Tattoo Aftercare
How good your tattoo will look is dependent on how well you follow these aftercare instructions. Please call us at
510.251.2050 should you have any questions or concerns about how your tattoo is healing.
Immediately After You Get Tattooed
Keep your tattoo bandaged for at least five hours - you can also leave the bandage on overnight if you like, but make sure that
you take it off within twelve hours. Never re-bandage your tattoo.
Once You Take the Bandage Off
Your tattoo will have a messy mix of ointment, blood, sticky plasma and ink on it. It's important to wash all of this off.
With clean hands gently wash your tattoo using a hypoallergenic soap like Cetaphil over a sink or in the shower. Don't let
water run directly on the tattoo for more than ten minutes. When you are done washing, blot any excess seepage off of the
tattoo with a clean paper towel. Apply a THIN layer of Vitamin A&D ointment or pure cocoa butter from a tube to the tattoo
and distribute it just to the edges of the tattoo. Wear loose, comfortable clothing (preferably cotton) over the area and
watch out for bra straps, tight waistbands, etc. which may chafe.
The First Three Days
Your tattoo can continue to seep during this time. It's important to thoroughly wash and blot away any seepage so that
the tattoo does not get crusty. Wash, blot and ointment the tattoo as described above at least three times a day and
immediately after any exercise. Apply a THIN layer of Vitamin A&D ointment or cocoa butter only to the area of the tattoo
and watch for signs of break out. If you do start breaking out around the tattoo, switch immediately to lotion instead and
keep the layer extremely thin. Wear loose clothing to bed during this time. If the tattoo sticks to the cloth, wet it
down thoroughly in the morning and peel away gently. Do not pick or scratch your tattoo.
On the Fourth Day
You can reduce the number of times that you wash your tattoo to two times a day (still washing any time after exercise)
and switch from ointment or cocoa butter to a THIN layer of a hypo allergenic moisturizing lotion such as Cetaphil or
Lubriderm. Your tattoo will usually peel between now and the end of the first week, but peeling time varies with the area
of the body and from person to person. When your tattoo does peel, it is normal to have large pieces of colored skin
flakes (like a sunburn) come off on your clothes, etc. Do not hasten the peeling process by picking or scratching.
During the Whole First Two Weeks
DO NOT . . . soak in a bath or hot tub, go swimming or expose the tattoo to direct
sunlight! After two weeks you can expose the tattoo to sun with a heavy SPF sunblock on. Additionally, it's completely
normal to have secondary peeling and dryness on your tattoo for up to a month or so, so continue to use lotion as needed
during this time.
What Products to Use
| |
Recommended |
DO NOT USE |
| Cleaning Products |
Cetaphil brand bar or lotion soap
Dr. Bronner's unscented lotion soap
|
any scented or herbal soaps
any soaps with aloe vera
anti-bacterial soaps
alcohol or peroxide
|
| Ointments |
Vitamin A&D ointment
pure unscented cocoa butter
|
any scented or herbal ointments
Vaseline or petroleum jelly
antibiotic ointments like Neosporine or Bacitracin
|
| Lotions |
Cetaphil moisturizing lotion
Lubriderm moisturizing lotion
|
any scented or herbal lotions
any lotions with aloe vera
|
