Posted May 20th, 2010
How To Prevent A New Tattoo From Becoming Infected
One of the last things that someone thinks about when they decide to get a tattoo is how to care for it. Caring for your new tattoo is a necessity especially if you expect to maintain your tattoo for any length of time. It has often been said that the first week is the most crucial for healing but it is actually the first 4 to 6 weeks. The steps that you take in order to care for your tattoo are going to be very important in regards to keeping it from becoming infected. Here are the top 10 tips for caring for your new tattoo :
1. Follow your tattoo artist’s actual instructions when you leave his or her parlor upon receiving your new tattoo. Most artist’s can write down or already have available advice and tips on how to care for your tattoo so just be sure that you ask.
2. Understand that you are at a risk for infection if you do not follow the directions. Once your tattoo gets infected then you are going to be in trouble. An infected tattoo can greatly lengthen the healing process and make everything so much more uncomfortable than it already is.
3. Wear your bandage . Ask your tattoo artist exactly how long he or she recommends that you wear it. Some people will have to only wear their bandages for no more than 24 hours while others have to wear them much longer. It just depends on how sensitive your skin is how much it is broken from the tattoo and how big your tattoo is. No matter what make sure that you wear it; it will help to prevent infection from arising.
4. Make sure that when you are washing your tattoo that you wash with lukewarm water or the warmest water that you can stand at the time.
5. Get rid of the blood with your hands when washing the tattoo not a wash cloth. A wash cloth can be a bit too much and can cause irritation to the skin. It is best to keep those traces of blood removed in order to prevent unnecessary scabbing.
6. Resist the urge to pick at your tattoo. This could possibly cause sores and more bleeding which could lead to infection. Just remember to keep it clean.
7. Keep your tattoo away from salt water and sunlight until it has healed. You do not want your tattoo to fade or damage in any way. Not to mention that if you were to do either it would be incredibly painfull .
8. Remember to utilize ointment. Ask your artist which ointment is recommended for maximum healing. Keep the ointment applied and do not stop applying until your tattoo artist gives the okay.
9. Avoid taking long baths showers and soaking your tattoo. You do not want your tattoo to lose any ink. Focus on taking quick showers.
10. Do not let any chemicals come in contact with your It Is Imperative that you keep all chemicals away from your tattoo even soap. Do not attempt to wash it or shave it. If you use shaving cream be sure to apply the cream around the tattoo. Too many chemicals on your fresh tattoo can ruin it.
It generally takes anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks for a regular tattoo to heal. Once your tattoo is healed then you are free to sunbathe take long showers baths or whatsoever else you desire to do. Chances are that your tattoo is going to be just fine but like anything else that is in a healing process special care is needed. You may even need to continue to apply lotion to it for a while just to make sure that the skin stays moist fresh and does not crack or peel too much. A tattoo is a good investment no matter what way you look at it. Taking proper care of your tattoo is the best thing you can do for your investment and for your skin.
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