOW DO I CARE FOR MY NEW TATTOO?
The artist that did your tattoo will have something very definite to say about the care of your new tattoo, and it is probably a good idea to listen to him/her. Many shops will have an information sheet listing care instructions. - rec.arts.bodyart Tattoo FAQ, Part 6
How do I care for my new tattoo? Suggested Method #1: The Minimal Moisturizer Method Suggested Method #2: The Huck Spalding Method Suggested Method #3: The Noxzema Method Suggested Method #4: The FAQ Maintainer's Own Method - Tattoos and Tattooing
This decorative art form continues to be a growing attraction to teenagers. Teens as young as 13 and 14 are getting their first tattoos. It isn't just guys who are getting them, over the past twenty years the number of women getting tattoos has quadr - Keloids and Scarring FAQ - Body Art
This is a FAQ composited from the Bella Body Art e-mail and message board forums on the related topics of scarring and keloid scar formation.
Share it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Got A Tattoo Question? - please note, only questions not already addressed will be approved/answered
i recentley got a small wrists tattoo the day after christmass, today its January fourth and the tattoo is healing very slowly. I know this is a sensitive spot but its not looking to good. Its a little iritated and i am being told different ointment and lotions to use to help it heal quicker. The A&D ointment has made the color fade from black to greyish. Should i just put a unscented aveeno lotion on it ? Or is that a bad idea?
Chris, if you're seeing whitish patches, the scab has fallen off. Remember, tattoo ink is black and skin is white, so white means no ink. These are those little spots I talked about where the ink healed out and you'll need to go get those touched up (aka re-tattooed) to fill them in.
Hey , i got a tattoo the other day and ive noticed a few small white-ish patchs in the black , they're only small but as the tattoo lettering is all black they can be noticed slightly but only when close up and i was just wondering if after the scab has fallen off they'll still be there or whether they will be filled with ink or left blank :S ?
razziel, depending on the brand of tattoo ink and your natural skin tones, it can be completely normal.
my tattoo it's starting to heal but i've noticed the black colour isin't that black anymore it is kind of blueish!!! is this normal
Shane, you'll have to get that looked at by a doctor to determine if you have permanent scar tissue or something more transitory.
I got my first tattoo about 6 months ago, a crucifix on my left tricep. Lately the border has become raised, I thought maybe it was just dry so I began applying lotion to is, but its still raised. Any ideas? Thanks
[to miss lizz]
"..do you have any reservations about someone getting a tattoo in this area?" - nope, it's your neck, you can tattoo it or not as you like. The question should really be do YOU have any reservations about a neck tattoo?
"And would it really be all that bad to take a shot first to help steady the nerves?" Yes, it's that bad! Drinking alcohol increases surface bleeding during tattooing and impairs judgment leading to bad design choices and poor aftercare.
First of all I'd like to say that I think this site is a great resource....I am seriously contemplating getting a tattoo...I mean I've pretty much made up my mind to do it ..it will be my first tattoo in commemoration of my thesis defense this friday...I want to get a small lizard (I am nature freak) on the back of my neck...do you have any reservations about someone getting a tattoo in this area? and what particular cream would you recommend? And would it really be all that bad to take a shot first to help steady the nerves? Thanks! Appreciate it!
How about removal of tatoos! My daughter and I are about to get tatoos together (been talking about it for a couple years) but my son got quite a few done over about three years but now is about to have them removed by laser!
Removing by laser costs like about ten times mor than getting them on. So make sure you really want them before you get them.
bluemush, your tattoo shop told you to use a VERY BAD ointment. Lucas Paw Paw Ointment contains petroleum jelly, and due to a fluke of Australian law, only the active ingredients have to be listed on the product. This should NOT be used for healing a tattoo! I'm glad you switched over to something else, but I can't really say what is going to happen to your tattoo. If you see white patches in the design when the scab comes off, it means the ink healed out and the only fix for that is to get the tattoo re-colored once it's finished healing up.
i just got a tattoo 4 days ago, and its starting to excessively peel and the ink is coming off with it. I've been using lucas paw paw ointment which the tatt shop recommended, but i switched to a odourless alchohol free moistouriser.
