AFTER CARe
Congratulations on your new tattoo! This is a complete guideline for your tattoo aftercare.
Please follow these instructions thoroughly, especially during the first 2 weeks.
Your aftercare routine over the next few days will play a big role in the healing process
and the way your tattoo will end up looking.
A QUICK OVERVIEW
AVOID
Intense physical exercise during the first few days after getting tattooed.
Baths, swimming pools, saunas, tanning beds and sun exposure for a minimum of two weeks after getting tattooed.
Scratching and picking at the tattoo. Scabbing and itching are a normal part of the healing process.
Strong scented moisturisers and soaps when cleaning the tattoo.
DO
Keep your tattoo covered for the first 24 to 48 hours with the protective film.
Always make sure your hands are clean before touching the tattoo.
Once the protective film is off, moisturise your tattoo at least twice a day with a panthenol cream for a couple of weeks.
If you lose the film, clean and dry the tattoo using a scentless, PH neutral soap and a paper towel before covering it with plastic wrap.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
HOW LONG SHOULD I KEEP THE FILM ON?
As long as it remains properly adhered to your skin, covering the entirety of the tattoo, you can forget about the film and keep it on for up to five days. Don’t worry too much if you remove it or lose it before that. The first 6 to 12 hours are the most important ones.
REMOVING THE FILM
The easiest way to remove the film is under the shower. Peel off the film slowly from the top, making sure you don’t rip the scab while the water rinses over it. Wash the area gently without scrubbing it, using a ph-neutral, perfume-free soap until you get rid of the aforementioned black ooze. Once you come out of the shower, avoid touching the tattoo with your towel. During the first week, dry it only with a paper towel, softly tapping the area. Don’t worry if your skin gets a bit red and feels irritated for a few minutes after removing the film and cleaning the tattoo for the first time.
BEFORE YOU APPLY OINTMENT
Keep in mind that the tattoo has been “cooking in its own juice” for a while so let the scab dry up for a few hours before you start applying the ointment on the area, especially if you removed the film early due to any complications and the wound is not yet completely sealed. If that’s the case, you might want to cover the area for an extra day or two, using a piece of plastic wrap to protect the wound from sticking to your clothes and getting infected. This will require for you to be extra careful, keeping the area as clean as possible. You should remove, clean, dry and change the plastic wrap at least twice a day until you see the wound is completely sealed and the scab is fully dry.
AFTERCARE OINTMENT
If you have experience healing tattoos and you’re used to a different cream, you should stick to what works best for you. We at Unikat use Pegasus, which is a cream with a base of panthenol. If you prefer to buy something at the pharmacy, Bepanthen will do the trick.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CREAM THE TATTOO?
At least twice a day (morning and evening), you should apply a very thin layer of cream over the tattoo with clean hands. It would be really good if you also clean and dry the tattoo before creaming, using the unscented PH neutral soap and a paper towel.
HOW MUCH CREAM SHOULD I USE?
If you want the tattoo to be extra moist, apply cream more often but always be careful with the amount of cream you use each time. Your skin should be able to absorb the cream in a few minutes. If you leave it covered in a thick layer of cream, your skin won’t be able to properly breathe and the scab won’t be able to heal, affecting the way the lines will look and potentially creating a mild allergic reaction in the area due to an excess of fat. If the skin in and around the tattoo looks ashy and feels tight or itchy, you most likely need to apply a tiny bit of cream.
DON’T STOP CARING
A tattoo is considered to be healed 4 to 6 weeks after the session but it might take up to 6 months to reach its final appearance so please be patient and continue applying moisturising cream on a daily basis and sunscreen every time you’re exposed to intense sunlight.
TOUCH-UP
If once the tattoo is fully healed, you think it needs a touch-up, get in touch with your tattooer, who will take a look at it and proceed as needed.
PROTECTIVE FILM
At the end of your appointment, the tattoo artist will cover your tattoo with a protective film, which they probably refer to as "second skin”. This film is a medical-grade adhesive barrier that will protect your new tattoo from friction, bacteria and debris during the first and more crucial hours of the healing process. The film is latex-free, waterproof, breathable and hypoallergenic. During the first hour or so, the protective layer usually seems invisible. But short after that things often start looking quite messy underneath the film due to secretions of ink and body fluids. Don’t panic, this is completely normal and will have absolutely no effect on the way the tattoo, which will look crisp again as soon as you remove the film and clean the skin, gently removing the black goo.
PROBLEMS WITH THE FILM
If the film starts peeling off at the edges, leaving parts of the tattoo exposed, don’t try to stick it back on and remove it completely because If you would keep it on, you’d leave an open path for germs and the tattoo would most likely get infected. If it hurts, burns or itches, please remove the film immediately. Although uncommon, allergic reactions to the film are still possible so make sure you keep an eye on it and get rid of it in case you see any redness or pimples around the tattoo.
IF YOU DON’T FEEL GOOD
It is normal to feel light headed after a tattoo or even feverish after a long session. Avoid driving directly after finishing. Make sure to eat and rest first.
NO SUNBATHING
You can't apply sunscreen to the area until the wound is completely healed and the new skin fully grown so don’t expose your fresh tattoo to the sun.
CLEAN CLOTHES AND NO SWEATING
Avoid tight clothes with rough fabrics for at least the first week and change your clothes every day to keep your tattoo clean. Avoiding sweating too much during the first couple of weeks is also key.
DON’T SOAK YOUR TATTOO
During the first couple of weeks, never soak your fresh tattoo in water. Don't bathe, swim or go to the sauna. Put on gloves if you wash dishes with tattoos on your fingers, hands, wrists or lower arms.
LET YOUR BODY RECOVER
Take it easy in the first days. A tattoo intervenes with your immune system, so try to get enough sleep, don't stress too much, keep it slow on partying. Don't drink large amounts of alcohol in the first two days. Don't let other people touch your tattoo until it's fully healed. Never scratch your fresh tattoo, don’t pick the scab. If it feels itchy, apply a thin layer of cream. If the itching sensation persists, use a cold patch. Tattoos on the lower leg can swell up a bit more than in other parts of the body. No need to worry, this is due to your blood circulation. Just put your leg up and cool it down.
COMPLICATIONS
In the case of an infection, please consult your doctor. Indications are: redness and swelling; sensation of heat at the site; pain, usually throbbing or spreading of pain and unusual discharge (yellow, green or grey pus).
ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your tattooer.