The aftercare of your tattoo will depend on your skin type.
Here are a few simple rules to follow.
First of all, let your body do what it already knows how to do best, heal.
Never pick at or play with your fresh tattoo, any wound you have would get irritated if you did this.
Secondly, no matter what you use on your tattoo, less is better. Your new tattoo needs to breathe. Also because everybody has different skin, if you find that what you are using causes the tattoo to burn, itch, or break out in a rash, chances are you may be allergic to one or two of the ingredients in what you are using and it may be a good idea to try something else.
Thirdly, as a fresh tattoo is healing, it can also be at risk by exterior stimulus, such as:
- Direct Sunlight: it not only hurts but can burn or cause an infection.
- Clothing rubbing on it: small fibers can get stuck in your healing tattoo and irritate it.
- Animals: even though they say that a pet may have a clean mouth, I've seen some pretty bad reactions from the saliva or the fur of a family pet.
- Other people: you will find that for some strange reason people can't look at a tattoo without using their hands and most of the time this is in a public situation were hygiene might not be on this persons priority list.
Your tattoo will be covered up with a talfa bandage which allows for air. It is important to keep this on for the first hour or so, especially if you are not going directly home. Once you remove the bandage you may want to lightly wash it using lukewarm water. If you use anything hot, your tattoo will not like you. Lightly pat it dry and leave it for a while. We do not recommend you use anything on your tattoo on the day you receive it, it has been handled enough so it should just be left alone.
Genesis Designs recommends either an unscented lotion or our own special blend of cream that works like a charm. Remember, if you find that your tattoo gets irritated by any cream or lotion try another. The first three or so days of the tattoo are its most susceptible days prior to it forming it's scab. Once the scab has formed it is important not to soak it in water as this will make the scab soft and come off prematurely, taking some of the pigment with it. Always gently pat the tattoo dry after a shower. Do not apply cream prior to bed as this will cause the tattoo to stick to your sheets. Your tattoo will take approximately two to three weeks to heal.
Also, if you ask ten different tattoo artists how you should take care of your tattoo, you will most likely get ten different answers, and all will believe that their way is the best. So remember one thing, listen to your body, because it will tell you what is working or not. Everybody is different, so what may work on one person, may not work on another.
Enjoy your tattoo...
