Tattoo aftercare

The proper healing process of a tattoo is crucial for a good final result. Just doing a good tattoo is not enough. Below you will find the aftercare recommendations that apply in our studio.

The proper healing process of a tattoo is crucial for a good final result. Just doing a good tattoo is not enough. In the first 2–3 days after the procedure the risk of infection is the highest, so we apply a special dressing called "second skin" to the tattoo. It acts as a barrier against microbes and contaminants. It is a waterproof, breathable film in the form of a sticker.

How long do we keep the dressing on?

We keep the dressing on for 48–72 hours (unless the tattoo artist advises otherwise). In specific cases, when the dressing leaks or a lot of fluid or lymph accumulates under it, the film should be removed after 24 hours.

How to remove the dressing?

Before every contact of your hands with a fresh tattoo, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel. To loosen the adhesive you can take a warm shower before or while removing the film.

  1. Pull the film down by the bottom corner or edge. Pull slowly and wait for it to peel off the skin. Do not rip it "against the grain" or remove it quickly, because you can damage the skin and tear off stabilized ink from the skin, which will result in gaps in the tattoo.
  2. After removing the film, wash the skin with a gentle liquid soap (never bar soap). You can use grey soap, a hypoallergenic soap, or an intimate hygiene wash. Thoroughly wash off any remaining adhesive, ink, and lymph.

There may be a bit of adhesive left on the skin from the film. You can remove it using an oil or baby oil, gently massaging the skin with your fingertips in circular motions until the glue rolls up. Then wash the skin again with soap and water and dry it.

  1. After washing, dry the skin with a paper towel without rubbing. Instead of rubbing, gently press the towel against the skin several times until it is completely dry.
  2. Apply a dedicated tattoo aftercare cream or butter (for example Neba, Easy Tattoo, Hustle Butter, Skin Project) or a pharmacy cream such as Bepanthen Baby, Panthenol, Dermopanten.

When using the pharmacy creams mentioned above, after about 5–7 days it is worth switching to care with an oil or natural butter (for example coconut oil, jojoba, macadamia, shea butter). These products help regenerate the epidermis and nourish the skin.

Do not use any chemical body lotions until the tattoo is fully healed, which takes about 3–4 weeks.

DO NOT apply creams such as Alantan, petroleum jelly, or Tribiotic to the tattoo without first consulting the tattoo artist. Using such products can lead to improper healing and more serious health complications.

ITCHING, REDNESS AND SWELLING ARE NORMAL HEALING SYMPTOMS IN THE FIRST DAYS. If anything worries you during the healing of the tattoo, contact your tattoo artist. Do not look for suggestions on the internet and do not change the aftercare routine on your own.

Further healing

The tattoo should be moisturized for about 3–4 weeks. At the beginning, do this every few hours, especially when you feel tightness or itching of the skin. Use a small amount of cream, just enough to cover the tattoo in a thin layer and create a light film on the skin.

After a few days, the tattoo may start to peel. Small "flakes" of skin tinted with pigment may appear. This is completely normal. Do not pick or scratch the skin, as this can cause gaps in the tattoo. It is best to apply cream to the tattoo and let the scabs and flaking skin come off on their own.

What must you avoid after getting a tattoo?

  • Tanning (at least 4 weeks, and ideally avoid it altogether).
  • Bathing in pools, seas, lakes and other bodies of water (including long baths in the tub) for about 3–4 weeks.
  • Using tanning beds and saunas (at least 4 weeks).
  • Intense physical exercise (for example gym): small tattoos about 2–3 days, larger tattoos about 7 days.
  • Drinking alcohol for 1–3 days after the procedure.
  • Touching the tattoo with dirty hands and allowing the fresh wound to come into contact with animals, fur, soil, dust and other contaminants.

How to care for a tattoo so that it keeps its appearance as long as possible?

Tattoos age together with the skin and may lose their intensity over time. The foundation is good skin condition: proper hydration of the body and a balanced diet rich in micronutrients.

Remember to:

  • regularly moisturize your skin,
  • do a gentle peel once a week,
  • avoid excessive tanning, because tanning beds and intense sun exposure lighten tattoos and make them lose sharpness,
  • use SPF creams (at least 50) on the tattoo all year round, especially when exposed to the sun.

After about a month the tattoo should be fully healed. For us to assess whether it has healed properly, please send us a good quality photo of the tattoo or visit us at the studio.