Once the tattoo is finished, it is necessary to take care of it to avoid unpleasant infections.
It often happens to see women and men, of all ages, with one or more tattoos with the most bizarre shapes, sizes and meanings. What may therefore seem like a routine practice precisely because it is so widespread, can however present rather serious problems if the right attention is not paid to it, both during the execution phase and once the drawing is finished.
Temporary or permanent, colored or bench and black. There are many possible variants, although in principle whatever the “design” the procedure is always the same. The tattoo artist, in fact, with a special machine, repeatedly “stings” the skin until it reaches under the layer of epidermis. Normally the tattoo is performed without anesthesia and the duration of the session varies according to the size. Some, the largest or the colorful ones, even require more than one.
Although small, at each injection of color a wound is made on the skin which, like any lesion, can be a vehicle for infections if the right hygiene rules and some precautions dictated by common sense are not adopted.
Before getting tattooed it is good then:
- be sure that minimum safety and hygiene requirements are met
- check that the tattoo artist uses the appropriate equipment (new pigments and containers, needle extracted from sealed packages, etc.)
- check that the instruments are sterilized before a new use (if not sterile, the needle can also carry infections such as hepatitis B and / or C, HIV, herpes etc.)
- Especially for those who are prone to allergies, check the components of the products that will be used for tattooing and inform the tattoo artist of the substances to which you know you are allergic.
How to cure a newly done tattoo
If all hygiene and safety rules have been respected, once the tattoo is finished, its care is in your hands.
The infection is still around the corner so pay attention to the indications that the tattoo artist will provide you:
- at least for the first 2-4 hours DO NOT remove the transparent and protective film applied over the tattoo. In this way, in fact, the skin will remain hydrated and protected from dust and dirt. Especially for large tattoos, it is better to wait a little longer (even the next day) before removing the protection
- After washing your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap, gently remove the protection with the help of warm water (in this first phase the soap can irritate the skin)
- After removing the bandage, wipe the tattoo area with a clean towel, without rubbing
- After letting the skin breathe for a few minutes, you can wash the affected area again with the same precautions, and then apply the ointment or antibiotic cream (usually provided directly by the tattoo artist). The product, throughout the healing period, should be applied 2-3 times a day
- For proper healing, which takes an average of 10 to 20 days, the skin must breathe. It would therefore be preferable not to cover the tattoo. However, if this becomes necessary (for example if blood still comes out or is in an area of the body that is difficult to keep uncovered) use breathable bandages or gauze, obviously sterile.
- until the tattoo is completely healed, prefer showering to the bath and use a soap with neutral pH especially to gently cleanse the affected area
- If scabs form, do not attempt to remove them ahead of time. It is important that they fall off on their own. Also, if you feel itchy, don’t scratch! A special soothing cream should be applied that can advise you directly from the tattoo artist or pharmacist.
How to cure a tattoo in winter…
After deciding what to get tattooed, and by whom, the problem of “when” remains. Better in the cold months or in the warm ones? Does the sweater or sand do less damage? The answer is… Depends on!
Although you generally opt for winter, in both cases there are pros and cons. It is therefore useful to follow some simple precautions.
If we decide to do it during the winter, leaving a part of the body uncovered is quite difficult; The risk is therefore to hinder the normal healing process.
Wool and synthetic fabrics in fact make it difficult for the skin to breathe. So what is to be done? It is advisable to use cotton garments in the period immediately following the tattoo and try to uncover the skin at night or when we are in environments that allow it.
… and in summer
In this case, sweat, sand, sea and sun create any problems, all enemies of our new tattoo. To these are added tanning treatments or lamps made in anticipation of the holiday or to recover the lost tan.
It is better to suspend, at least until the tattoo is completely healed, water sports and, above all, avoid direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight or sessions with tanning lamps. In fact, the sun could trigger unpleasant reactions with the injected color.
In the event that sun exposure is unavoidable, specific sunscreen products for tattoos with high protective screens (30 or 50) are available in pharmacies.
How to cure a tattoo with infection
With compliance with hygiene rules and proper care once you arrive at home, the tattoo usually heals without giving any particular problems.
In some cases, however, more or less serious complications may arise, for example local infections, whose classic symptoms are redness, pain and localized swelling. In this case, it is important to contact your general practitioner or dermatologist as soon as possible. Underestimating it or not treating it adequately could in fact lead to serious complications for health, and not only for the beauty of the tattoo itself.
For minor skin infections and bacterial origin, the doctor normally recommends applying an antibiotic cream or ointment, perhaps combined with over-the-counter painkillers to relieve discomfort. Alternatively, treatment can be done orally.
To play in advance and prevent any infections it is good to respect adequate hygiene rules, not only during the execution of the tattoo, but also once finished, keeping the wound always hydrated and clean, until complete healing, especially in the early stages where there may be blood leakage.
Always in the field of tattoo complications, sometimes, allergic reactions (local or not) can occur, even to the color. In these cases, in addition to immediate intervention, antihistamines will be required. Hatens, substances contained in normal tattoo inks (blue, red and yellow usually), would seem to be the main culprits. Swelling, itching, boils and patches are the hallmarks of a local allergic reaction.
Summarizing…
Below you can find a summary table on the most important things to do and not to do once the tattoo is completed.
| What to do | What not to do |
|---|---|
| Follow the tattoo artist’s instructions | Remove the protective transparent film immediately |
| Gently cleanse the area first with warm water, then with soap with neutral pH | Expose it to dust and dirt |
| Let the skin breathe | Wash the tattoo with an aggressive soap |
| Take care of the tattoo by applying the appropriate creams 2-3 times a day | Rub the affected area |
| Respect your healing time | Remove scabs that form on the tattoo |
| Avoid tanning treatments or lamps (even in the period immediately after complete healing) | In winter, wear woolen or synthetic clothing in direct contact with the tattoo |
| As soon as possible, uncover the affected area to let the skin breathe | In summer, expose the tattoo directly to sunlight, sand and sea water |
| In winter, if it is not possible to keep the tattoo area uncovered, wear cotton clothing in contact with the tattoo | |
| In summer, if sun exposure cannot be avoided, apply specific sunscreen products for tattoos | |
| Suspend water sports until complete recovery | |
| If you suspect an infection, contact your doctor and/or dermatologist immediately. |
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.