Tattoos Aftercare
1. Alcohol in your
system makes you bleed more, just like aspirin and
certain other medications. The tattoo artist will be
poking needles in your skin. You will bleed a lot more if
you have alcohol or drugs in your system - and the blood
that comes out will be taking your new ink with it. Do
everybody a favor. Stay away from alcohol and aspirin at
least 24 hours before you get tattooed. Tattoos
heal best when they are put into healthy skin.
2. Leave the bandage on for at least 2 hours.
3. Gently remove the bandage. There may be some ink on
the bandage. This is normal. Soak with cool water to
remove the bandage if it gets stuck.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water. Gently lather with mild,
preferably unperfumed soap with your hand - not a wash
cloth.
5. Pat the tattoo dry and let the skin air dry for about ten minutes.
6. Smear a THIN layer of antibiotic ointment on the
tattoo. Do not re-bandage. Do this 3 times a day for 3
days. Do not let the tattoo dry out or scab over, but
don't gunk it up with the ointment either. Your tattoo
may itch and peel as it heals, like sunburn.
7. On the 4th day, moisturize with a white hand lotion
(no lanolin) as often as needed to prevent dryness.
8. Do NOT scratch or pick at your new tattoo.
9. Keep out of the sun, tanning salons, salt water and
chlorine water for at least 10 days.
10. Use sun block on your tattoo every time you go in the
sun or a tanning salon for the rest of your life to keep
your tattoo from fading.