When you go to get a tattoo, you are usually given aftercare instructions by your artist. This can come in many forms or methods. Such as: Fake Skin, ointments, not using scented soaps, using sunscreen, or not submerging your tattoo in water for long periods of time. Why are these care tips being told to you? In this post, we will go through the benefits of proper care for your tattoos to show why tattoo aftercare is so important.
Fake skin:
Fake skin, otherwise known as Second Skin, is a thin, transparent, film-like bandage placed over your new tattoo. Usually for the first 4-6 days. It is like another layer of skin that will protect and isolate the new tattoo. It is waterproof and will hold liquid from your tattoo under the bandage, allowing the tattoo to heal in a moist environment. That way, the tattoo will not scab up so easily. Fake Skin prevents friction from the outside world, whether that be clothes, walls, other people, etc. Not only this, but covering the tattoo prevents bacteria from causing infection. It allows you to have a less stressful time when showing and bathing with the new tattoo. Overall, Fake Skin is one of the best ways to keep your tattoo clean and happy in the first week of the healing process.
Sun Protection:
Many artists will tell you to make sure to keep your tattoo out of the hot sun for a long time or to make sure to use sun protection over the tattoo. Why? This is because using sunscreen helps prevent your regenerating skin from getting dried out, sunburnt, or damaged by the sun in general. It can prevent premature skin aging, which allows your tattoo to stay fresh-looking and less likely to fade away due to damage to the skin. Sunscreen is a great way to care for your tattoo, but not until it is healed enough. You should be waiting a minimum of 2-4 weeks before putting sunscreen on your tattoo. Many sunscreens have scents or other things in them that can irritate a brand-new tattoo, which has not had time to heal up yet, so while sunscreen is a great way to protect your tattoo, if you don’t do your research, it can also irritate and be unhelpful in the healing process.
Ointments:
Using ointment to keep your tattoo hydrated is another great way to care for your tattoo. Using some sort of ointment keeps your tattoo from scabbing up and becoming dried out. Many ointments also act as an inflammation prevention or also create a block from bacteria, helping to prevent infection. It also helps your skin speed up the reconstruction process, which allows for better results. Fading is less likely to happen, and it can help keep your tattoo looking sharp. Some of the most commonly used ointments include Aquaphor, Butter Luxe, Cocoa butter, or unscented anti-bacterial lotions.
Keep it Clean, Keep it Dry:
Other Aftercare methods your artist will tell you to do are to keep scented soaps and body washes away from your fresh tattoo, as well as keep it from being submerged in water, especially for long periods of time. They will tell you to use unscented anti-bacterial soaps. This is because many scents in lotions, soaps, air fresheners, etc., are synthetic smells. This type of scent can cause your skin to dry out, cause allergic reactions, or even sometimes cause burning sensations. Plus, by using anti-bacterial soaps, you are taking the extra step to keep germs from seeping into a new tattoo. As for submerging your tattoo in water, this can cause infection as well. This is because germs and bacteria can easily be introduced to your fresh “wound” through liquids, whether it is a bath, pool, hot tub, lake, etc. Also, soaking a tattoo in water can cause your tattoo to peel off and, ironically, to dry out majorly. This also can cause ink loss. So, keeping your tattoo away from bodies of water, and taking the steps to wash it and prevent bacteria from sitting on it will help keep your tattoo looking great, and feeling great!
In the end, there are so many benefits to following through with the aftercare instruction given to you by your artist. Ointments, Fake Skins, appropriate soaps, etc., are easy steps to ensure a great tattoo experience!
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