What should i do, i'm worried i'll have big pathches missing in my tattoo.
Rach, I have to agree with your tattoo artist. Healing tattoos need to be protected but not rubbed or chafed while the scab forms. And you need to keep it every so lightly moisturized, which is going to vary depending on your own skin and what's happening, so that really becomes an "as needed" thing.
I got a tattoo on the top of my foot about 48 hours ago. Since it's butt cold outside and i'm wearing socks my artist said I should keep it covered so it's not being rubbed. From reading some of the post it looks like that's not really the thing to do. I'm confused... what's best for it? Also- how often should I bet putting lotion on it? I'm trying to avoid letting it get dried out. I need some help. Thanks!
Great Hub!!!
Kotone, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "smeared." The ink in the skin won't wipe off, that's the whole point of having a tattoo. It's often hard to tell how the tattoo is doing during healing, so you may have to wait for the entire scabbing/healing process to finish before you can see what it really looks like. If you are really concerned, you should go back and see your artist.
So i just got my first tattoo done two days ago and it seems to be smeared in some places and that ink wont wipe off...should i be concerned or is that normal for a new tattoo?
Sarah, the tattoo is scabbing over and healing, which is what you'd expect it to be doing at this stage. Tattoos often take a few weeks to flatten out.
k so i got a tattoo on the inside of my wrist and it doesnt feel normal. it was my first one. and it feels raised. i got it 5 days ago. and it looks like the skin is cracking on it. i use this lotion i bought from the tattoo place. i just want to know if it being raised is normal for this stage.
Ashley, tattoos have no effect on hair growth.
If i get a tatto on the back of my neck will it stop the hair from growing there
Tim, as I don't use hair removal cream, I can't offer any comments or advice. I do know they can be very caustic and some people have bad skin reactions from them, so I don't think using them over the long term is a good idea in general.
Sandra, covering it will only slow down the scabbing, which is what you really need it to do. Make sure you are only putting the thinnest layer of ointment or cream on it, and if you are one of those people using diaper rash ointment on it, stop as that seems to be a main culprit for causing the ink to "bleed" out a lot.
hi, will regular use of hair removal cream have an effect on a fully healed tattoo?
Hey i got a neck tattoo two days ago and its fine, the ink rubs of when im sleeping though should i cover it to avoid this happening, it has just started to scab?
Workrbee, most artists are very open to doing touch-up work on tattoos. Take the time to find a tattooist who's got some experiencing in doing so, as really good tattoo artists can genuinely improve the appearance of the older artwork. An artist without much experience or a good color sense might make things muddier.
I got a tattoo 8years ago and it needs some touch up work, but the artist moved away so I can't have him do it. What is the proper etiquette to have a new artist touch up my tat? Or will they? Please advise*
I don't know what's up with tattooists giving people diaper rash cream for healing tattoos, that product just isn't made for doing that. If you don't like it, stop using it. And some peopel ooze more ink during the first stages of healing than others, but personally, mine don't wet everything they touch with ink once a few hours have gone by.
I got a new tat yesterday, and they gave me A & D ointment. I feel like the tat is ozzing, and there was ink all over my shirt last night. Everytime I touch it or pat it there is ink on the cloth. Should I use a diffrent ointment? Is the ink suppost to come off?
I like tattoos
kb, a scab coming off too soon can cause a white spot, where the ink is lost, in the tattoo design. Worst case scenario is you have a few spots that need to be redone.
wat happens if the scab is accidentally rubbed off while sleeping, or inside of clothes? will this cause major discoloration?
Lucine, since it's been over a week, changing the care routine now isn't going to significantly impact any potential infection. It either will or won't happen.
Hello. I have a bit of a problem... not with me, but my younger sister. She recently got a tattoo but her artist was an idiot. First of all shes only 16. Second he told hre not to take the bandage off for 24 hours. He also told her that she shouldnt get it wet for 4 to 6 days. He also told her to just put neosporian on it. Shes been listening to his "advise" for over a week now and im afraid that its not only going to mess the tattoo up but also increase the chances of it becoming infected. Is there any advise you can give that might be able to help out even though its already been this long?
