I want to get a tattoo but I’ve never had one before, and I want to know how exactly you take care of a new tattoo, as in washing, certain soaps, etc? And how long do you actually have to keep taking care of it like that?
Also, is there an actual existing link today between AIDS, HIV, hepatitis, or any disease and tattoos? (My mom wants to know.)
As many others have said, your artist should give you aftercare instructions when you get your tattoo. They should also be able to answer all of your questions regarding the tattoo process etc. Don’t be afraid to ask…a professional has probably heard just about anything you can ask. Be sure to visit the studio and talk to an artist. Check out their portfolio. Ask If they use single-use needles. Do they have an autoclave in the premises? If your state requires it, do are they certified by the Board of Health.
Here are the aftercare instructions from the studio I go to. I have had several large pieces done and have not had any problems. There are also some links for your mom regarding diseases and tattoos.
Aftercare:
It is extremely important to take care of your tattoo. Without proper care of your tattoo or any open wound, you risk the chance of infection.
- Before tending to your new tattoo, always wash your hands.
- Gently remove the bandage after 30min. to one hour. There may be some ink on the bandage, don’t worry this is normal. If the bandage gets stuck soak with cool water then remove.
- Rinse tattoo with cool water. Gently lather with antibacterial liquid soap using your hands, not a washcloth, rinse. Do Not use bar soap or soap that is perfumed.
- Pat the tattoo dry with a paper towel, Do Not let it air dry.
- Using your clean fingertip, apply a thin layer of ointment, Do Not apply a thick layer as it may clog your pores.Do Not re-bandage. Do Not use Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly.
- You should apply your ointment at least 5 times a day until your tattoo is healed. Make sure your tattoo is always moist, never let it dry out. If your fresh tattoo dries out you risk the chance of scabbing, which in turn may cause scaring or color loss. After a few days your tattoo may start flaking (It will look like peeling after a sunburn) this is normal. At this point you may start to use lotion such as Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion or Lubriderm.
- Do Not pick or scratch off any flaking skin or scabs if present.
- No swimming or tanning until your tattoo is fully healed. Healing times vary from 2-4 weeks.
- Do Not soak your tattoo for prolonged periods of time. Showering is fine.
- After your tattoo is healed do not forget to apply sunblock every time you go swimming or tanning to prevent fading.
- The out come of your tattoo depends on the care of your tattoo. Your Artist did their part now it’s up to you.
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Tags: tattoo aftercare, Tattoo Care
A good tattooist will explain aftercare but I believe you need to keep the tattoo clean and moisturized as it will scab. You can contract HIV or other diseases from previously used needles in a dirty tattoo parlor so you'd want to check the place out first and talk to the tattooist about whether they use disposable needles.
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Yes, there are some tatoo parlors that don't sterlize or use the same instruments on different people that can pass diseases to other people. Make sure you watch the person open a new needle or sterlize the needle. Most places do, otherwise I'm sure they'd get sued like crazy.
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Your mom is right to be concerned about diseases associated with needles. I think because tattoos are becoming more mainstream, there are higher standards of cleanliness. I know of no studies showing the link between tattoos and diseases. Where I live, most tattoo places are very clean and professional. Any reputable tattoo artist will be able to show you how they clean and sterilize equipment. If they won't, or act defensive, don't go there.
Also, a good tattoo artist will tell you about aftercare of your tattoo. I know I had to keep mine covered at first, and then I had to use gentle soap to clean it. Also, when it peels, DON"T scratch, as much as you will want to. It will mess up your tattoo. Also, if you are planning to get a tattoo this summer, make sure you keep it covered and/or wear sunscreen. UV rays fade the ink.
Good luck!
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I have tattoos
you need to keep it covered with vasoline and depending on the shop they might say use gauze or plastic clear wrap. you do not want it to dry out and scab. that will ruin it. call the shop you plan on using. ask what they recommend. call a few others for advice too. tattoo shops are generally very clean.they have state laws to follow. ask them about there practices. it wont offend them. you have the right to know. go in and observe the artists. most shouldn't mind.
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You leave the bandage on for 12hrs- or over night, wash gently with non scented soap leave it for 48 hrs then use lubriderm NON scented cream 3 times a day for 2 weeks! If you go to a professional parlor they only use new needles, and sterilized products so no health issues. As for the care I have two full sleeves and go to the best place in BC, this is the only way to care for it, even if your artist says elsewise.
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wash with antibactieral soap, and use only fragrance free cruel, like 2-3 times aday for like a week and a half till the scab has fallen off. stay out of the sun and away from pools and hot tubs
References :
Leave initial bandage on for 2-3 hours after you get your tattoo. Remove bandage and clean with cool water and antibacterial soap using clean hands. Never use a washcloth or other coarse item. Keep your tattoo moist by applying a thin layer ointment such as Bacatracin 3-6 times a day. For tattoos in areas where there is contact with your clothing, apply your ointment and wrap with a sheet of plastic wrap. NEVER USE PETROLEUM JELLY (this will not let your tattoo breathe and can trap bacteria), PREPARATION H (the main ingredient is yeast…can you say yeast infection??) OR ANY OTHER SUCH OINTMENTS ON YOUR TATTOO. After 1 week switch to an unscented hand lotion. Try to keep your new tattoo exposed to the air as much as possible. Showers are OK, but do not soak your tattoo in water. No swimming, sunbathing or soaking of any kind for 2 weeks. If you are in the sun, keep a thin layer of sunscreen on your tattoo.
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I can confirm most of the above answerers, plus a few comments.
