Tattoo Aftercare

Wash and Treat

After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap (a generic version of Dial liquid antibacterial is recommended) to gently wash away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. (If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much of this as possible - when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates scabs.) Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a paper towel to get completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of lotion. (We recommend an unscented water based lotion like Lubriderm, Aveeno, Eucerin.) DO NOT USE Neosporin, A&D ointment, or Vaseline.

Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming

Yes, you can (and should!) shower with a new tattoo. It’s OK to get your tattoo wet - just don’t soak or submerge it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so you’ll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you don’t saturate your tattoo. Swimming - whether it be in a pool, fresh water or salt water - should be avoided for at least 2 weeks.

Scabbing and Peeling

After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. A little scabbing is normal, so there is no need to panic. Your tattoo will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don’t pick or scratch it! If it is peeling, put unscented lotion (we recommend Lubriderm, Aveeno, Eucerin) on it. And, if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed and now is not the time to ruin it!

Questions

If you have any questions at all, call or email the shop. There are no stupid questions, so if you were planning on asking your friends, please ask us first.