Aftercare
Congrats! You are the proud owner of a new tattoo. But it’s not finished yet! The better you take care of it, the better it’ll turn out.
This video will give you some essential aftercare tips. Scroll down for more important info about tattoo aftercare!
Second skin
Did your artist cover your new tattoo with second skin (the self adhesive, thin, breathable protective film)? Then the following instructions are meant for you!
Second Skin can usually be worn for three to five days. It is very comfortable and care free. But that doesn't mean you should forget about it all together!
Check your tattoo a few times a day and make sure that:
there is no exudation (fluid from your wound) leaking from the patch.
the entire tattoo is covered with the patch. It's okay if the second skin curls a little bit at the edges but no closer than 1 cm from the tattoo itself.
the tattooed area doesn't get any warmer or redder than when you left the shop.
the skin around the patch doesn't get irritated.
If any of these things occur, remove the second skin immediately. If none of these things happen, you can wear it up to 5 days max. Every artist will have their own approach to this so stick to their recommended amount of days.
The second skin patch may fill with exudate. It doesn't look very appealing but don't worry, it's perfectly normal and actually creates the perfect environment for your fresh tattoo to start healing.
Try to keep the second skin patch as dry as possible. If that means showing off your best acrobatic moves in the shower, then go for it! And yeah, we love 'em too, but no baths! (or swimming/sauna!)
If the edges of the patch start to curl up a bit and it gets in the way, you can carefully try to cut the excess bits off with a clean(!) pair of scissors.
Ready to remove it? Here's how:
Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap (like Unicura). Don't use a bar of soap because they harbour bacteria. Use a pump dispenser instead.
Let some luke warm water run over the second skin. Even better, get it nice and wet while you're having a shower. This helps to make the adhesive dissolve.
Pick at an edge of the film and start stretching it out. Don't try to rip it off like you would a normal band-aid. Instead, stretch it out, parallel to your body. This will thin out the second skin and release the vacuum. It's hard to explain in words how to pull it off correctly, so here's a Youtube video of someone doing it right: Example of removing second skin
Take your time with this, it might take a while. You can run some water under the second skin to help things along.
Once it's off, gently wash off all the exudate with a bit of antibacterial soap. It's important to remove all the fluid as this is what creates a hard scab and you want to avoid that if possible.
Rinse off all the soap and gently pat the tattoo dry with a paper towel.
Let it air dry completely before putting on a really thin (and we mean really thin!) layer of TattooMed AfterTattoo/Bepanthen ointment. Don't touch the tip of the tube with your finger, but apply some on the back of your hand and use that. This way you're not accidentally putting bacteria back into the tube. Oh, did we mention the layer must be really thin? You don't want to suffocate the tattoo by using too much Tattoomed AfterTattoo/Bepanthen ointment.
For the next two weeks:
Proper aftercare is very important to achieve a well healed tattoo. Here's how to do it.
For the next two weeks you'll be cleaning and moisturizing your fresh tattoo two to three times a day as follows:
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap from a pump dispenser.
Rinse off your tattoo with water (no soap).
Pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
Apply a little bit of Tattoomed AfterTattoo/Bepanthen ointment on the back of your hand and from there gently massage it onto the tattoo. Can't say this enough, a very thin layer will do!
If you find that during the day the skin starts to really itch, or it looks or feels dry, just repeat the steps above an extra time.
Cling film
If the tattooist wrapped your tattoo in some cling film this information is for you!
You can leave the cling film on for about 2–3 hours. This enables your skin to rest a bit and the cling film will hold the moisture that will come out.
After the 2-3 hours you can wash your tattoo carefully… Make sure to use lukewarm water (if it’s too hot, it’ll hurt). Firstly wash your hands with the Unicura soap. Then foam some soap in your hands, moisten the tattoo and gently wash and rinse. It’s normal that some of the redundant ink comes off.
Softly dab it dry with a clean towel. Try to use a clean towel after every wash, especially the first days while the wound is still open.
Put on a very thin film of Tattoomed AfterTattoo.
Repeat for 2 to 3 times a day, at least till the scab is off…
Please know that Bepanthen has changed their ingredients and is no longer allowed to be used on an open wound (yes, even though it is called ‘Bepanthen Tattoo’). For the first few days do not use this product!
Wear clean clothes and make sure you don’t wear wool (or anything else fuzzy); the small hairs can get stuck in the wound and cause an infection
When it’s scabbing it’s okay to put a little bit of Bepanthen on the tattoo a few times a day to prevent the scab from bursting open/dehydrating. When it’s itchy: don’t scratch, that’s too much a risk of the scab coming off. And that could damage your tattoo. Also, itching is usually a sign that your wound is starting to heal!
Mind that you...
Keep the tattoo as dry as possible.
Don't sleep on it. You can prop up a pillow against your back to keep yourself from rolling over.
Touch your tattoo as few times as possible
Don't pick at the scabs or dead skin. Let them fall off on their own. If they come off while you're doing the after care that's fine.
Don't scratch the tattoo when it itches.
Don't wear any tight clothes or prickly fabrics like wool over the tattoo. Bra straps are a no no and also be careful with the straps of your bag for example, if the tattoo is on the shoulder.
Don’t do physical exercise for two weeks.
Make sure no one else uses your Tattoomed AfterTattoo/Bepanthen ointment.
Don’t use any dehydrating disinfectants on your skin, like Sterilon of Betadine
Don’t wear band aids or bandages over your tattoo
Seal the tattoo off with cling film when working in a dirty, dusty environment. Try to do this as few times as possible. Your tattoo needs to breathe.
Don’t go swimming, to saunas, a solarium or take baths until the tattoo is completely healed.
Keep the tattoo covered from the sun until it's completely healed.
Always use a sun block (SPF 50 or higher) when it's exposed to the sun, after the tattoo is healed. This will keep the color from fading.
So, long story short: Keep your fresh tattoo clean and dry but moisturized and make sure nothing can accidentally rub off the scabs or dead skin.
If you have any insecurities about the healing process of your tattoo; extreme redness, bleeding, swelling, pussing, color change in the skin or pain; contact your doctor immediately.
