Just had a new tattoo, need some aftercare advice!?

Question

I've just had a new tattoo done on my lower back of my name. The tattoo artist gave me a leaflet about aftercare, but it's not very clear. It says that I should not put any cream directly on the tattoo. Just around and that Savlon cream is the best thing to use. But I have people telling me that savlon isn't good it takes the ink off and makes it fade. Is Coconut butter any good??? Please Help

Answer 1

Both bacitracin and or A& D ointment work well in the curing process of a new tattoo. The ointment that your tattooist reccommends is good, however, it's also expensive, from what I've heard and found. In my experience, A&D works very well in aiding in curing a new tatt, especially those first couple of days when it's initially painfull and itchy.

My tattoo artist was world class and could have easily have taken me for an additional 20-30 bucks for the cream that you mentioned, but in the end, he reccommended the A&D ointment. He also told me to let the ink set in the skin for at least 12 hours prior to showering.

When you take your first shower with the new tatt, simply let warm, not hot water run down the area of it, don't scrub it with soap or anything, just let the water rinse the surface ink and body fluids off.

After your shower, pat your skin dry, again, don't rub, pat it dry, then put a thin coating of A&D or whatever cream you end up choosing to use over the tatt.

I personally chose to cover my art for about 3-5 days depending on the size, depth and location to ensure that the ink not only properly sets, but to add a little extra cushion to the site while the swelling goes down. (I'm not big into pain and as you know by now, your tatt is a bit of an investment. protect your investment, retouches aren't always free!!)

Once the swelling goes down, you should be able to take the bandage off and apply your ointment no more than once or twice a day until the pores of your skin close completely. Trust me, you will know if you're using the wrong thing real quick! Your skin will burn worse than when you got the tatt when you put lotion or shea butter or something alchol/perfume based on.

As the other readers stated, tanning booths and suntanning, not such a good idea right now, it's just going to suck the ink right out. However, if you are a slave to the lamp and or the sun, make damned certain that you cover your new tat with additional sun block. Otherwise, you pretty much spent that money for nothing.

Good luck and enjoy your art!

Answer 2

I,m a tattooist and i realise how everyones skin is different and therefore needs a different treatment from each other, some peoples skin is oily some is dry, some is fatty or thick skin and others are thin. The best answer to this question is to research before you have a tattoo what skin type you are, I personally find savalon great, but what works for me(thin skin) may not work for someone else. Ive heared never to use vaseline as this acts as a barrier to the air, a deffinate no no, the natural healing process which creates a scab on the tattoo is the best way to heal it. put water on it via a shower and pat dry it. Dont over do it with any ointments as this will also take the ink out, the best bandage to place on the tattoo after it has been finished is cling film or plastic wrap as this treats the tattoo as a burn rather than a wound, dont put kitchen roll on it as this gets stuck on the tattoo and particles of paper absorb the ink making the tattoo blotchy!
RICKEQUINOX.

Answer 3

NEVER NEVER USE VASELINE ON IT ,,,,,VASELINE is used in the process of the tattoo to stop bleeding and help with the tattooing process, you can use the prep h as suggested or savlon cream any cream thats breathable even the Bepanthen will be fine , just dont soak too long in the bath etc as this will soften the scab too much and the ink will be effected and you may be left with a mess , after a full leg and a back piece ive tried them all and the best was the preparation h if its good enough for up yer bum its dead on for the tatt , its got an anti itching agent in it and a mild pain relief so it does help alot when coping with the itchy feeling you will get in a few days , good luck and look after the tatt and welcome to your new addiction

