HOW TO TREAT YOUR NEW TATTOO

Your new tattoo has involved breaking the surface of your skin and there is a possibility that, if not cared for properly, your tattoo may become infected. By following the advice provided you will be reducing the chance of anything going wrong with your tattoo.

· Your new tattoo is basically an area of tiny skin breaks which have been caused by the penetration of needles carrying ink into your skin. It is important that you keep wearing the sterile dressing applied by your tattooist for at least an hour after it is applied. This should provide enough time for the tattoo to stop bleeding or weeping.

· Once you remove the dressing, you should wash the tattoo gently with warm tap water and pat it dry with a clean tissue – try to avoid using towels, and definitely don’t use towels that other people have been using.

· After washing and drying your tattoo, apply a moisturizing skin cream (we highly recommend HUSTLE BUTTER) to stop the skin from drying out and reduce scabbing.

· You should aim to wash the area and apply the moisturizing cream approximately 2 to 3 times a day for the first few days. Cream should continue to be applied 2 to 3 times a day to keep the skin moisturized until your tattoo is fully healed.

· Everyone heals at a different rate and healing times depend on many factors. However, most scabbing should disappear within approximately 2 weeks - the next stage is for the tattoo to be covered in a “silver” skin which will last for about a week - in total, your new tattoo should be completely healed within about 4 to 5 weeks.

SOME GENERAL TIPS FOR AFTERCARE OF YOUR TATTOO

· If possible, shower rather than bathe during the healing period – this prevents unnecessary water exposure – always pat your tattoo dry with a separate towel or tissue until it is fully healed.

· Do not pick your tattoo as this will increase the healing time and will also lessen the quality of your healed tattoo.

· Avoid swimming, sunbathing and sunbeds until your tattoo has fully healed – sunlight and chlorine can interact with the dyes in your tattoo causing irritation or inflammation of your skin.

· Where possible, minimize the amount of “rubbing” from clothing by wearing loose-fitting clothes around the area of the tattoo – this will minimize irritation of the skin around your new tattoo.

· Keep your new tattoo covered if working in a dirty or dusty environment.

This information can be found in the link below.

WHAT IS SANIDERM?

Saniderm is a medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandage. Saniderm is engineered to be permeable to gasses, like oxygen. These bandages alleviate many of the pitfalls that come with other tattoo healing methods. Primarily, Saniderm drastically reduces the risk of contaminants entering the wound site of a fresh tattoo. Wearing Saniderm protects the area from unwanted shear/friction and allows the body to keep itself moisturized. Plus, it conveniently eliminates sessions of washing and applying aftercare to a new tattoo. The result is a tattoo healing experience that is safer, smoother, and more efficient.

WEARING SANIDERM

Showering while wearing Saniderm is fine, but it’s best to keep the time spent in the shower to a minimum. Bathing, swimming, or fully submerging a tattoo dressed in Saniderm is strongly discouraged. Light exercise while wearing Saniderm is fine, but avoid activity that causes excessive sweating. Just as water will weaken the adhesion of the bandage, so will sweat and any other significant amount of fluid. Try to keep the bandage as clean and dry as possible until it’s time to remove it.

WHEN TO REMOVE SANIDERM?

Keep this bandage on for 3-6 days (or as directed by your artist) – the full 6 days being ideal. If the skin appears irritated, there is a large fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner rather than later.

AFTER REMOVING SANIDERM

Once the bandage has been removed, continue caring for the tattoo by washing and moisturizing as needed, until the tattoo is fully healed. The tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once your Saniderm bandage comes off. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for 2-4 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regime for this entire period.

Touching up a tattoo is a very common practice, and it’s something you might need even if you were tattooed at a reputable studio by a trained and experienced artist.

Drinking alcohol, picking, swimming, bathing and sun tanning are all factors that can lead to your tattoo needing a touch-up due to improper care.

WHEN CAN I GET A TOUCH-UP?

Touch-ups must be within the first three months after getting your new tattoo and only at the discretion of the artist.

HOW MUCH DO TOUCH-UPS COST?

Touching up a tattoo will in most cases be free the first time around. Touch-ups will be subjected to the usual hourly rate or a small set-up charge if it has been three months or more since the tattoo was done.

If your tattoo needs touching up due to improper aftercare (we can tell) the hourly rate will apply.