Any good, reputable shop will have printed out instructions for aftercare. You'll be a little wiggy from the endorphins after the session & won't remember instructions as well; they know this and just give you a little help sheet. Pay attention to that before us. Some shops have touchup policies based on following their instructions to the letter, among other things.
I've tried to find links between blood-borne disease transmission and tattoos. Although if you go to a scratcher (back alley person with a tattoo machine in their garage) all bets are off, real shops are safer than a dental visit. The numbers I saw hint towards a ten times greater risk going in for a simple cleaning by a dental hygienist than getting a tattoo. Even that might include the more questionable shops. If you only go for the top notch places, that risk pretty much hits zero - or at least as close to zero as you can get.
Good shops post their certifications on their walls as they understand your concern. Most shops seem to use disposable needles and ink caps as it's easiest to keep those clean than having to autoclave reusable needles. You'll see artists wiping down their stations with antiseptic (the smell will identify that; makes me think hospital) before & after a session.
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The place I go to does all of the above - I feel like my doctor's office isn't as clean. Other places in the Santa Cruz area that are respectable have similar setups.
people are going to tell you different things about how to take care of your new ink.
My best advice would be to listen to your artist. he knows more than any of us (if he is professional).
what i did when i got my tattoo was leave the covering on it for 4 hours or over night. I got mine at like 10 pm then passed out and woke up at like 7 am. Wash it with gentle antibactarial soap. I bought some stuff called Satin soap (recomended by the artist). You have to HAND WASH your tattoo with luke warm water and pat dry. DO NOT use a wash closh, this will irritate the tattoo and peel off the scabs (a big NO NO). Wash it in the morning and in the night.
After you wash it you want to put a lotion or cream on it that will keep it mosturized. I used A&D ointment for the first week. If you use this make sure you get the stuff WITHOUT Aloe and that it is unscented. After the A&D i used unscented Curel lotion for about 3 weeks. I also picked up some Tattoo Goo. It's like a salve that it recommended for tattoos. It also helped alleviate some of the itching that will occur with the tattoo.
One thing to ALWAYS remember is to not scratch it or peel off the scabs. It will scab for about 4-6 weeks. You can still see the tattoo and such, and it is not a scab like the kind when you fall bike riding or something. If you do peel off the scab chances are that the tattoo will be faded where the scab was.
Like i said before though. The best advice i can give is to follow YOUR artists after care instructions.
For more info on aftercare look at this article
References :
http://tattoo.about.com/cs/beginners/a/blaftercare.htm
i have tattoos!!
As many others have said, your artist should give you aftercare instructions when you get your tattoo. They should also be able to answer all of your questions regarding the tattoo process etc. Don’t be afraid to ask…a professional has probably heard just about anything you can ask. Be sure to visit the studio and talk to an artist. Check out their portfolio. Ask If they use single-use needles. Do they have an autoclave in the premises? If your state requires it, do are they certified by the Board of Health.
Here are the aftercare instructions from the studio I go to. I have had several large pieces done and have not had any problems. There are also some links for your mom regarding diseases and tattoos.
Aftercare:
It is extremely important to take care of your tattoo. Without proper care of your tattoo or any open wound, you risk the chance of infection.
1.Before tending to your new tattoo, always wash your hands.
2.Gently remove the bandage after 30min. to one hour. There may be some ink on the bandage, don't worry this is normal. If the bandage gets stuck soak with cool water then remove.
3.Rinse tattoo with cool water. Gently lather with antibacterial liquid soap using your hands, not a washcloth, rinse. Do Not use bar soap or soap that is perfumed.
4.Pat the tattoo dry with a paper towel, Do Not let it air dry.
5.Using your clean fingertip, apply a thin layer of ointment, Do Not apply a thick layer as it may clog your pores.Do Not re-bandage. Do Not use Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly.
•You should apply your ointment at least 5 times a day until your tattoo is healed. Make sure your tattoo is always moist, never let it dry out. If your fresh tattoo dries out you risk the chance of scabbing, which in turn may cause scaring or color loss. After a few days your tattoo may start flaking (It will look like peeling after a sunburn) this is normal. At this point you may start to use lotion such as Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion or Lubriderm.
•Do Not pick or scratch off any flaking skin or scabs if present.
•No swimming or tanning until your tattoo is fully healed. Healing times vary from 2-4 weeks.
•Do Not soak your tattoo for prolonged periods of time. Showering is fine.
•After your tattoo is healed do not forget to apply sunblock every time
you go swimming or tanning to prevent fading.
•The out come of your tattoo depends on the care of your tattoo. Your Artist did their part now it's up to you.
References :
http://www.safe-tattoos.com/faq.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa27.htm
http://www.evolutiontattoo.com/gallery/ryan-lebiedzinski's-tattoo-photos/fire-breathing-dragon
Your tattoo artist should give you after care instructions. I was told just recently to use A&D ointment for three days and then to use any lubriderm lotion after that. I had no problems with it healing at all.
As far as a link to getting aids or hiv, hepatitis etc… I suppose that possibility is still there if your not using a good parlor that only uses fresh needles etc. Most reputable places will show you the needles etc *before* they start so you know their steril.
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Well I put Neosporin on it to keep it from scabbing. Keep putting that on a tat,/ wash with soap when you shower. Don't itch it .I slapped mine and set the ink, I am silly everyone was doing that at that time. Long ago. I herd they are coming out with some real good Ink ask around, I guess. Good Luck.
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That is what I used….
I just put neosporin on mine untill it healed.
when you go to get your tattoo make sure they open everything right in front of you (the needle being used). this way you know they are not reusing needles
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