AFTERCARE TATTOO

• COVER THE WOUND: WHEN YOU LEAVE THE STUDIO, YOUR TATTOO IS ESSENTIALLY AN OPEN WOUND. THIS MEANS IT IS VULNERABLE TO ALL KINDS OF BACTERIA AND GERMS. COVERING THE TATTOO IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT.
• WASH, CLEAN, AND SOAP: CLEAN IT WITH MILD SOAP AND LUKEWARM WATER TWICE A DAY, AND GENTLY PAT IT DRY WITH A CLEAN TOWEL. DO THIS FOR 5–6 DAYS.
• OINTMENT AND CREAM: ALWAYS APPLY A THIN LAYER OF TATTOO AFTERCARE CREAM. IF THE LAYER IS TOO THICK, THE SKIN CANNOT BREATHE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INFECTION. APPLY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY FOR 5–6 DAYS, THEN CONTINUE APPLYING WHENEVER THE SKIN FEELS DRY UNTIL FULLY HEALED.
• TOUCHING, SCRATCHING, AND ITCHING: TRY TO TOUCH THE TATTOO AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE DURING THE CRUCIAL HEALING PERIOD, ESPECIALLY NOT WITH DIRTY HANDS. AND OF COURSE, DON’T SCRATCH IT—SCRATCHING IS EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO YOUR TATTOO.
• EXERCISING: WE RECOMMEND AVOIDING THE GYM FOR THE FIRST WEEK. GYMS ARE OFTEN FULL OF GERMS AND BACTERIA, INCREASING THE RISK OF INFECTION. IN ADDITION, THE HEAT FROM EXERCISING OPENS THE PORES, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BACTERIA ENTERING THE WOUND AND INK LEAKING FROM THE TATTOO.
• SUN AND TANNING: TOO MUCH DIRECT SUNLIGHT OR TANNING BEDS CAN CAUSE BUMPS, BLISTERS, OR INFECTIONS. KEEP YOUR TATTOO OUT OF THE SUN FOR AT LEAST 4–5 WEEKS. AFTER THAT, ALWAYS USE SUNSCREEN ON IT.
• SWIMMING AND POOLS: SWIMMING IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED DURING THE ENTIRE HEALING PERIOD (ABOUT 4–6 WEEKS). THE SAME APPLIES TO BATHS, SAUNAS, AND HOT TUBS—AVOID THEM COMPLETELY WHILE HEALING.