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Looking After Your New Tattoo

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Written by James Beckett

Sunday, 13 April 2008

by JamesBeckett

It is probably safe to say more people think about getting tattoos than get them. One of the problems people have is the concern for the process of getting a tattoo from a health perspective and knowing how take care of the tattoo once you get one. On top of that worry, there is a misperception that tattoo artists are not professionals and we see them in the same category as circus people and pawn shop operators. But it is important to note that there are many very professional and sanitary tattoo parlors who will do their part to make your experience both fun and safe when you get your first tattoo.

This is not to say that there has never been a tattoo artist that didn't conduct himself in a sanitary way. There are bad elements in any business. So the first step of taking care of a tattoo is to be discriminating in who you use to put the tattoo on you. Make sure they are running a good business that has been there a while and is in good standing with the community. Get references and then go and check them out yourself. If you look at their facilities for giving you a tattoo and you are not convinced they will take care to apply the tattoo in a safe fashion, just keep looking.

When you put the health of your skin in the hands of a tattoo artist, you want to know they take that responsibility seriously. Their care and concern will be reflected in three ways. First, they will know their stuff when it comes to ointments and cleansers to use while the tattoo is being applied so the entire process is antiseptic. Secondly, after the tattoo is on, you want to see them clean it and bandage it so you can walk out of there knowing it is well cared for day one. And third, the tattoo shop should give you instructions and perhaps even additional ointments and bandages to take care of it over the next week or two so it will heal up well while leaving behind a beautiful tattoo.

You are going to have the instinct to wash the tattoo area as though it is dirty. After the tattoo process. If the tattooist did all of the steps properly, your tattoo may be the cleanest part of your body at that point. It is good to keep it clean, obviously and change the covering frequently but the tattoo should remain dry for several days to avoid any chances of infections or other problems. As soon as there is no chance of infection related fluids and the ink is dry enough to not smudge, you should go without the bandage sometimes to let your skin breathe and recover.

The tattoo parlor and the experts there can help you find good ointments and salves to put on the tattoo so make the healing move along properly and to keep it clean. And most treatments that work well are not prescription so you can get them when you go to the market. Be sure to find out what kind of tape or bandage to use and stock up so you can change it every day for a week or two. Also avoid harsh soaps on the affected area or anything else that could irritate the affected area.

After you finish the first week or two applying the ointments your tattooist recommends, the recovery time is not over. You should get a stock of good gentle lotions that have no perfumes or additives to keep the skin moist as the healing continues. Don't be shy to shop the baby supply aisle at the supermarket for a gentle lotion to use for this purpose because if that lotion is good enough for a baby's bottom, it's good enough for the skin of your tattoo area.

The final phases of the healing of your new tattoo could be the hardest of them all if for no other reason than that you want it to be done with. But for the health of your skin and to make sure the tattoo itself is not compromised, be just as loving to your tat then as the first day you brought it home. But when the skin begins to scab over a little bit, that itching and the urge to take the scab off is a huge temptation you must fight. The skin needs this step to heal and if you got involved too early, you could hurt the tattoo as well. So have some strength to leave the skin alone and let it heal in its own time.

Getting a tattoo is just the beginning of your life as a tattoo owner. Taking good care of it and the skin under it will assure that it will continue to look cool for a long time to come. And that's what you want from something that you made an investment for both time and money in and that will be with you for the rest of your life.

About the Author:

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