Holli, most tattoos are tender after they are done, and they have to scab if they're going to heal as they are a surface wound. If you think you have a problem, go back and see your tattooist.
hi i got my tatto 2 days ago and its really hurting and its scabbing really badly i think it might b infected i used savlon it worked at first but it stopped now wot shall i do
Shawn, tattoos are cleaned neither with alcohol or witch hazel. Use what your tattoo artist told you to use.
i got my first tatoo today can i clean it with alcohol or witch hazel?
I don't recommend that people use A&D at all personally. At this point, it's trying to finish healing (which means it's gonna itch a bit) and you're probably delaying that somewhat by choking the surface with such a heavy ointment.
Hey. I got my 2nd tattoo two weeks ago. It's a rose on my back. The stem of the rose scabbed and healed in about three days, but the acutal rose itself has taken a lot longer to heal. it does not hurt, and does not itch anymore. I use A&D ointment still becuase the lotion just made it feel dryer and itch more. Is using A&D ointment okay even though its been two weeks? I've cared for my tattoo- kept it out of the sun and washed it at least twice a day. So is it bad to use A&D ointment this long???
MM, how much colors fade depends a lot more on your own skin and how you take care of the tattoo, and not so much on the color of the ink itself. All tattoos will fade or blur slightly over a person's lifetime. Detail is going to depend on the design, the size of the tattoo and the skill of the artist. You can't tattoo as fine a line as can be drawn with a pencil.
Hey, I'm currently planning my first tattoo and and i was wondering which colours of ink are the most resistant to fading/blurring? Im a red head so I avoid the sun anyway and i plan to get it somewhere where the sun wont get to it so thats not so much of a consideration.
Also in terms of size versus detail, is the level of detail i can have dependant on the size of the tattoo soley or is the skill of the artist a consideration too?
thanks
You'll want to wear something that's opaque enough to actually give the new tattoo genuine sun protection without rubbing or chafing the healing surface. Many lightweight fabrics don't do much to stop UV rays from penetrating to the skin, so "comfortable" summer clothing may, in fact, not protect your tattoo at all.
Was seeing if anyone can help me with a question. I got my Tattoo on Thursday and on Tuesday it is Canada Day so I'll be out all day. I know I can't have it out in the sun and I can't apply SPF yet. The only problem is, is that it is summer and I don't have long sleeve comfortable shirts to keep in covered from the sun. So I was wondering if for only one day could I cover it with the arm gloves you can get at Claire's or etc. So that I can be comfortable in the sun. I'm not sure if it would be too tight, so I wasn't sure if I should be a piece of gauze or something between the tattoo and glove. Any suggestions?
I'd wear low socks that don't rub the tattoo if it was me. It's really best not to have anything irritate the new tattoo while it's still got the scab on it.
I got another tattoo yesterday it is an anklebracelet and I was wondering when it would be ok to start wearing socks? I get different answers when I ask the place where I got my tattoo, and also a friend of mine got one a few months ago on her foot and wore socks right away. What is your advice?
thank you for the advice!!!!
Jake, if you have to jump in the pool of course you're going to do it! Patting your tattoo dry afterwards is good. You might also want to rub in just a touch of moisturizer to act as some resistance to the water absorption. And be super careful to avoid sun exposure to the tattooed area while that's healing too. Fresh tattoos can be dramatically damaged thru sunburn.
Im getting a tattoo this tuesday and on saturday i start lifeguarding..i only have to enter the pool if someone is drowning and the pool contains chlorine..if someone is drowning i cant not jump in to save them because its my job but if i patted my tattoo down with my towel 2 dry it, would that be ok???.. i was thinking about ceram wrapping it but i dont know if it would work..im getting a revolver on my right side half above my waist and half below it..please help me out.
Very well written, I enjoyed reading this article.
Different artists have their own reasons for using different products. You'll have to ask them why they recommended one over the other.
I just had a large tat done upper mid back. The artist said to use bag balm, and gave me some, the pain/discomfort never got any better so I switched to A&D and it really did not help, this morning I read to apply TAO ( triple antibiotic ointment) which I did about 5 min. ago and it already feels better. My artist told me never to use TAO, whats the deal???
