A tattoo is more than a work of art and a way to enhance your style. Keep in mind that it is also a medical procedure, where the artist uses a needle to insert ink under the skin. Such work on living tissue requires special treatment and care that must be kept in mind.
The world of tattooing is a complicated field. Most people, especially older ones, don’t realize that it is a space where art, health, strength and body beauty are on equal footing. Those who are well-versed in the subject are also aware that it’s also a medical procedure and that proper tattoo care is crucial if you want your skin to heal well and your ink to look the way it should. We’ve put together tips to help take care of a fresh tattoo.
Every time we interfere with the skin, we put ourselves at risk for scarring and infection. Taking care of your tattoo can prevent these complications and ensure it heals properly. Both we and our tattoo artist play important roles in this process. It is one thing to choose a proven and reputable tattoo artist, and another to do our own work and take care of a fresh tattoo.
Tattooing stresses the immune system, and internal preparation is just as important as external care. Counterintuitively, this is an invasive cosmetic procedure, and the immune and lymphatic systems will work hard to heal a fresh tattoo, so partying and putting extra stress on the body are not an option.
Most tattoo artists have their own set of care instructions, but the general advice for everyone is to only touch the tattoo with clean hands. Here we must also take into account that hand washing should not be understood as a quick three-second rinse – the minimum is 20 seconds, under running water, using detergent.
The bandage applied in the studio by the tattoo artist can be removed after two to three hours. We should never reuse it. The plasma and ink from the tattoo may ooze out after the first few hours and then for another day or two. To clean the skin, we use only gentle cleansers, such as intimate hygiene lotion.
Most experts on the subject say to always use the ointment recommended by the tattoo artist himself. In many studios you can buy recommended care products from good companies. It’s important not to “overpour” the tattoo with too much applied ointment – this can damage the tattoo, clog pores and cause a rash.
During the first 3-4 days after your tattoo, we will repeat the process of washing 2-5 times a day and then applying a thin layer of ointment. While on the first night it is normal to protect the skin with a film because of the flowing ink, after that we will make sure that we do not cover the tattoo and that the skin can breathe peacefully.
On the third or fourth day, the skin will begin to peel, which can be uncomfortable or itchy, but we must refrain from scratching. After this stage, the area will still be hypersensitive, so still make sure to moisturize properly.
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