Tattoo Aftercare

Your new tattoo will have a light coating of petroleum jelly on it, and may be temporarily bandaged to keep it from bleeding, or oozing onto you, your clothes, or other people.  The bandage will keep it clean until you get home.  The bandage can be removed when you get home or in an hour or two, provided you have access to soap and water and clean paper towels.  The bandage should be discarded in an appropriate container.  Once the bandage is removed, clean the tattoo with cold water and soap, and dry with clean paper towels.  Do not re-bandage.  For a large tattoo it is good to apply ice to reduce swelling.  Some swelling, redness, and mild pain may occur during the first few days, which is normal.  Some bruising may occur under the inside of the arm or on the ribs when a large tattoo is placed there.  Several days of oozing is common, and some color coming out during the oozing process is not a problem- aside from the fact that the color may stain your clothes, sheets, or blankets.

 

Wash the tattoo with warm water and soap several times each day. Ointment is not necessary.  Many people find ointment to be soothing and prefer to have the tattoo heal in a softer way, instead of with a normal scab.  Ointments can cause problems during the healing of the tattoo.  We strongly recommend that you DO NOT USE any ointments that have petroleum in them (such as A&D Ointment, Aquaphor, Neosporin, Vaseline, or Triple Antibiotic ointment) because they can cause serious allergic reactions in the form of red bumps all over and around the tattoo.  Reactions like this will cause you to suffer.  If you use an ointment and it stings or causes a red bump reaction please stop using it and just wash the tattoo with soap and water and put ice on it.

 

The only tattoo aftercare product we carry or recommend is called Redemption, which is certified organic.

It costs $8 (plus tax) for a 1 oz. container.  Redemption contains Castor Oil, Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Arrowroot Powder, Calendula Oil, Arnica, Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract, mixed Tocopherols, and Fragrance. If you have checked these ingredients and are not aware of any allergies to them it may be a comfort to purchase this product and use it in moderation to soothe the healing of the tattoo. Only use and apply ointments with clean fingers or with a fresh applicator.  

 

You can go swimming in a pool or in the ocean.  Swimming or bathing does not hurt the tattoo.  Suntan lotion should not be put on a fresh unhealed tattoo.  Sunburn, contaminated water, or super-bleached water (like in a public hot tub) during the first week may hurt the tattoo, cause a difficult heal, and cause it to lose color.  Tanning is not good on the site of the tattoo during the initial healing phase, which may last 2-3 weeks.  We recommend suntan lotion over healed tattoos to protect their color.  Going to the gym is okay, but protect your tattoo from the germs on the gym equipment.  Areas on the body that can be challenging to heal are the upper part of the inner forearm, in folds or creases where limbs bend, or where clothing (such as a bra strap, belt, or uniform) can irritate the skin.  Tattoos in these areas should be protected from too much bending or friction during the healing process.  Tattoos on the feet, hands, fingers, and elbows typically do not stay as crisp or colorful as tattoos on other body parts and some color loss should be expected over time.  Red tattoos may look less red until the final scab comes off.

Excessive swelling, redness, or pain is abnormal.  Antibiotics and antibiotic ointments are sometimes used to treat an active infection.  Tattoos that become infected are very rare, but happen occasionally.  Infections are not from our needles, as they are “single use only” sterile needles, but from bacteria in your environment.  NJ law requires us to describe the signs and symptoms of an infection, therefore, the signs of an infection may include excessive soreness, abnormal swelling, redness, and heat accompanied by pus and a foul smelling odor coming from the wound; a red line under the skin that appears to be traveling from the tattoo needs immediate medical treatment.  If you think that you are having a problem, please call us or come in and show us, or email us at headtattoo@aol.com.  If it is a serious problem, or if you think you need to see a doctor, then we recommend you see a doctor.   
                                      Take care of your new tattoo, don’t drink and drive, and be nice to dogs!