tattoo aftercare

[sully]

hello everyone,its been a while since i visited,I'm a bit confused with aftercare as some say vasoline is not good and some say it is,unimax had some good info on it,www.unimaxsupply.com and then go to info and faqs and then tattoo healing explained,it says that petroleum based products dont draw ink from the skin?what is rite?i tell my clients dont get it wet or go in the sun and keep it moist for about 3 days use bepanthin which is what people in australia seem to use as A&D is not that easy to find here not like the states,but after reading about it from there site I'm not sure what is correct.

[Inkster]

I was always told, vasoline up until leaving the studio, once at home you can use Bep, Savlon and many many more different products to aid healing, I personally use Savlon during the first 3 days, have not tried Bep yet but intend to do so once my stock of Savlon is finished.

[SuziQ]

I have read in several places that bacetracin ointment is the way to go.Just as a side note to that-my hubby has used this ointment on a tattoo and it immediately drew and actually beaded ink to the surface that could be wiped off.Not a good thing!He wiped it off immediately and we'll never use it again for aftercare on a tattoo.Lubiderm seems to work beautifully though.

[MontanaPiercer]

the safest, gentlest, least likely to cause problems is by far, plain white, non scented, non medicated hand lotion..... Lubriderm, Cetaphil.... etc

you can't screw it up, it is the only thing I use, sell and recommend.... nothing works any better, as the whole point of tattoo aftercare is simply keeping the tissue moisturized, and many things don't work as well, even more expensive products....

so my question is.... WHY BOTHER WITH ANYTHING ELSE

[gypsy]

1. You must keep the bandage over the tattoo for 8 to 10 hours. That gives your body time to form a protective layer of skin over the tattoo. This is very important! If your tattoo was done in the evening, leave the bandage on overnight. Not only will this protect your tattoo, but it will keep your sheets and nightclothes free of ink stains. If you received your tattoo early in the day, you can remove the bandage before you go to bed, but no earlier. You'll have plenty of time to show it off -- it'll be there for the rest of your life.

2. Once the bandage has been removed, gently wash the tattoo in warm water with mild soap (I use Dial anti-bacterial soap). Don't let the steady stream of the shower hit it. Be sure and cleanse your tattoo after washing your hair and the rest of your body. If you use a washcloth be very gentle. Be careful that your fingernails don‘t scratch your fresh tattoo.

3. Do not re-bandage the tattoo unless it is becoming irritated by clothing. If you work in dirty conditions (e.g. around dirt or sand) you may want to bandage it if it's not already covered (loosely) with clothing. (If your tattoo is on your arm you can take a clean sock with the toe cut out and pull that over it) Otherwise, just try your best to avoid dirt and grime until it heals.

4. Apply a very thin coat of antibiotic cream 3 times daily for 3 days. (I use Neosporin-Plus) You should rub the cream in completely so that there is no apparent gloss. After three days, antibiotic cream is no longer necessary, you should switch to a moisturizing lotion at this time.

5. Do not soak tattoo in water for the first two weeks. Showers are fine, but soaking in a hot tub, pool, or bath will expose the fresh tattoo to too much moisture. This will possibly fade or cause light spots in your tattoo, and make your tattooist angry for having to retouch it.

6. Do not expose your new tattoo to the sun until it is completely healed. If you are in the sun after the tattoo heals, use sun block (40 SPF at least) and reapply it often. It's best to simply prevent direct sunlight by wearing clothing over it, staying inside or in the shade--the more direct sun exposure, the worse the tattoo will look as it ages. Always using a strong sun block is a good idea because the lighter your skin is the better your tattoo will stand out.

7. Use lotion as needed when dryness occurs. An unscented, basic lotion is recommended. (I use Eucerin ) Lotions with Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter, and Aloe Vera are not basic. Do not use A & D Ointment or Vaseline, they are greasy, make dirt stick to it, keep air from getting to it, and slow the healing process. Do not scratch the tattoo! It will lightly peel, and most probably itch, but don't pick at it … Apply lotion, rub it in and leave it alone.



Don't pick at it or you'll JACK it up! lol

[ifive]

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[Cpl West]

Yeah, ifive, eveyone's got there own wayz.

Everysingle shop I've ever had a tattoo in had completely different instructions for aftercare. Every single one... and I'm sure that the rest of the folks here can say the same thing. Just read through the aftercare threads. It's the same thing there too.

The overall consensus is keep it clean and moisturized. That means wash your hands and the tattoo good before you even put on whatever it is you decide to use to moisturize, and do it every time.

There's alot of opposing views so experiment a little and find what works the best. If you start to see a trend over time in what works better than whatever else you've tried, then thats what I'd adopt. Personally I agree with SuziQ and MontanaPiercer. I use either Curel or Lubriderm, non-scented and colorfree, after the initial wrap comes off. That's just me. Not one problem yet... I don't know if you can find either of them in Australia, but find an intensivecare moisturizing lotion without petroleum, color or scent. I've never used any other brands of lotion, so I can't vouch for the types in your country. If nothing else, try them on yourself first.

Otherwise, the time to remove the wrap IMO, depends largely on the work thats been done, and what time of day it was done(ie: late night) for obvious reasons. *See the 4th&5th sentences in the first paragraph of Gypsy's reply.

