How to Care for a New Tattoo

Member

By cmsgtmeyers
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

Care for a New Tattoo

If you recently got a new tattoo, or are looking to get a tattoo and want to know how much care they take read on.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Wash it!
The first thing that you need to do after taking your bandage off (see warnings) is wash your tattoo. Use warm water and a small amount of plain, unscented soap. Gently rub the soap all over your tattoo and rinse it off (see warnings). When it is completely soap free, pat it dry.
Step 2

Moisturize it!
Apply A&D ointment or Bacitracin three times a day, including right after you wash it.You don't need a lot of ointment, about a pea size will do. If you put too much on, rub it off gently. If your tattoo does not have any coloring you do not need anything but plain lotion or baby lotion.
Step 3

Protect it!
Prolonged exposure to sun, and soaking your tattoo in any kind of water (especially chlorinated and salt water) is not good for your tattoo before it has healed, so don't do it until your tattoo has healed.

Tips & Warnings

Listen to your tattoo artist about any special instructions--each tattoo is different, but there are general rules of care.
Many products out there claim to work great on new tattoos. I cannot tell you if they work, but I can tell you I have been following these instructions and all three of my tattoos look like I got them done yesterday.
An example of a good care schedule would be: wash your tattoo right when you wake up, moisturize it, moisturize it again around noon and once more before you go to sleep.
Don't remove the bandage from the tattoo for AT LEAST two hours after the bandage was put on.
Do not expose your new tattoo to a direct stream of water until it has healed.
Don't touch your tattoo unless your hands are clean, or your tattoo is healed.
Don't pick the protective scab, scabbing is part of the healing process for tattoos.