How do you best care for a new tattoo?

Question

I just got my first tattoo, on my lower back, and I wonder who has the best way for me to care for it. I want to keep the colours as fresh as possible because it means alot to me.

Answer 1

for the first two days or so, use a petroleum based ointment, such as (in order of preference) aquaphor, A&D, bacitracin, tattoo goo, neosporin... you should clean the area about 6 times within the first two days. around the third day start using a glycerin based lotion such as curel or lubriderm (pref without fragrance). apply the lotion around 10 times a day, or whenever it starts to itch (DO NOT apply a thick layer. make sure it is completely massaged into skin. otherwise it will produce a bubbly scab). stay out of the sun. don't take a bath or go swimming. don't let very strong water from the shower beat down on tattoo. when you shower, don't use a wash cloth or anything besides your soapy hand to clean the area. make sure you clean away all the ointment or lotion from previous application. don't scratch.

Answer 2

First of all. Sun will fade your tattoo, especially the coloured areas. In Australia a cream made by protat rubbed in 3 x daily will help keep it moisturized. Your chemist however in your local area/or tattoo place will be able to recommend a good cream. best tip of all: don't OVER moisturise it. It will become to wet and won't heal and you will get deep scabs and it will ruin it once it heals. Moisturising 2-3 times daily. DO NOT SCRATCH no matter how itchy it becomes!Or it will remove scabs that aren't ready. Use sunscreen when it heals. This will not damage the tattoo, but protect it from sun damage.

Answer 3

Don't cover it all up with lotions and creams. You need only enough fragerance free lotion or cream (I use A&D) for the first few days to keep the scab soft so it doesn't crack. Don't pick or scatch it. If it is really itchy slap it, yes, slap it. It'll sting but it won't itch. Stay away from the sun. It is the killer of tattoos (not to mention your skin as a whole). If you are someone who loves to be in the sun keep it covered and keep a good sun screen on it. I am not big on the sun factor so I don't have to worry much about it. My oldest ink is 10 years old and still nice and bright, just like my newest ones.

Answer 4

A good, sensitive skin moisturizer, e.g. Curel, Suave, something like that. Apply when u wake up and before you go to bed for 3 months or so. The colors will fade, no matter what you do. The lotion will help lessen the fading a bit.

Answer 5

after the healing is done the biggest factor is the sun. use lotion with sunblock. i use zinc oxide stick only because i just had it retouched and more add. on the top of my shoulder. but told that it was in good shape for being almost 14yrs. tried to keep it out of the sun and always moisturize something with cocoa butter. plus used vitamin e by breaking open a capsule and using the gooey inside.

Answer 6

Wash it lightly 5-6 times a day and lightly apply "Curel Ultra Healing Lotion" each time. If you do this, it shouldn't even peel.

Answer 7

you DONT have to wash it 5-6 times aday....thats crazy you want it to heal nice...i would recommend a tattoo salve to keep it from dryin up...just apply a light coat of it on the tattoo and leave it alone....and just reapply some when u feel its dryin up...
wash it when you shower but lightly dab it

Answer 8

A thin layer of neosporin a few times a day, for the first few days. Then a clean lotion until it feels the same as the rest of your skin.

Answer 9

leave it alone until it scabs and heals
i've found different areas of the body heal differently.
a bit of light moisturizer is ok.
go back for touch-ups once it has healed