[tattooski11]

omg! i was told by my first mentor that a+d was the shit. ive been usin it for ever and no problems but damn. that sucks. i use it very lightly but now im pissed sitting here reading this and all while some a+d is setting my new outline from last night. im going to the local shop right after work to get some tatto goo or something. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. awite i gotta go smoke a cigarette before i call my dude in phoenix and tell him thanks for the crappy old guy info. man hes so stuck in the past and hes so damn stubborn i bet if i showed him this hed tell me to fuck off and that i suck for questioning him. ive learned more on here and that the whole time i was sweeping up and just drawing (nice apprenticeship huh) it was free so who cares

[voodoo]

a and d works just fine! use it for the first couple of days then switch to a lotion works and using it during the whole healing process will work just as good.the secrete is not gobing it all over the fresh tattoo! :twisted:

[tattooski11]

right on man. that makes me feel a bit better. thats all ive ever used and all my tats are bright and heal up reletively quickly depending where on my body. a+d is cheap too. 10 times cheaper than tattoo goo or that h20 crap. anyhoo that info rocks harder than a crackhead. thanks again voodoo.

[Grafx]

I read this on another reputible site. It contradicts the normal methods that I have practiced for years. To test this I have done it exactly as described on the "Self Inflicted" Asian piece that I posted of my right thigh. The only difference between what I did and the article suggests is that I used "Bag Balm" instead of the other ointments described. My leg is healed completely. Now Get this, "No scabbing what soever Shocked
Yep, I field tested the theory described below on myself and it is 100% correct.
__________________________________________________ _____
Here's the article

Tattoo Healing

During a tattoo the skin secretes fluid forming droplets on the surface. If the blood particles in the fluid dry on the surface they stick on the surface looking like little black specs. If allowed to remain they adhere strongly and other damaged cells and particles accumulate, they dry and begin scab formation. Scabbing prolongs the healing process because epithelial cells must grow beneath this heavy burden scab to seal the skin. Eventually though the skin will heal in spite of the obstacles created.

Presuming minimal physical damage to the skin, the speed of healing is related to the amount of moisture in the area. The three top rated healing ointments are Bacitracin Zinc, A & D Ointment and Petroleum. It is the petroleum in these products that produces the best healing speed because it makes the skin occlusive. Occlusive means neither water nor air can penetrate to the skin surface. The skin responds to an occlusive condition by providing moisture to the area internally providing the ultimate healing condition.

When a tattoo is just finished there is generally no oozing (exudate) and the surface is relatively dry (an indication that the procedure did not excessively damage the skin). When a petroleum product is applied (an occlusive condition is created) droplets of fluid will begin to appear because the body is producing exudate. Exudate is necessary to create an environment which stimulates rapid wound healing. By allowing the area to dry (which we should not), the beneficial cells are removed, cells dry, necrose and even serve as a bacteria medium. A wound maintained in a moist environment with exudate has a lower infection rate than a wound which is dry.

Because this mechanism of the body was not understood it was thought petroleum caused ink to leave the skin. Today we know this is not true. Three or four days is required for new epidermal cells to grow across the surface. Damaged cells will float on the top of the new cells until removed. Light amounts of petroleum or moisturizing lotions should be continued for another week but Bacitracin, if used, should not be used for more than 3 or 4 days. The constant application of antibacterials is not necessary to avoid infection. Antibacterial products actually interfere with the wound healing process.

An ideal procedure, immediately after the tattoo is finished, would include applying a petroleum based ointment and watching the area for oozing and droplet formation instead of bandaging and sending the client away. If the droplets that ooze to the surface are pink they should be dabbed off carefully, or the area lightly rubbed periodically to prevent platelet and dead cell buildup. Removing those little black specs as soon as they appear will speed subsequent healing. This should be repeated until no pink oozing is seen and the area is clear colored. Now the client has a good chance for fast healing. After this, the ointment should be applied heavily enough to look shiney. Too thin and the surface will dry and prolong healing. Ointment applying and plastic wrapping for the shower or sleeping for a few days will help protect the tattoo under adverse conditions.

Procedures that recommend immediate bandaging and being left on for several hours and then the area washed, or washed every day are not conducive to speedy healing. This is not best practice.

Bandaging is necessary if the area may be irritated or exposed to foreign matter.

Washing interferes and prolongs healing but should be done if dead cells have accumulated on the surface. Allowing the tattoo to accumulate dead cells and other necrotic matter for 8 or 24 hours is counter-productive to healing speed and will then require washing to remove as much of the dead material as possible. Good tattoo technique will produce preliminary healing in 3-4 days and should not be attributed to any new miracle healing preparation we have discovered or been sold, but to the healing abilities of the skin, the good tattoo technique of minimal damage and good aftercare with a petroleum product.

There are plenty of promoters of "miracle" new healing preparations who want to separate you from your money.
Reactions to antibacterial ointments look like small pimples around the area of application in which case the ointment should be discontinued and a moisturizer applied until healed.
There are many different procedures followed for tattoo healing that have been used for years by different artists. Any one could be argued for based on individual testimony and experience: "their customers healed." The reason for the healing is often attributed to the wrong cause because there is no understanding of the healing process of the skin and what produces more ideal conditions for repair. The explanation above does not rule out any other favored procedure.

It should be kept in mind that it is the skin itself that does the work of repair, not us, and will repair itself, sooner or later, not because we are doing or using x, y or z, but in spite of the challenges we present to the skin. Thank Goodness for that.