Aftercare

STAGE 1: Days 1-6

During this stage, your skin will start to leak blood, plasma, and ink. Any bruising, swelling, or redness occurring around the tattoo is normal and the result of increased blood flow to the area as an immune response.

Second skin clients - This bandage will stay on for up to 5 days. If any border redness or itchiness occurs within a few hours of application, take it off immediately as you may be experiencing an allergic reaction. It is normal to see fluid build up in this bandage while it is on. Remove this bandage early if the fluid begins to leak out of the bandage or if the corners peel up and expose the tattoo area. Do not participate in any activities that may make you sweat while this bandage is on. When it is time to remove, gently peel downward and away from the body. Removing your second skin under lukewarm water may help soften the adhesive

Gauze pad clients - This bandage can be removed the next morning

Upon removing your bandage, begin cleaning your tattoo twice a day or as needed with unscented soap and follow up with an unscented lotion. Fluid left on your skin for too long may cause more scabbing than usual. Once the tattoo has been exposed, it is important that you do not pick at anything that doesn’t come off on its own with a gentle wash. Do not touch your tattoo without cleaning your hands first in accordance to your local public health authority’s hand-hygiene procedure.

1. Wash your tattoo with any unscented soap using gentle circular motions using lukewarm water only.

2. Moisturize by applying an unscented lotion and ensuring it has been fully absorbed to avoid suffocating the area. Use a clean tool (such as a tongue depressor") to scoop out your product if it is not in a squeezable container. This will eliminate any risk of contaminating your product with any residual bacteria that may be on your hands.

3. Avoid submerging your tattoo in water or participating in activities that might create a prolonged moist skin surface for the first 2 weeks. This includes, baths, hot tubs, saunas, lakes, sporting activities, and going to the gym. Showering is okay.

4. Avoid tight-fitting or irritating clothing that may rub your fresh tattoo.

5. Ensure your bed sheets are washed daily on the hottest setting during Stage 1 of healing. Try to avoid sleeping or laying on your tattoo to avoid it sticking to your fabric.

6. Avoid letting your tattoo touch surfaces that you cannot ensure are free from dirt or bacteria. Do not wear dirty clothes. Do not allow any other people or animals to come into contact with your tattoo while it’s healing.

7. Keep your tattoo covered with loose, soft clothing and avoid direct contact with the sun. Sun exposure will cause your tattoo to fade significantly.

After the first couple of days, you might start to notice your tattoo scab or form dried skin flakes which makes your tattoo appear faded, this is normal. Growing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, yellow/green pus, deep scabbing, large raised lumps, and your skin not healing are not normal reactions to a tattoo. This is what it may indicate:

Growing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, yellow/green pus - It is likely that an environmental bacteria has entered your skin and caused an opportunistic infection. This will require consult with a medical professional.
Deep scabbing - Caused by trauma occurring during the healing process (ie; burns, scrapes, picking at scabs, etc.)
Lumps - Can occur if someone has extremely sensitive skin or has an underlying sensitivity to a particular type of ink (usually red dye)
Not Healing - This likely indicates an underlying health factor. This can range anywhere from poor nutritional habits to chronic illness