For other wraps like sterile bandage, gauze, cheesecloth, and breathable tattoo films, then a once-daily change may be fine. So, check the label for instructions. If unsure, speak with your tattooist. This is a tricky question. It really depends on the nature of your work. If you work a white-collar job, that is, in an office environment, then wrapping your tattoo may not be necessary.
However, if you work in a kitchen, garage, farm, and similar blue-collar jobs, then re-wrapping may be necessary, especially if your work environment is not suitable for a healing tattoo. Very, very carefully. Some tattoo wraps may be a bit difficult to remove. If this happens, you can try removing the film under flowing, warm water. This will hopefully make the removal a much less worrying experience. Remember, make sure your hands are clean before you attempt to remove the bandage. You can re-wrap if necessary Photo by Matheus Ferrero.
Sometimes, re-wrapping becomes a necessity and not just a tattoo healing option. Here are a few scenarios where you may need to re-wrap to protect your ink:. Sleeping in a new tattoo can actually be done without re-wrapping it. When at home, wear loose clothing to allow your tattoo to breathe.
As much as possible avoid going to filthy places. Protect your tattoo especially while the needle wounds are still open and oozing. As we've spoken before, if using regenerative tattoo film there's no discussion: the answer is yes, we should keep our tattoo wrapped at night. Many tattoo artists believe that sleeping with a freshly inked tattoo may be uncomfortable and put you at an elevated risk of infection , which is why they recommend putting on a fresh wrapping before bed for the first night only.
It's important to understand that keeping your tattoo wrapped hinders the healing process by restricting air from reaching the tattoo, therefore we should let it breath as much as possible. Some artists argue that consistently wrapping your tattoo promotes germs and bacterial growth on the healing skin. This contention is why it is imperative to listen to the guidance of your tattoo artists. And, if it is a particular concern, inform your artist. During the first two days after getting tattooed, your skin will secrete both plasma and blood.
This is a completely normal part of the healing process, but these fluids can cause itching and possibly cause the skin to stick to your bedding. Leaving the bandage on may seem like a sound way to ensure that your tattoo is safe from infection and other forms of potential harm.
However, this theory is a bit misguided. Leaving the bandage on for too long can actually result in infection. This is why it is crucial to regularly change the dressing if you keep your tattoo wrapped for an extended period of time.
If the wrapping becomes compromised or there is an abundance of blood or plasma inside the wrapping, it may be necessary to change it more frequently. Keeping your wrapping on for too long without changing it or giving your skin time to breathe can have adverse effects.
As mentioned above, it can cause infection by keeping the area too moist , and keeping your wrapping on for too long compromises the healing process.
Without the proper exposure to oxygen, your freshly tattooed skin takes longer to heal. You can keep the covering off at this point to let your skin breathe. While your tattoo heals , you should:. How quickly you heal depends on the size of your tattoo and how intricate it is. Bigger tattoos will stay red and swollen longer because they cause more trauma to your skin. After a few hours, you can remove it.
You should ask your artist for specifics about how long to wait. Recommendations will vary and may be based on the type and size of your tattoo. Some tattoo artists suggest that you only keep your tattoo covered for 1 or 2 hours. This is blood, plasma the clear part of blood , and some extra ink. Your skin will also be red and sore. It might feel slightly warm to the touch. With clean hands, wash the tattoo with warm water and a fragrance-free soap.
Apply a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer. Leave the covering off so the tattoo can heal. By now, your tattoo will have a duller, cloudier appearance. This happens as your skin heals. Scabs will start to form. When you wash, you might notice some ink running into the sink. Keep washing your tattoo once or twice a day. Let them come off naturally.
Otherwise, you could pull out the ink and leave scars. At this point, your skin may feel very itchy. Gently rub on a fragrance-free and alcohol-free moisturizer several times a day to relieve the itch. If your tattoo is still red and swollen at this point, you might have an infection. Therefore, when you are ready to remove the cling film completely, as recommended by your artist and once it has dried out you will need to start applying cream to the area.
When you are ready to remove the cling film completely as recommended by your artist and once your tattoo has dried out , you will need to start applying cream to the area. Continue to apply a thin layer of cream a few times a day to help your tattoo heal and prevent it from drying out. Yes, yes, you can. Excessive washing or even overdoing it on the cream can cause more harm than good.
If you follow the instructions above, you should be well on your way to a nicely healed tattoo. You should wrap your tattoo in cling film, even while sleeping for the first couple of nights. With proper care and handling, you can expect your tattoo to be fully healed by 4 weeks in most cases. Within the first week, you will notice that it is less vibrant, not as tender to the touch, and has slight scabbing. These are all good signs that your tattoo is healing correctly.
By the end of week 2, all signs of swelling, redness, and irritation should be resolved. Even if your tattoo appears to be fully healed on the surface, you are still susceptible to infection in the early weeks, as looks can be deceiving.
Try to touch your tattoo as little as possible and let any scabs or flaking skin fall off naturally. Showering is absolutely fine and when you shower, this is a great opportunity to give the tattoo a good clean and remove any excess plasma or dry skin that is present in the area. If you can wait until the next day, even better. If waiting to shower is not an option, be careful not to saturate your tattoo with water. Please do your best to avoid any shampoo or other scented products from coming in contact with your new tattoo.
It's a good idea to avoid tight clothing around the tattooed area. Things like waist bands and bra straps can rub and irritate the new tattoo, causing more trauma and stopping it from healing properly.
Your tattoo artist will recommend sticking to loose fitting clothes until the tattoo heals completely. During the healing process, avoid direct sunlight and sunbeds as this will cause damage to your skin and increase the likelihood of the tattoo to fade.
Once healed, always apply high factor sunscreen to your tattoo on sunny days to ensure it stays as vibrant as possible.
When booking your tattoo, let us know if you are intending to go on vacation so we can make sure your tattoo will have enough time to heal.
When you decide to make a long-term commitment in ink, it is crucial that you take the necessary steps for proper tattoo care. From avoiding infection and washing your new tattoo with soap at least twice per day to keeping it covered with cling film for those first initial days, it all works together to give you the best outcome possible. Following these simple aftercare tips will ensure that your new tattoo looks excellent and fresh years from now!
0コメント