If you have got yourself a tattoo recently, it is time to preserve your piece of art with utmost care and caution! Professional tattoo artist Debanjali Das of Lizard's Skin Tattoos, Kolkata, gives expert tips on the DONT's after getting a tattoo.
Retaining that plastic wrap over time: Right after getting tattooed, your artist will cover your tattoo to avoid exposure from airborne microbes and other agents that may cause infection. In case he covers it with a plastic wrap, make sure you remove it within two hours. Plastic covers can be detrimental to your tattoo and cause suffocation of the skin if they are retained for more than two hours.
Using hot water: While washing your tattoo with lukewarm water is a good idea for getting rid of all the blood and plasma quickly, make sure you NEVER use hot water to wash your tattoo! Hot water will open up the skin pores and leach out the colouring product of your tattoo, causing an uneven or blotchy end-product. It may also lead to an infection by making it easy for germs to enter your skin.
Over-moisturization: Although moisturization of the tattooed area is crucial for it to heal, yet stay away from over moisturization as it is often the hidden cause of an infection. Remember to apply your lotion at regular intervals, but allow it to assimilate before putting on another layer.
Re-bandaging: Do NOT re-bandage your tattoo at any cost. Your tattoo needs to breathe in order to heal naturally.
Dealing with irritation: Your tattoo is a wound. So, give it the time to heal. Do NOT pick or scratch your skin, no matter how much it itches. Instead, wash it with an antimicrobial liquid and apply some antibiotic moisturizer. Stay away from all sources of abrasion. Go for an ice gel pack to do away with irritation and itchiness instead of the traditional ice pack.
Showering tips: Yes, you can and should shower with a new tattoo. It's okay to get your tattoo wet as long as you don't soak it. Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine as long as you don't saturate your tattoo. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just clean it quickly with water.
Exposure to chemically treated water, saunas, spas and seawater: Stay away from that beach vacation for at least a month after getting inked, unless you want to develop a serious infection from the microbes, algae and other sources of contamination that thrives in the sea. Also, refrain from swimming as pools contain chemically treated water or chlorine water which can be extremely harmful for your tattoo and cause some painful reaction. Do NOT hit the spa at least for two to three weeks.
Practicing highly strenuous activities and sports: Stay away from the gym and other highly strenuous sports like soccer etc. which cause excessive sweating for at least two to three weeks, till your tattoo completely heals.
Scabbing and peeling tips: After few days of getting inked, the skin on your tattooed area will begin to peel, often leaving few scabs on the surface, which is perfectly normal in the healing process. Do NOT itch or pick at those scabs or scratch your skin at any cost, as doing so might cause an infection. Always remember to clean your hands before touching the tattoo.
Sun exposure tips: Do NOT expose your tattoo to direct sunlight under any circumstance. The ultraviolet rays of the sun can seriously damage your tattoo and fade its colour. It may also cause blistering and bleaching of the tattoo. Make sure you apply a sunblock of at least SPF 30 before going out in the sun.
Sporting tight clothing and shoes: Remember your tattoo needs to breathe, in order to heal. Tight clothes and shoes can be detrimental to that. Not only do they suffocate the tattoo by blocking oxygen, but can also result in freshly formed scabs and serve as excellent breeding grounds of bacteria, which might invite an infection, which you certainly do not want.
Using Neosporin: Do NOT use ointments like Neosporin on your tattoo. These ointments are not suitable for puncture wounds, and your tattoo is a bunch of punctures! Neosporin will cause your tattoo to heal too quickly, and unnaturally.
Shaving before the tattoo heals: Do NOT shave the tattooed area until it heals completely. You might consider shaving around the tattoo, but make sure you do not let hair or shaving cream irritate the area.
Inviting infection: In order to prevent your tattoo from getting infected, avoid leaning on surfaces in public places like metros, trains, buses, cafeterias and public toilets. These are great breeding grounds of microbes and may lead to serious skin infection.
Red dye reaction: A small percentage of people often get what is known as a Red Dye Reaction . This is basically nothing but an allergy from the nickel present in the red dye used in the tattoo. It is advisable to go through a red dye test before treating yourself to that coveted colour tattoo. In case you acquire any such allergy, consult your doctor and tattoo artist immediately. Before you get a tattoo, know the least painful places to get inked.
Happy tattooing folks!
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