One of the last things that someone thinks about when they decide to get a tattoo is how to care for it. Caring for new tattoos is a necessity, especially if you expect to maintain them for any length of time. It has often been said that the first week is the most crucial for healing, but it is actually the first 4 to 6 weeks. The steps that you take in order to care for your new tattoos are going to be very important in regards to keeping them from becoming infected.
Here are some tips that will be necessary in caring for your new tattoo:
1. Remember your tattooist exact instructions when you leave his or her shop. Most tattooist can write down or already have available advice and tips on how to care for new tattoos, so just be sure that you ask.
2. Understand that you are at a risk for infection if you do not follow the directions. Once you get an infection, you are going to be in trouble. An infection can greatly lengthen the healing process and make everything so much more uncomfortable than it already is.
3. Wear your bandage. Ask your tattooist exactly how long he or she recommends that you wear it. Some people will have to only wear their bandages for no more than 24 hours while others have to wear them much longer. It just depends on how sensitive your skin is, how much it is broken from the tattoo, and how big it is. No matter what, make sure that you wear it; it will help to prevent infection from arising.
4. Make sure that when you are washing, that you wash with lukewarm water, or the warmest water that you can stand at the time.
5. Remove the blood with your hands when washing the tattoo, not a wash cloth. A wash cloth can be a bit too much and can cause irritation to the skin. It is best to keep those traces of blood removed in order to prevent unnecessary scabbing. 6. Do not pick at it. This might cause sores and more bleeding, which could lead to infection. Just remember to keep it clean.
7. Keep it away from salt water and sunlight until it has healed. You do not want your tattoo to fade or damage in any way. Not to mention that if you were to do either, it would hurt beyond belief.
8. Do not forget to apply ointment. Ask your tattooist which ointment is recommended for maximum healing. Keep the ointment applied, and do not stop applying until your tattooist gives the okay.
9. Avoid taking long baths and showers. You do not want your new work of art to lose any ink. Focus on taking quick showers.
10. Keep all other chemicals away from your tattoo, even soap. Do not attempt to wash it or shave it. If you use shaving cream, be sure to apply the cream around the tattoo. Too many chemicals can ruin it. It generally takes anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to heal. Once it has healed, then you are free to sunbathe, take long showers, baths, or whatever else you desire to do.
Chances are that your tattoo is going to be just fine, but like anything else that is in a healing process, special attention is needed. You may even need to continue to apply lotion to it for a while just to make sure that the skin stays moist, fresh, and does not crack or peel too much. A tattoo is a good investment no matter what way you look at it. Taking proper care of it is the best thing you can do for your investment, and for your skin.
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