How to heal a tattoo
The plastic wrap or dressing* that has been applied to your tattoo before you leave the shop serves two functions: It will shield your skin both from bacteria that can cause infection as well as from irritation from clothing or other possible irritants in your environment, giving your body time to close that first layer of skin that has been damaged. You’ll likely be instructed to leave the tattoo wrap on for at least 2-4 hours (up to 24h is fine); this is when you may also notice swelling and redness, although this may depend on your skin and the size and placement of the tattoo you got.
Once the tattoo wrap comes off, keeping the area clean is the most important thing you can do to stave off bacterial infection; Wash the area with warm water (using clean hands) once to twice per day for the first few days, then daily for about two to three weeks. Any type of mild cleanser is a good choice —“gentle” and “mild” body wash or an antibacterial soap would work fine.
Moisturize the area at least two to three times per day for two to three weeks applying an even thin layer of your tattoo aftercare cream/ointment of choice. Why? The more moisturized the skin is, the less likely it is to scab—and scabbing actually impedes the wound-healing process. I recommend using a combination of aftercare cream with occlusive ointments such as Vaseline and Aquaphor as they are hydrophobic and helps your skin to trap the moisture for longer.
Even if you stay on top of moisturizing, it’s still possible for a scab to form. If that happens, resist the urge to scratch or pick!! Though it may be tempting, this can cause scarring and ultimately affect the look of your tattoo. After two or three weeks the scab will begin to flake off on its own, a sign that the surface of your skin is nearly fully-healed.
*Dressing: we are not talking about the type of ‘clear bandaid’ or ‘second skin’ placed by your tattoo artist after your session, as these are meant to stay on for at least the first 4 days of your tattoo healing process before peeling them off.
Hidden Tattoo Studio
