trache

I got a tattoo recently; it's something I've been wanting to give myself as a gift for a long while. I will post a picture of it soon, barring any mishaps with the healing. I need to know a thing or two about aftercare.

I was given an instruction sheet and understand everything that was written therein.

I received some gauze on the tattoo itself with tape and instructions to leave it on for a few hours, then carefully wet it and take it off. It was basically to prevent blood getting everywhere.

Afterwards, the artist said just to wash it very lightly with soap and to put Polysporin ointment (clear stuff, not the cream) on my tattoo and leave the bandage off and just generally be careful. Is this proper? Would anyone else like to refute this?

Now after a week and a half, I think I see some of the ink has gone missing from my tattoo and I'm really worried that I will have to have it touched up. This is bad because I live 3 hours from the tattoo shop where I had it done, and I fear that if I go to a local shop, they won't be able to match the colours just right.

Should I start to worry?

The tattoo is scabbing up, and I think that's normal. It certainly hasn't gotten red, itchy or had anything else yucky happen to it.

The problem I have with aftercare, is that I'm a working white-collar professional. I have to wear business casual (that means dress pants and shirt) while at work. Is there anything I can do to make sure my tattoo stays safe, but that my clothes do not get ruined?

Also, is there anything I should be doing that, perhaps, I'm not? Any tips?

I'll show off my tattoo when I get my camera charged up. I won't describe it until I can post it. Surprises are the best. :-)

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Siege

Ok, well, i'm no expert, but this is what I did with my 2 tattooes and they are fine.

I left the bandages on overnight. It was somewhat difficult sleeping with them, but it's fine.

The next day, I took off the bandages and gently showered while applying a thin layer of soap to clean the areas that were tattooed.

The rest of the time, I just applied moisturizer and let it be. It itched like hell, but I was told (and I made sure) not to scratch. The scabs are normal, and appear because tattooing is well, traumatic for your skin to say the least. The scabs will disappear.

In terms of ink missing, it sometimes happens. My artist warned me that I might have to come back for a touch up, but it turned out totally fine. I don't know about your place, but my place has a 1 year free touch up service. If you can live with a dot or 2 missing, maybe the 3 hour drive isn't for you.

As for your clothing, after the first day or 2, you shouldn't really be leaking any ink onto your shirts.

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Glory's Sun

I don't think I've ever heard of a tattoo not needed at least a tiny bit of touching up. If there is a lot of ink loss... find a new artist. Most shops will offer some sort of free touch-up service if it's their work.

Scabbing is normal. My tat(s) healed completely in about 3 days. Some people it takes longer.

I took my bandages off in about 2 hours. I applied some of the stuff the shop gave me and I let it be until morning. I showered and washed it lightly then applied the goo throughout the day. From what I understand you just want a light coating on the tat. You don't want a ton of lotion, goo, whatever you use on there at once. Some of the resident tat artists can probably tell you better than I can though.

Don't worry about it. Just take care of it like the sheet says and go back and talk to the artist and let him check it out if you think something is wrong.

Grasshopper Green

With my first tattoo, it looked like I lost a lot of ink because of the scabbing...but the tat looks fantastic now as it did when I first got it six years ago. My second one lost more ink (I should have had it touched up but I didn't ), but I think it was because I didn't keep it as moist as the first one. I work dark shirts with that one just in case of any ink leakage. Make sure you don't scratch it, and ask the artist about a touch up policy just in case.

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noodle

Gauze? Didn't it stick regardless of wetting it? I've only had saran wrap and tape over mine. I found out the hard way, don't use anything with aloe in it to moisturize. It ends up making scabbing worse and a whole corner of one of mine dried out and peeled off. But I'm allergic to the black ink, so my system tries to force it out anyway. Just avoid the sun, aloe, and anything that will rub directly on it for the first few weeks.

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trache

The problem I have is my artist said the artwork could be retouched in a month for free, which kind of makes me think twice about even going back there for more work.

Some ink has come off, which makes me said.. but it's not a great deal of ink. I bet it will be noticeable close up when all is said and done, though.

What worries me now is that if I do get it retouched, perhaps at a different place, I'm almost guaranteed to get an artist who uses different inks. How can I handle this? How can I be sure the orginal artist will be able to blend the new ink with the old ink, or will go over the entire thing again?

