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After tattooing:

  • Fresh tattoos ooze, this is normal part of the healing process. Cling film is there as a barrier to keep airborne bacteria and any other contaminants in the environment from invading your wound. Opening the film to show friends, family and take photos for social media can wait!

 

  • You may feel very exhausted, cold and flu like, rest, eat something, drink sugary drinks and listen to your body.

 

  • Stay hydrated so drink plenty of fluids

 

Once Home:

  • Leave the cling film on for 2 hours.

 

  • Make sure your hands have been washed thoroughly before you remove the cling film as cross contamination from hands can cause infections. After removing the cling film cleanse the tattoo area with antibac soap and water. Do not use a flannel or cloth as these are breading grounds for germs to live so a clean hand is the best tool.

 

  • Do not scrub the tattoo. Dry the tattoo area by gently patting the area with clean kitchen roll. Leave to air dry for 10 mins.

 

  • Wash in water with antibac soap before each cream application. You do not need to recover the area, obviously if you were playing in the mud this would change, use your common sense.

 

24Hrs after your tattoo:

  • Lightly rub on a thin layer of aftercare ointment. Don't share ointment, don't think that a tube of cream with cracks in, fluff around the nozzle or the same tube you saved from last year's tattoo will be suitable either. Please be careful when selecting what you apply to a fresh tattoo.

 

  • Repeat these steps for about a week, approx.3-4 times a day. The idea behind this part of the process is to NOT let the tattoo dry out. The ointment should be applied in a thin layer, just enough to cover it. You may need to apply more or less often, depending on  you and your environment.

 

  • After a couple of weeks use a fragrance free moisturising lotion.

The following day you may feel all sorts of weird sensations depending on the size and area of tattoo. For example, a larger calf tattoo can make you jump out of bed only to find your leg gives way. This is normal.

 

Wear loose fitted comfortable clothing if possible.

 

You may find you stick to the bed sheets the first few nights, put an extra cotton cover over the bed and if you wake up with this stuck to you soak it off don't pull it. You can also recover your tattoo with cling film for the first few nights if you'd prefer.

 

What a healing tattoo should NOT look like:

 

Firstly a fresh red tattoo IS NORMAL, an itchy tattoo whilst healing IS NORMAL. A smelly, hot, oozing gunk tattoo IS NOT.

 

Infection on a tattoo may look like a red area surrounding the tattoo or excessive swelling. Your skin may also feel warm to the touch. Observe the wound for yellowish or green pus, this discharge may also have a foul odour. Keep an eye on the skin around the tattoo for movement of the redness spreading.

 

You may need to seek emergency medical advice if you are presenting signs of septicaemia. Contact your GP, your local NHS walk in centre or in extreme cases A&E.

 

If you are at all concerned and need advice please give the studio a call: 01173300123

 

Some final DO's and DONT's:

 

DO NOT:

  • Go swimming, soak in a hot tub or bath

  • Use hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic sprays/lotions, rubbing alcohol on the tattoo

  • Itch, pick or scratch the tattoo

  • Apply any tanning products or perfume to the area

 

DO:

  • Stay out of the sun and away from sunbeds until your tattoo is completely healed

  • Avoid activities that will make you sweat

  • Apply a high factor sun block to the tattoo after it's healed to protect it from damaging ultraviolet rays.

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