There's lots of reasons, but overall I'd say it mostly because they want to.
Why do People get tattoo ???
Paul, if you're leg isn't done healing and is still scabbed up, you should make sure to keep it out of the sun, not go in hot tubs or pools, and not let it get too sweaty as the skin surface is still traumatized and won't breathe or perspire like it does when it's healed and healthy. If the swelling doesn't go down in a day, you should go see a doctor.
I got my right leg Sleved up a week ago, i played basketball yesterday and my leg go swolen. should i be concerend?
Gretchen, it sounds like you may just have a few blocked pores where your tattoo is. Gently wash the area (which can relax and open the pores) and then moisturize with a natural lotion (which will help the itch).
I got a tattoo 4 months ago. Last week several small bumps that itch appeared under the teal colors of my tattoo. What is this? Will it go away? Can I do anything for the itch?
Regina, all you can do about the itching is moisturize and wait it out. I find days 7-10 after getting the tattoo are the worst for me and then it's pretty much over.
hey...great info on this page by the way... i was just lookin for a bit of advice i guess you could say....i got my first tattoo about a week ago..now i know its dumb to get a tat near the summer but i just couldnt help myself..... its doin great when it comes to scabbing and its almost fully peeled...but its itchy...not all the time...but at times its so strong i actually consider scratching it....i know im definitely not supposed to do that..but im wonderin if theres anything that can aleviate the itching or if im just gonna hve to take it....
Zoe, if it's not a race you are running, I say put on a sock and a loose shoe and go.
I just got the top of my foot done on Sunday and the race is in town (Dover, DE), Should I go to the race or skip this one because of the risk of infection? It's dirty there with dust flying everywhere. My tattoo seems to be healing nicely. It hasn't scabbed or peeled yet.
Depending on the skills of the tattoo artist, and your own skin, sometimes the ink is not tattooed evenly. Really, until it's done healing, you can't judge the quality. Give it a good two weeks and then see how it looks.
Hi, I Just got a tattoo on my wrist, Monday Night at 11pm, and i noticed today that in some areas in looks thinner and it looks like its "missing" ink? is this normal and part of the healing process?
k625, I don't know why areas that weren't even tattooed would be bright white, so I can't comment on that. I do know that it's possible for spots to heal out even if you haven't picked at it, esp in very flexible areas or spots that are covered with heavier clothing during healing.
Snowman, any surface friction that hastens the scab coming off is bad, be it from fingers, clothing or towels.
Relache I saw above where you had commented on these"white spots" on a tattoo. I just got my first one done on Thursday, and its on my hip. An area that obviously gets quite alot of movement. I have not picked or anything, but haven oticed a few white patches/spots. Some of these white areas are even on places inside the flower where no ink was ever put. I know you said these are where the ink came out, if its the same thing you speak of will it stay bright white, or fade to normal skin color?
Hi, I emailed you a while back and your advice was beneficial. So I go my tattoo touched up, because some parts of the black ink were lighter than the other. I"m following my artist's advice and using A&D ointment for 2 days, after whcih I will be switching to Lubriderm. I had a question about washing my tattoo and applying A&D. I'm very careful to make sure that I don't put too much A&D on my tattoo, as I know this will suffocate the pores. Thus, in order to ensure I'm not putting to much, I usually rub the ointment into my tattoo, and I keep wiping my fingers, and continue wiping my tattoo until the shine is gone. Is this wiping bad? IN other words, I know I shouldn't scrub my tattoo with towels, etc., but is the hand rubbing bad as well? What woudl happen if I scrubbed my tattoo with towels? I never understood the point of not doing this, especially since the artist usually rubs the tattoo with a dry paper towel as he's tatooing. Some advice would be great. Thanks.
i Got a tattoo of a cherry blossom on my foot about a year ago. The color stayed great. So i decided i wanted to finish it and get more done. So i did 2 more cherry blossoms. And some more designs in it. well 2 weeks went by and the color all came out except the black and green. So it just got touched up again. I know so soon. But it is sticking great this time. I got new shoes that didnt touch the ink at all. And didnt put any ointment or anything on it the first days.. now i put lotion once a day. And it is awesome. Most tattoo artists dont do feet because of the foot not holding it well. But i am very happy with it.
