Finally, the design you’ve had in your head for months has become a reality, with a new tattoo adorning your skin. But how do you care for it and make sure it heals well and ends up looking exactly as it should? To ensure trouble-free healing of your new tattoo, it is particularly important that you practice proper hygiene and care after getting a tattoo. The following answers to the most important questions will help.
Aftercare advice varies slightly depending on the tattoo studio. After the piercing, your tattoo artist will give you instructions on how to treat the tattoo. Typically, a professional tattoo artist will send you home with a disinfected, creamed, and foil-wrapped tattoo.
A fresh tattoo is comparable to an abrasion and is therefore susceptible to infection. Pay attention to thorough hygiene and always wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Otherwise, the tattoo could even become infected. The better the wound heals, the better the tattoo will look. Wait about three hours until you remove the film from the skin.
It is normal for blood and wound fluid to collect under the film. Wash both off carefully with lukewarm water. You can then pat the area dry. Always make sure that your hands are freshly washed and, ideally, disinfected. Apply cream to the tattoo three to five times a day; the best way to do this is with a pH-neutral and zinc-free panthenol ointment, for example this special tattoo cream. It contains seven percent panthenol and valuable vitamin E, is intended to provide moisture and reduce the itching of wound healing.
Always remember that a freshly done tattoo is also a fresh wound. If a slight scab forms, it must come off on its own, otherwise you risk damage to the tattoo and skin infections. For the first night or two, you can cover your tattoo again with skin tape and cling film to protect it at night. To do this, apply a thin layer of tattoo cream to the tattoo and then the foil. In the morning, repeat the washing process as described.
Depending on the healing process of the skin, you should apply cream to the tattoo two to three times a day for two weeks. A thin layer is completely sufficient. Always keep in mind that your skin needs time to heal. Be patient and take care of your skin. This is especially true for UV radiation, as there is an eight-week sun ban after tattooing. You must avoid direct sunlight on the affected area and also not use a solarium. The same applies to exercise and the associated heavy sweating in the first one to two weeks.
A zinc-free panthenol ointment is best suited for tattoo care. There are various ointments available in the pharmacy or online. These ointments, for example, are suitable and available online:
Perfumed creams and petroleum jelly should be avoided for tattoo care. Vaseline can make your skin too greasy. Wound and healing ointments, on the other hand, provide valuable moisture and actively support the healing process.
In the long term, it is advisable to always treat the tattoo with a tattoo cream with UV protection so that the colors do not fade and you can enjoy your tattoo for a long time.
After getting your tattoo, protect it from sunlight for at least eight weeks. However, UV radiation can change the color of your tattoo even after this period. Therefore, anyone who has a tattoo should always apply sufficient sun protection. Ideally a factor of 30 or higher.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.
