To ensure that the tattoo color takes hold as well as possible and to avoid unwanted effects, such as fading, learning how to care for a tattoo is fundamental.
We must remember that a tattoo is a form of permanent body decoration that, using a needle, makes ink penetrate the skin: during the process, the subcutaneous and intradermal penetration of different colored pigments occurs to create indelible images and designs that last a lifetime.
This penetration involves the second layer of skin (Dermis), which is not subject to shedding or regeneration and, for this reason, makes the pigment’s presence long-lasting over time.
Let’s go into detail and discover:
- Tattoo care in the hours following the procedure
- How to care for the tattoo in the hours following its creation
- How to take care of the tattoo in the long term
- What to avoid during the healing of a tattoo
- What to do in case of infection
How to care for the tattoo in the hours following the procedure
The care of the tattoo starts immediately: in fact, as soon as the tattoo is finished, the tattoo artist themselves cleans and disinfects the area and covers it with a protective film to protect the design from bumps, bacteria, and external agents.
This film must be kept on for a couple of hours (from 2 to 5) and it is the tattoo artist, based on the size and the area where they performed the tattoo, who gives instructions on this.
Once this “protective layer” is removed, the tattoo should be washed thoroughly with lukewarm water and mild soap to remove excess ink and reduce the risk of infection.
This action should be performed simply with your hands, avoiding overly aggressive scrubbing with sponges or cloths, so as not to damage the tattoo. When the skin is completely dry and 15 minutes have passed, allowing the skin to breathe freely, the protective film should be reapplied.
This cleaning operation, during the first day post-tattoo, must be repeated 3 times.
This operation can be repeated for a maximum of 48 hours after the tattoo is done, after which it is advisable to stop using the film.
How to care for the tattoo in the weeks following its creation
When the tattoo begins to heal, scabs form on the tattooed part indicating that the skin is healing. This is a phase that can last up to three weeks and even in this case, knowing how to care for the tattoo correctly is crucial.
During this time, you can stop covering the tattoo with the film, to allow the skin to be in contact with the air and accelerate its regeneration. However, a light layer of tattoo care cream (which must be recommended by the tattoo artist) should be applied about three times a day, until the tissue is completely dry, but without overdoing it so as not to risk the skin not breathing.
Very important for care remains the washing of the tattoo, which should be done twice a day with neutral antibacterial soap, as well as using clean cotton clothes in contact with the tattoo and avoiding dust and dirt.
It is absolutely discouraged to constantly touch the tattoo (to avoid irritation or infection) and to scratch or pick at the scabs (because you risk pulling away the color where the skin has not yet fully regenerated).
How to care for the tattoo in the long term
When all the scabs have fallen off and the tattoo is completely dry and compact, it means it is definitively healed.
However, this does not mean you can stop taking care of it. In fact, the immune system continues to perceive the color pigments as foreign bodies and continues the rejection process. If you do not perform care actions on the tattoo, the risk is that, over the years, the tattoo will tend to gradually fade.
The first thing to do when the tattoo seems healed is to contact the tattoo artist who performed it for a final check and to see if any touch-ups are needed (which must be done at least four weeks after healing and not beyond, to avoid obvious differences in colors).
Even in the long term, the tattoo area should always be washed with care and properly hydrated, to ensure durability and perfect coloring.
What to avoid during the healing of a tattoo
A tattoo is a real wound to the skin caused by the needle and, for this reason, to heal completely and correctly, it requires a specific healing time and a series of care steps to be followed.
There are also some things to absolutely avoid not only to obtain an impeccable result and not prolong the healing time, but also to avoid the risk of incurring avoidable infections and irritations.
First of all, during the first few days, it is forbidden to expose yourself to the sun or tanning beds: UV rays can cause colors to fade and damage the delicate skin while it is still regenerating.
Also, immersion in water is discouraged: no sea or swimming pools, while quick showers are allowed. This prevents exposing the skin to the risk of bacterial attacks.
Much attention should be paid to the protective film with which the tattoo is covered: while this is perfect in the first few hours post-procedure, it is to be eliminated later, because the skin must be able to breathe and be in contact with the air to heal correctly.
The tattoo should never be rubbed to avoid causing irritation (and scabs should not be removed, even if they itch), it should never be washed with aggressive detergents, but only with water or neutral soap, and it should never be hydrated with products not recommended by your tattoo artist.
No to Vaseline either: while in the past it was the quintessential cream to use during the healing period of a tattoo, today there are more suitable and functional creams that are, above all, less greasy and perfect for allowing the skin to breathe.
Finally, it’s better to avoid contact with dust or animal hair, as well as with non-breathable materials and overly tight clothing, and it is absolutely forbidden to touch the tattoo with dirty hands, which can transfer bacteria to the area.
Tips for tattoo care in summer
As for tattoos done during the summer months, the healing procedure will be identical to that followed during the rest of the year.
It is necessary, during the summer months, to pay attention to too much sun during the first few weeks and not come into contact with sea water or the pool.
It is recommended, as soon as the tattoo is healed, to protect it with a very high sunscreen, to prevent the still-strained skin from burning easily.
Tattoo care: what to do in case of infection?
Despite effective and specific care, for a new tattoo there is always a risk of infection, generally caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, but also by poor hygiene of the tattooed area.
First of all, however, it is important to know the difference between normal swelling, redness, and post-tattoo discomfort (which can be caused by the wound or a slight allergy to the cream or protective film) and pain caused by the onset of an infection.
In this second case, in addition to feeling the area sore and swollen, you may notice the appearance of pus, blisters, fluid and, in some cases, fever a few days after the tattoo is done, which continues to increase, causing the affected area to burn.
The first thing to do is consult the tattoo artist who performed the tattoo. If an infection is present, it is then fundamental to contact a doctor, in order to receive the most appropriate treatment and necessary medications.
How to become a professional tattoo artist with MTS courses
Do you want to become a professional tattoo artist and work in the world of tattoos?
At Milano Tattoo School, there is the Tattoo Artist Practitioner course: a complete 1500-hour path aimed at budding tattoo artists, which guarantees the qualification to perform tattoos in full autonomy with the issuance of the Lombardy Region Professional Certification valid throughout Italy and at the European level.
The MTS course will allow you to:
- Learn the necessary knowledge and skills as a professional tattoo artist
- Have all the fundamental tools to be able to enter the job market
- Manage and carry out the future profession of tattoo artist practitioner independently
- Grow and emerge in the Tattoo scene
- Have access to internship opportunities at studios in Lombardy
It is a learning path divided between classroom lessons and laboratory sessions, to acquire technique and skills and practice through the execution of multiple tattoos on people, conducted by a Staff of high-profile experts and developed through the use of advanced technologies, innovative teaching, and high-quality equipment.
With the April 8, 2024 course full, we have decided to open a new class for students intending to undertake the Tattoo Artist Practitioner Course, starting on September 2, 2024.
1500 hours of training, high-level faculty, complete technical and artistic preparation, laboratories, practice on synthetic skin, tattoos on people, workshops and seminars, internships and placements: sign up for the course and become part of the new class!
Do you want to become a professional tattoo artist?
Visit the page dedicated to the upcoming Tattoo Artist Practitioner Courses