The dos and don'ts of taking care of fresh ink.
Tattoos last forever, but they won’t look great forever unless you take care of them. These are some of the things that I learned about tattoo aftercare and sustainability.
After you get your new clean and vibrant looking tattoo; you want it to stay that way, after all you paid good money for it. The most important thing is to treat this fresh tattoo as an open wound. A tattoo is repeated poking with a needle, opening the skin. Therefore, you need to keep the area clean from bacteria and dust. A lot of tattoo artists will cover the area with petroleum jelly and wrap it. This will keep debris from getting in your wound (and prevent your clothes from rubbing against it) You don’t want to run direct water across the tattoo. Obviously take a shower and gently wash it, but do not run it under the water. When you saturate your tattoo with water, you’re softening the scab, making it easier to flake off and cause scarring.
After 24 hours you can remove any wraps you’ve put on the tattoo. Continuously applying a thin layer of lotion or Aquaphor during the healing process is best. You want to keep the area moisturized but not over-saturated.
The most common cause for tattoos fading over the years is being exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Sunscreen will be your tattoo's best friend. Even during the healing phase, you want to avoid direct sunlight. Just like clothing, darker colors on your skin will attract the light, which brings the UV rays and the heat. Throughout the rest of your life your tattoos are now your babies, you need to keep them healthy and protected.
For more detailed information check out Mayo Clinic's official health guide to tattoos.
Comments