Just because you took equal care of the entire tattoo doesn't mean that your tattooist colored it perfectly evenly when they were doing it. Nor does it mean that your body healed it really evenly either. Needing a touch-up can be fairly common. It's a good idea to wait at least three weeks from when you had the original tattoo work done to make sure the entire surface is fully healed and settled down before you go back for more work.
Hi Relache, it's now been 16 days since I got my tattoo. What I did during the healing phase was use A&D ointment for the first day and a half, then use lubriderm. The tattoo went through a peeling phase, and it's going through another one right now. IT seems as if some parts of the tattoo are lighter than other parts. It's a tribal cross, so it's all black. Some parts of it seem dark, and others seem light, which doesn't make sense b/c I took equal care of the entire tattoo. Is it possible that everything will match once it's completely healed, or does it sound like I might need a touch up?
Also, there was one part that had scabbed pretty bad, and when it fell off (I didn't pick it) it seems to have taken some color off as well. It could have fallen off when I was putting my shirt on. If I do need a touch up, how long should I wait after having gotten the tattoo to go back?
Thanks for everything.
Danny, it's highly unlikely. Besides, think how hard the tattoo artist was probably squeezing your arm when they did the tattoo.
Thanks relache...it actually did hurt me enough to tell him to stop...just wondering if the 5 second act of squeezing over the tattoo might cause it any damage on the 3rd day of the tattoo.
Danny, if what your friend did wasn't causing you enough pain for you to tell him to stop, your tattoo is probably fine.
Hi relache, thanks for all the informative advice on your page. I had somewhat of a weird question. I got a tattoo 4 days ago. Last night (3 days after my tattoo) I went out with some friends, and one of them, while talking to me, kept poking my arm where my tattoo was. It was unintentional. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt. At one point, while he was laughing, he grabbed my arm and squeezed it exactly where my tattoo was. It wasn't skin to skin, I was wearing a shirt as I said. But he gave it a good squeeze. Is there anything I need to wrry about? My tattoo is at its dryness stage where it's about to peel. I didn't physically see any damage, but could it have caused any damage? How about ink seeping, since he squeezed it. I know weird question, but I'd appareciate some advice. Thx
Tommy, A&D is for diaper rash on babies, not something I would put on my tattoos. I personally don't use lubriderm as it contains parabens, a form of preservative that has been found concentrated in the tissue of breast cancer in women, and I'm getting rid of any cosmetics or body care products that have those as ingredients. For my last tattoos, I used the barest bit of antibiotic ointment until the scab started and then used a pure, unscented shea butter.
Relache...thanks for all the informative help. I got my 2nd tattoo 2 days ago, and have been using A&D ointment that has petrolatum, lanolin, cod liver oil, fragrance, paraffin, among other things. Some sites say these things are HORRIBLE for your tattoo, and other sites, including the artist who did my tattoo, recommend this product. It's so hard to feel like I'm doing everythign right when there are contradictory theories out there. I have a friend who has 2 tattoos, and he used nothing but lubriderm from day one and his look great. On my first tatt, I again used A&D, and there is some fading, although still looks good. What do you recommend?
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING!
If you really want to know why your tattooist said this, why didn't you ask them at the time? I've read that a hot water plunge is what is done in Japan following tattooing when the hand-poke methods are used. However, at this point, it has to be more than 2-3 hours after you've gotten your tattoo, so it's not something I recommend you do due to how the skin surface will have started to close up by now.
Hey!I really like your hub page! It has so much useful information to help me out! I just got my tattoo done and the artist handed me an aftercare paper, and i'm a little bit confused! It says in the paper that I should take a 10 minute hot bath 2-3 hours after my tattoo. It says that it will help remove excess ink and dirt...hmm? Everything else I've read says that I should avoid any soaking of water to the tattoo like the plague! What do you think? Thanks for your time!art
Why didn't you say so in the first place? The presumption from your first question was that you were asking about the arm you mentioned... If you are taking any medication or antibiotics, you will definitely need to wait until you are not taking those anymore. It would be best to consult with your doctor as they will be the most informed as to how the surgery has impacted your immune system and if you are especially at risk for infection.
i wanted to get my tattoo on my other arm...how long should i wait then?
