After you’ve gotten your tattoo, there’s a lot you yourself can do to help your skin heal. The better the recovery, the more beautiful the result will be. Therefore, keep these tattoo aftercare guidelines in mind.
Film Wrap on Your Tattoo
Plastic Wrap Protection: The plastic household wrap protects your skin from dirt. If you got a small line tattoo, you can remove the wrap after 3-4 hours and do not need to reapply it.
Large Tattoo Care: If you got a large tattoo with many colored areas, you need to change the wrap every 3-4 hours.
Nighttime Application: Remember to apply new wrap just before going to bed. You do not need to wake up at night to change the wrap.
Plasma Leakage: If plasma continues to come out of the wound in the following days, it is best to keep using wrap for 1 to 3 more days, changing it every 4 hours. When changing the wrap, ensure you rinse the tattoo well and wash your hands thoroughly each time. If unsure about the number of days to use the wrap, you can message me. The wrap serves as protection if scabbing hasn’t started yet. This can vary depending on the skin type, tattoo size, and the amount of colored areas.
Wrap Usage: Use the inside of the wrap, as the outside might have bacteria from your hands.
No Ointment Under Wrap: Do not apply tattoo ointment under the wrap.
Allowing Tattoo to Breathe: Ideally, let your tattoo rest and breathe on the second day. If this isn’t possible and you think bacteria might enter the open wound (from clothes, a dusty environment, pets, at work, etc.), you can continue using household wrap. During a quiet moment, allow the tattoo to breathe.
Clean Bed Linens and Clothes: Ensure your bed linens and clothes are clean.
Second Skin instead of film wrap
Leave the Second Skin alone for 3-4 days.
Peel it SLOWLY off with WATER in the shower. If you pull off the second skinn in 1 go, you will remove the ink from the tattoo, be sure to do this gently.
Showering & Drying
After Removing Wrap: After keeping the wrap on your tattoo for 4 hours, you can shower or rinse the tattoo under the faucet.
Rinse with Water: Let the water remove blood and excess ink. Do not use your hands.
Using Soap: For very large tattoos, you can use pH-neutral soap or baby soap, such as Zwitsal. For smaller tattoos, rinsing with water is sufficient.
Drying: Always use a clean towel or tissues to pat your skin dry. Do not rub the towel over the tattoo.
Bepanthen or Other Healing Ointments
Applying Ointment: Once your tattoo is dry (no more plasma and beginning to scab), you can apply a healing ointment.
Clean Hands: Ensure your hands are clean before touching your tattoo.
Preventing Dryness: A healing ointment or moisturizing cream helps prevent dryness and can be applied 3 to 4 times a day until the tattoo is healed.
Additional Tattoo Aftercare Tips
Thin Layer of Ointment: Do not apply a thick layer of ointment to allow your skin to breathe.
First Three Days: Be cautious for the first three days to avoid dirt entering the tattoo.
Avoid Exercise: Avoid sports or fitness activities for 7 to 10 days. Be extra careful with contact sports and activities that cause sweating.
Bathing and Swimming: Avoid baths, steam baths, saunas, swimming in lakes, rivers, or the sea. Showering twice a day is recommended to keep the tattoo clean. You can swim once scabbing is gone, usually after 3 to 4 weeks. The skin is fully healed after 3 to 4 months.
Sun Exposure: Do not use tanning beds. Avoid sunbathing and the beach. Cover your tattoo with clothing when in the sun. Sun exposure can cause blisters and fading.
Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen once the tattoo is healed.
Dusty Environments: Avoid dusty places like construction sites. If unavoidable, cover your tattoo with clothing and wrap.
Do Not Scratch: Avoid scratching or picking at your tattoo, as this can cause scarring and white spots. Let the scabs fall off naturally. Pulling them off can remove ink from your skin.
Itching: Itching is normal during the healing process.
Loose Clothing: Wear loose clothing and avoid wool to prevent fibers from getting into the tattoo.
Personal Ointment Use: Do not share your ointment with others and avoid using someone else’s ointment to prevent bacterial infections and contamination.
Pets: Keep pets away from your tattoo as their hair and saliva can cause infections.
What are the risks of getting a tattoo?
Infection: If dirt gets into the wound, an infection may occur. In case of an infection, your tattoo will look red, you will see etter and it can also smell. You can then use Fucidinointment and disinfectant spray, which is available from pharmacies. If you have any questions or doubts, you can always contact me or consult your GP . You should see yourGP anyway if your skin is extremely red or swollen or if you have prolonged pain.
Allergic reaction. Red is the ink in which most allergic reactions occur. Consult a doctor if you suspect an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction can be recognised by extreme swelling,itching and pain.