Tattoo After Care – www.tattoosbylori.com – Lori-ann Fletcher
Your artist
took the care to cover up your new tattoo for a very good reason - to keep
air-born bacteria from invading your wound. Yes, as pretty as your new tattoo
is, it is still a wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and
infection. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of two hours.or overnight
Excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove the bandage so
you can show your friends, but your friends will just have to wait until later.
Now, you have your fresh new tattoo, and you want to take good care of it! From
this point on, your artist is not responsible for any infection or problems you
may have with your tattoo if you don't take proper care of it. It is very
important that you follow these guidelines. A really beautiful tattoo can turn
into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.
Wash and Treat
After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm
water and mild, soap. recommendations: Dial,or Dove tend to be too harsh -
I prefer unscented Ivory. To gently wash
away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not
use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case.
(If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma.
Try to gently remove as much of this as possible - when the plasma dries on the
skin surface, it creates scabs.)
Then pat (do not rub)
the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or
paper towel to get it completely dry. Repeat this 3-4 times a day for 3 days.
After that, continue to keep it clean, you can use lotion when needed, to keep
the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance free. A
lot of artists recommend Lubriderm, but I have found that Lubriderm stings when
I apply it too soon. Instead, I have had great success with Eucerin or
Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
Bathing,
Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming
Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo. It's OK to get your tattoo
wet - just
don't soak it.
Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so you'll
want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as
you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just
remove it quickly with water. Swimming - whether it be in a pool, fresh
water or salt water - should be avoided for at least 2-3 weeks.
Scabbing and Peeling
After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing.
Excessive scabbing could indicate a poorly-done tattoo, but a little is
sometimes normal and there is no need to panic. they will eventually come off on
their own.
(Do not apply
lotion to a softened scab - wait for it to dry)
You will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The
advice here is,
don't pick, and
don't scratch!
If the skin itches, gently pat it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it
is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not
the time to ruin it!
Protection from the sun
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it
from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo
very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo
with a minimum 30SPF sunblock. This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many
years, and it will continue to be a source of great pride.
If
you have any questions or concerns regarding the aftercare or how the tattoo is
healing. PLEASE CALL ME!!!!
250-881-4689
These instructions are designed to help you heal. But if something seems "not
quite right" It's important to deal with it
asap.
Thank you for taking care of your new tattoo.
And I am always stoked to see it after the healing is done.
Lori-ann Fletcher