Well perhaps not gauze, but some sort of tissue paper junk. Now I simply leave it to air dry underneath my shirt and wash it gently and put Polysporin on it once or twice daily. It seems to be coming along. I hope it finishes healing soon.

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shalafi

Don't hold it against them that they offered free touch ups. Any reputable shop will touch up their work for free.

trache

shalafi:

Oh, I don't. I have heard that a lot of shops will offer more than just a month (even a complete year). My artist told me it would take a good month to heal, so who is to say that when I go back to get it retouched, they won't say, "Well it's been a month, so you'll have to pay for this retouching."

I suppose this is what may happen because A) I paid cash and B) I didn't get a receipt. I don't even know if this type of financial transaction is common practice amongst tattoo/piercing shops, is it? Hell, the guy pocketed the money and didn't ring it up in any sort of register. That's not to say he didn't total his daily work for the shops books at the end of his workday, I'm just saying that he didn't do it in front of me.

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

Glory's Sun

I've never received a receipt for tattoos either.

Anyway, go back to the same artist. He knows what he did and how to correct it. The only reason to change artists is if the work is shitty and you want a coverup or a whole new piece done.

Are you still putting gauze/tissue paper on it??? DON'T

trache

guccilvr:

No. I only had the "bandage" on for about an hour. Since then, it's been uncovered, air-drying with Polysporin applied twice a day, under my shirt for the last 1.5 weeks.

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

Glory's Sun

I'm not sure how well the poly works. I'm sure it's fine. You may want to pick up some Tattoo Goo or something similar. It may help it more. :shrug:

Have you tried calling your artist to get his take on it??

BigBen

I knew an artist that recommended Preperation H for the tattoos.

Yes, I said Preperation H, the hemmeroid cream. Thinking about it, it reduces swelling, numbs the pain, and is antibiotic... You just have to get past the whole "Rubbing Ass Cream" on your arm or leg. I never did it, and I don't personally endorse it, but it shows you that aftercare can differ widely from place to place.

Polysporin allows the scab to heal properly. Infection is a serious concern, even with all of the precautions taken. Letting it breathe is good, but I would recommend that you put poly on more than twice a day. You don't want it to dry out!

Yes, some people are allergic to the dye in some colours, and that happens. The body just rejects the tattoo. In that case (serious colour loss) your artist should do touch-ups for free. Don't take advantage of the service, and give lots of notice so they can fit you in around new clients. Don't blame the artist for colour loss. It happens.

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shalafi

What was reccomended to me was A&D ointment for 3 days then Lubriderm or some other non-clogging lotion (but no aloe). Wash it 3 times a day with your hands and antibacterial soap and apply a thin coat of your goop of choice often enough to keep it from drying out.

trache

guccilvr:

How is Tattoo Goo different from anything else on the market? I've heard good things about h2ocean, although I haven't been able to purchase any as of yet.

BigBen:

I don't think I'm allergic. I do see some colour actually coming off due to the scabbing (I think)... so I think I may get it retouched down the road. We'll see.

shalafi:

How well did A&D work for you?

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

shalafi

I had almost no scabbing. There were a couple little ones the first day that came loose when I washed it but thats all. When I woke up yesterday (day 4) it was starting to peel so I switched to lotion. The artist was right on. He said 3 days of A&D then lotion for like a month.

trache

shalafi: What kind of lotion do you use now? And what is your tattoo of?

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

ShaniFaye

I've got 5...none have ever needed touching up and look just as good as the day I got them. I leave the bandage on for about an hour....I apply lubriderm twice a day (after my shower in the morning and right before bed at night) for about a week until all the scabs have fallen off. Thats it...real easy after care

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shalafi

Right now I've got some Curel Natural Healing because thats what they had at the HessMart but once I get around to going to the drugstore or Walmart I'll get some Lubriderm like the artist recommended. My tattoo is 2 koi fish in kind of a ying yang. There is a pic here pic

trache

Thanks guys for all your input.

It seems as though most of the scabbing is now gone and it is smoothing over nicely, however, there is a small patch of colour that is now either faded or non-existent - probably due to a scab forming but being ripped out by movement (I can assure you I did not scratch, itch, pick or otherwise mutilate my tattoo!) or maybe just nothing at all. I don't know.

I'll post a picture in a little while!

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip