Essential guide to avoid infections, keloids, fading, and deformations
You don't want your new tattoo getting infected or faded, or maybe your black tattoos turning green with blown out lines, do you? To avoid these and other problems, it's crucial that you follow all the recommendations listed below:
Pre-Tattoo Care
Pre-tattoo care can begin about 1 week (or more) before your session, ensuring better pigmentation, greater skin and body resistance, better healing process, and higher quality/durability of the final art:
Moisturize the skin daily on the placement you'll be getting your tattoo.
Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages and other drugs at least 48 hours before tattooing.
Avoid sunburn in the area to be tattooed.
Do not use anesthetics, analgesics, or ointments from 48 hours before tattooing.
On the day of your session, go to the studio wearing light and comfortable clothing that does not squeeze the area to be tattooed.
Post-Tattoo Care
Post-tattoo care is crucial not only to avoid infections and keloids, but also to keep the colors vibrant and the lines thin, ensuring greater durability of the artwork.
Aftercare during healing:
The healing process lasts from 15 days to 2 months. During this period, it is necessary to follow all the following recommendations:
Do NOT expose your new tattoo to the sun.
Do NOT immerse your tattoo in water (unless for showers and tattoo cleaning). So NO ocean, rivers, swimming pools, waterfalls and bathtubs.
Do NOT consume alcoholic beverages on the first 48 hours after getting your tattoo.
Avoid very hot water during the showers.
During the first 24 hours, the tattoo should be protected by the second skin, applied after your session. After this period, you should gently remove it and wash the area with a mild, neutral, or pH-balanced liquid soap, using your clean hands gently. Then, dry the area with paper towel (or a super clean cloth towel).
Notes:
Do NOT apply any cream, oil or ointment at this stage.
In pharmacies, you can easily find liquid soaps that are proper for tattoo aftercare, such as Bepanthen Tattoo Cleansing Gel. However, be aware the the products from Bepanthen Tattoo line are not vegan, since they have lanolin in their composition!
After the first 24 hours, with your tattoo clean and dry, you should apply a new second skin, which you can keep for the next three days.
After this, from the fourth day you'll start moisturizing your skin with ointments specific for tattoo or coconut oil.
Notes:
Do NOT apply sunscreen, body lotions, conventional healing ointments (like Bepanthen) or antibiotic ointments (such as Nebacetin) during the healing process.
Recently, Bepanthen has launched a new line specific for tattoos (Bepanthen Tattoo), with ointments and cleansing gels. It works great for the tattoo healing process and it's an option of product you can use, but be aware it's not vegan, since it contains lanolin.
Avoid physical exercise, as intense movement and sweat affect the pigment fixation.
Prioritize a rich balanced diet, avoiding fat, sweet or processed food.
Do not scratch or peel off scabs
Avoid touching the tattoo (unless for cleaning).
Keep yourself hydrated.
Do not wear tight clothing in the tattoo area.
Post-Healing Care:
Attention: the following aftercare should only start when your tattoo is 100% healed (about 30 days after the procedure), and it's recommended for life:
Always use sunscreen.
Moisturize the skin regularly.
In some people, keloids and skin irritation can be a natural reaction of the body. In these cases, constant moisturizing is a must!
