Tattoo care after piercing
How to care for your new tattoo properly
Have you just gotten a tattoo or are you planning to get one? Nice! A tattoo is a great way to emphasize your individual style. But it's also always a medical procedure, in which ink is injected beneath your skin with the help of a needle. Any injury to the skin's surface makes it more susceptible to infection and scarring. By following proper post-tattoo care, you can ensure that your tattoo heals smoothly and looks beautiful for a long time. In the following article, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to best care for your freshly inked tattoo.
Preparation – What you should consider before getting a tattoo
The first thing on your to-do list is choosing a studio and artist: Ask friends for recommendations, read reviews, get extensive advice, and meet with the artist beforehand to chat about the motif and view initial designs. Ultimately, the vibe has to be right, because you'll likely be spending a few hours with them and wearing their work on your skin forever. Have you found the right artist? On the day of the appointment, you should have a good breakfast and arrive at the studio well-rested and showered. By the way, you should avoid a heavy drinking session the day before, as alcohol thins your blood and could cause the fresh ink to bleed more quickly.
Freshly tattooed – How do I care for my tattoo immediately after it has been done?
The first few hours: Keep it clean!
Immediately after the tattoo, the tattooed skin is under a lot of stress. You should leave the tattoo alone until the skin has calmed down a bit. To protect the skin from germs, your tattoo will be disinfected in the studio and covered with a film. You should leave this bandage on for the next 6-8 hours, even if you'd love to show off your new tattoo to everyone. If your tattoo artist used a self-adhesive film bandage, you should wait 2-3 days before removing it. Afterward, you'll need to clean the tattoo.
Step by Step: How to care for your tattoo after it has been done
1. Disinfect your hands
Always wash and disinfect your hands before touching your tattoo to prevent bacteria from getting into your fresh tattoo.
2. Clean the tattoo
Gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and pH-neutral, fragrance-free soap. Make sure you don't use perfumed shower gel or anything similar!
3. Pat the tattoo dry
Pat the tattoo dry with a clean, lint-free cloth (e.g., a piece of kitchen roll). Never use toilet paper, and be careful not to rub the tattoo dry!
4. Apply tattoo cream
Now apply a thin layer of fragrance-free tattoo cream to prevent scab formation and to help the skin heal. Be careful not to apply the cream too thickly. As a general rule, it's better to apply it more often, but only in a very thin layer.
The right cream for your tattoo
The market is brimming with tattoo creams designed to help your skin heal. Whether you buy your cream at a pharmacy, online, or directly from Rossmann or dm, here are some things to keep in mind:
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➔ Fragrances and dyes have no place in a good tattoo cream and only put additional strain on your skin.
➔ Water-based creams provide moisture, absorb quickly, and won't leave marks on your clothes. Oily creams are richer, but they shouldn't be applied too thickly, as this prevents your skin from breathing. In the worst case, this can lead to bacteria buildup or pimples on the fresh tattoo.
➔ Use a cream with natural ingredients and healing agents such as panthenol.
The next days and weeks: Let it heal!
Now it's time to show patience and perseverance: Depending on the size of your tattoo and how quickly your skin heals, it will take 2-3 weeks for your skin to regenerate. During this time, it's important that you support its healing as best as possible. That's why you should cleanse and moisturize the tattoo several times a day. Ideally, your tattoo will never be completely dry during this time, but will have the perfect conditions for healing thanks to regular cleaning and moisturizing. If a thick crust forms on the tattoo or you notice persistent swelling and redness, you should see a doctor to be on the safe side. Under no circumstances should you scratch the tattoo, even if it itches due to healing. This can cause unsightly scars.
Long-term tattoo care
To ensure that the colors and contours of your tattoo look as fresh and sharp as they did immediately after the tattoo was applied, you should continue to care for it after it has healed. In addition to sunscreen (since UV radiation is unfortunately the worst enemy of tattoos), you should use a moisturizing cream. Your tattoo cream is ideal for this.
Last but not least: 5 tips to keep your tattoo fresh for a long time
Your tattoo is healing beautifully? Congrats! There are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure you enjoy it for a long time:
Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds
Until your tattoo has completely healed, sun exposure and tanning beds are an absolute no-go. UV radiation puts unnecessary strain on your skin and can strip it of color. Once your tattoo has healed, you should additionally protect it with sunscreen.
No full baths, swimming pool or sauna
Avoid baths, swimming pools, and saunas for the first six weeks. You can shower on the first day.
No sports
You should avoid exercise for the first week after the piercing to give your body time to focus on healing and avoid unnecessary stress on your skin. Increased sweating can also introduce bacteria into the wound.
Be careful with your clothes
During the first 1-2 weeks, make sure that your clothing does not rest directly on the tattoo to avoid unnecessary friction and contamination.
Care, care, care
To keep your tattoo looking beautiful and healthy for a long time and to prevent the colors from fading, you should wash and moisturize your tattoo regularly - even after it has healed.
FAQ
Which cream is best for tattoos?
Of course ours! No, just kidding. That's a question that can't be answered in such a general way. However, when choosing a cream, you should make sure that it's free of fragrances and dyes and that it supports your skin's regeneration with healing ingredients like panthenol.
Can tattoo cream expire?
Yes! Like any aftercare product, tattoo creams can expire. You can usually find information about how long a product is good for after opening on the back of the product in a jar icon (12M, for example, means the product has a shelf life of 12 months). You should also always use a new cream for fresh tattoos to avoid cross-contamination.
Can I shower with a fresh tattoo?
Yes! While full baths and the like are a definite no-go for the first six weeks, you can shower immediately with a fresh tattoo. However, be careful not to get any perfumed shower gel on the tattoo, and when drying, make sure to avoid the freshly tattooed skin and pat it dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
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