Got a New Tattoo? Here’s What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do

If you’ve just been inked, you probably can’t take your eyes off your new body art – unless it’s, say, somewhere on your back. But you should also pay close attention to its aftercare, since your skin has been traumatized and needs your help to heal properly.

In an interview with dpa, Urban Slamal, board chairman of the German Tattoo Association, points out some dos and don’ts:

What should you definitely not do if you’ve got a fresh tattoo?

Slamal:

Letting it soak is an absolute no-no. There’s nothing wrong with taking a shower, but I wouldn’t take a long bath. And you shouldn’t schedule a tattoo appointment shortly before going on holiday if you plan to go swimming in the sea, a lake or pool.

The reason is that if it puffs up in water, it’s more susceptible to picking up germs. This can quickly go badly, and you get an infection.

You shouldn’t expose it to sunlight either, or use a sunbed, because ultraviolet (UV) radiation fades the ink. I wouldn’t, in the first weeks, even expose the tattooed skin to UV radiation after applying sunscreen.

On top of that, tattooing damages the skin layer producing the pigment that protects the skin from UV radiation to some degree. This layer needs to repair itself.

How should you take care of a fresh tattoo?

Slamal

: Meticulously follow the instructions of your tattoo artist. There are different methods of proper wound management. In dry wound healing, the fresh tattoo is bandaged only briefly – about a day. Then the bandage is removed, and the skin is essentially left to fend for itself.

But you’ve got to make sure that it doesn’t completely dry out, which would lead to excessive scabbing. When the scabs fall off, they take some of the tattoo ink with them. To prevent this, you should keep the skin somewhat moist by carefully applying a mild, gentle moisturizer or ointment.

It’s important to treat the tattoo as hygienically as possible. Before touching it, you should at least wash your hands – and better yet, disinfect them. And by no means cuddle with your cat or dog while your skin is healing.

Another option is to leave the tattoo bandaged a bit longer, which will keep the skin moist and promote healing. While this has the advantage of protecting it from contaminants, it’s not always practicable – for example if the tattoo is large or somewhere where keeping a bandage in place may be difficult, such as on your foot.

In this case, it’s best to consult your tattoo artist.

Is it normal that newly tattooed skin is sore, becomes swollen and feels warm to the touch? When should I see a doctor?

Slamal:

It’s normal for the skin to be sore and ooze wound fluid for a while – about the first 48 hours. It’s also normal for it to be slightly swollen and red. These are normal reactions by the body to an open wound.

What isn’t normal is if the skin swells dramatically and feels warm for more than two or two and a half days. Or if it’s extremely sensitive to the touch, the wound thickly scabs over or fills with pus. These are signs that it’s likely been contaminated somehow.

Should this occur, it’s best to speak with your tattoo artist about it. They’re often experienced enough to know what ought to be done. It’s possible to develop a serious infection with fever, in which case you naturally need to see a doctor. But, thank God, this rarely happens.