Aftercare

General Considerations

  • No swimming for three weeks, including submerging the tattoo during a bath.

  • No picking at scabs! This can lift ink that would otherwise have settled. Lightly "slapping", especially through clothing, can help resolve itchiness.

  • Persistent or worsening redness, signs of folliculitis, or otherwise unhappy skin may be signs of an infection. Please contact me and go to an urgent care for a diagnosis and/or antibiotics.

  • Don't use topical painkillers (e.g. lidocaine numbing cream) for post-tattoo pain relief.

  • Be mindful of pets or other disease vectors such as if you work a particularly environmentally dirty job.

  • Avoid excessive alcohol and sweating for the first three days of healing.

  • Use gentle soap (e.g. Gold Dial, baby soap, most hand soaps)

  • Don’t over-moisturize. Only apply 2-3 times per day.

  • Use sunscreen once the tattoo is healed! UV exposure is the primary cause of the aging process of tattoos.

First 3 days (using second skin)

  • Keep on for 72 hours max. Do not reapply at home.

  • Be wary of rashes forming, Second Skin prematurely peeling along the edges (leave at least ¼ to ½ inch from tattooed area), excessive ink/plasma pooling, and interior plastic tears.

  • Remove early if there is any worry, and use water-based lotion from then on.

  • Removing in the shower under warm water can help!

First 3 days (if not using second skin)

  • I'll send you home with a loose gauze and saran wrap covering your tattoo. Remove this when you're home and able to clean the tattoo.

  • The first 72 total hours are the most sensitive time for healing.

  • Wash your hands, then wash the tattoo 3x daily with gentle soap (i.e. morning, after work, before bed). Air dry or pat dry with paper towels - be mindful of cross contamination such as touching surfaces or your

    phone in between steps. Re-wash your hands if there are any concerns.

  • Apply a *thin* layer of petroleum-jelly moisturizer (Aquaphor). Do not reapply between washings.

  • Keep covered with clean and loose clothing, especially while sleeping.

After 3 days, up to 2-3 weeks

  • Wash and moisturize 2x daily, switching to water-based lotion (CeraVe, Lubriderm, Eucerin). Continue moisturizing after this time period if there is persistent skin peeling. I would avoid layering sunscreen on top of lotion to avoid clogging your pores.

  • No shaving or exfoliating until after this time period.