Answer 4

Make sure you keep the tattoo and surrounding area clean. Wash it with antibacterial soap 2-3 times a day. At first, for like the first 3-4 days you should keep a THIN LAYER of A & D ointment on the tattoo. DO NOT USE VASALINE, NEOSPORIN, OR CAKE ANY THING ON THE TATTO AND THEN COVER IT WITH PLASTIC WRAP. THESE THINGS WILL PULL THE INK OUT OF THE SKIN. You can however spray the tattoo with rubbing alcohol after you wash it with soap, PAT DRY your tattoo, do not pick at the tattoo, try to keep your fingers off it, and once it begins to itch DO NOT SCRATCH IT. Pat it gentally or have someone else pat it. Your fingers and nails are full of bacteria and you don't want an infection. If it scabs, LEAVE THEM ALONE. THEY WILL FALL OFF WHEN THE SKIN UNDERNETH IS HEALED. Once the tattoo isn't sore anymore you can start putting nonscented, noncolored lotions on it to keep it moist. You do not want to let your tattoo dry out. Cocobutter is usually scented so I would stay away from it. Just use your common sense, look at the ingredients label. If it has a fragrence added don't use it. Aveno is a good lotion to use. It is so irritating that artists don't give proper after care information. You would think they would want for their work to turn out the best it can so that maybe they will get a referral but it doesn't seem like many of them care much about the client once they leave their chair. Good Luck to you. :)

Answer 5

Oh dear, thats a bit rubbish, innit? You should def put cream directly on the tattoo, that way it stops it drying out, and will relieve the scratching as it starts to heal. I used vaseline on mine, as I felt that it moisturised it better than savlon, although my best mate swears by savlon. (I think it makes the tattoo dry out too much.) Dont use coconut butter, as you have to be careful about what you put on it, anything scented probably isn't a good idea. I've been told E45 cream is ok too. It should take about 2 weeks to heal fully, and if you get worried about it or you think its looking dodgy/not healing properly, go straight back to the tattooist/doctor. Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Answer 6

This question will never give you the answer you want. Every tattoo artist will tell you to use something but it will never be the same thing. If yours told you to use savlon cream then use it. He or She would not tell you to use it if it didn't work. Also i just want to add that your tattoo will not heal properly if you don't apply the cream to the tattoo itself. That's the purpose of the cream, to aid in the healing of your tattoo. I have 8 and i have never had any problems. They were done by 4 different artist and believe me when i say everyone of them told me to take care of it differently!

Answer 7

DO NOT USE:
Neosporin
Tattoo Goo
Savlon
Ointments in general
Coconut butter/oil
Olive oil
Vaseline
A&D ointment
Lotions that are not fragrence and dye free.

In my experience, the best thing to use is fragrence & dye free Curel.
Use it sparingly, only when your tattoo feels dry.
I think it is a good idea to wash your tattoo gently the first day you get it to remove the ointment they use to help the needle glide smoothly over your skin. After that, leave it alone! (Save for the bit of lotion)
A tattoo should be just about done healing in about two weeks, depending on the size and location. DO NOT pick at it. It will itch - resist the urge! (You will end up with a really ugly tattoo if you do). Hope this helps, shame on the artist for leaving you in the dark!!

Answer 8

When i had my tattoo done my tattoo artist gave me a small tub of cream called tattoo aftercare. I had to gently wash my tattoo with water each morning and night, pat dry and the gently apply the cream. I was then told to cover my tattoo with cling film after doing this. I was told to repeat this process until my tattoo healed . All in all it took about a week, if that, for my tattoo to heal. The cream is totally natural and it contains ingrediants that prevent infection and also prevent the tattoo from scabbing (this is good as it prevents itching and anlso means that it is less likely that ink will come out as it can if you knock a scab.)

You can also use the cream once it is healed and on old tattoos to keep them looking in top condition.

And one tub goes a long way. i had my tattoo done in march and i still have some cream left.

Highly recommended, check out the site

www.tattooaftercare.co.uk

Answer 9

Savlon is the best thing you can use, I used to use Preparation H (when I had the guts to buy it!) but it healed the tattoo too quickly and the ink didnt settle deep enough! Savlon can be applied directly to the tattoo with no ill effect, my tattooist recommends it and has twenty years experience. I have done this with most of mine and their all fine.

Answer 10

I used Savlon on mine and whilst it was effective enough, I was later told that a specialist haemmerroid cream would have been better as Savlon has a tendency to become sticky.

You can apply it directly to your new tattoo without fear and it should really help with the healing process. (Just don't go on sunbeds or swim in chlorined water for a few weeks!)

Enjoy your new artwork!