Davis, you'll want to wait at least a year before getting the area where you had surgery tattooed. This allows the skin and shoulder to fully heal and also allows any subsequent scar tissue to stop forming and fade/shrink.
i just had surgery on my shoulder a week ago...when would be a good time for me to get a tattoo?
Since I have no idea what those bumps might really be, I can't say. You might want to go back to your tattooist or go see your doctor and have them take a look.
i got a tatto 4weeks ago on my lower back it healed wonderfullly but then i got some bumps on it that was itching, i've been using eucerin lotion for it. Is that normal..
Misfit99, if you've still got three sores and redness, something is still going on that is unhealthy. You should get yourself checked by a doctor sooner rather than later.
I just recently got my 7th tattoo. I had a small area that became infected. I followed aftercare and the infection is now gone. (The rest healed beautifully). I still have 3 small sores and redness around the area. There is no swelling, the infection is gone, the sores are not spreading or getting worse. I have been keeping them clean and keeping antibiotic ointment on them. I have never had this problem before and was wondering what else I can do? Also should I worry too much seeing as how the infection is gone?
Once the scab comes off, a lot of people experience a second, thinner layer of dry skin that also peels. Essentially, just keep moisturing and wait and see. If you truly are in doubt, go back to your tattooist who can actually take a look at the tattoo.
ok i have gotton a tattoo a long time ago and the skin turned out to scar ealy bad i went to my tattooist and we covered it and now it started peeling and i thought it was done put it started again and i also have a glosy whitish coding over some of it aswell what do i do and why is this like that its my 8th tattoo so im not used to this
Thanks for writing this. It was very helpful, and I'll definitely keep all of this in mind when I'm ready to get a tattoo.
Naylea2, now that you have a tattoo, you should never use a tanning bed or get suntanned again. Really. Getting tanned causes skin wrinkles, and will make tattoo colors fade and cause line too become more blurry faster than regular skin aging. If you love your tattoo, just stop tanning.
SurfAngel, after getting tattooed the hair just tends to grow back. Most folks tend to leave it alone. Really hairy people don't get tattooed that heavily or they just get ink on the less hairy spots on their skin.
ykcin, make sure you protect the healing neck tattoo from too much friction from clothing and don't let it get sunburned. how much it hurts is subjective.
morrisonro, that's a question that can't be answered via a message board. Go talk to a tattoo artist in your area for a second opinion.
i just got a tattoo about a week and a half ago the artist told me to put an antibacteral cream on it three times a day everything that i have read says to put lotion on help what should i use this is my first tattoo. also can i go to hte tanning bed with out worry the tattoo is on my lower back thanks
Hi, I'd heard that when you get a tatoo done, they shave the area to get rid of the hair so it doesn't get caught in the needle. I was just curious as to what to do afterwards if the hair grew back thicker and covered the tattoo? Do you wax or shave again, or do you just leave it? Thanks.
Deat Relache,
I already have a tatoo and when i got it i did not feel much pain.i have been thinking about having a tatoo at the back of my neck.i want to know if there is any risk involved at having a tatoo a the back of my neck and if it's going to hurt much
So i got my tattoo done a little over a month ago. it's a cross with a helmet on top and a couple other things on it. but the problem's with my helmet. it's supposed to be a dark brown with dark green camo pattern on it and the colors of the dark brown and colors inside the camo pattern don't seem mixed together right. so right now i'm looking at an almost brown orange helmet and green black camo pattern. My question is if it's still healing and just needs time to mix or should i go back and get a touch up
working
relache says:
31 hours ago
Kayla, why would you use diaper rash ointment on a tattoo? Stop with the A&D, I've never heard anything but bad reports from people who use it. Use a natural lotion, no perfumes, no dyes.