How do I save my tattoo?

Question

I got my second tattoo a little over a week ago, this one is much, much simpler then my first one and is on my left ankle/ top of my foot. At first, it was looking perfect and healing beautifully with only small parts of it raised and scabbing but now the whole tattoo has scabbed over and is flaking off leaving behind the faded image of my tattoo. I'm not really sure what to do to save as much of it as I can, I will definitily need touch-ups. I followed the aftercare exactly as my artist told me, first wash with anti-bacterial soap then a thin layer of 'Tattoo Goo' a few times a day. I'm not exactly sure what caused this but I'm thinking it's a combination of the placement and the weather, it's on the top of my foot and it's winter which causes dry skin and I've been having to shove my poor tattooed foot in boots everyday. I am now back at school in Vermont and I got the tattoo in New York so I can't go and pay a visit to my artist but if I need to, I can find a respectable shop here.

Answer 1

what caused it is you putting junk on it. tattoo goo is vaseline. it basically pulls moisture away from your skin, and ink would come under moisture when its in your open and healing tattoo. The same happens with neosporin,bacitracin etc etc or any other petroleum based substance. Leave it alone and if you have to put anything on it make sure its either a little light cocoa butter lotion or simply leave it alone and do NOTHING to it. throw the tattoo goo away. Also ignore anyone who says put A&D on it. That contains a Zinc Oxide that will oxidize your tattoo colours and make them fade before theyve evebn had a chance to look bright and fresh. Simple cocoa butter maybe twice a day is all you need.

Answer 2

.Use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap to gently wash away any ointment and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is your best tool in this case. Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of ointment. Bacitracin would be the first choice in ointments, but if you don't have any, A&D vitamin enriched ointment (medical grade - not the kind used for diaper rash) is also acceptable. **Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted tattoo.** Continue this procedure at least twice a day for two or three days. After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft.

Scabbing and Peeling After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. Excessive scabbing indicates a poorly-done tattoo, but a little is sometimes normal and no need to panic. You will also start to itch, just like a sunburn when it begins to heal. The advice here is, don't pick, and don't scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!

Answer 3

Some artists will not tattoo on the feet because the skin on those areas is constantly rubbing on something, be it socks or shoes. Plus, the skin on your feet is very thin. A touch-up might help, but you could end up with the same problem.

Answer 4

I was going to say, for my 35th birthday, I treated myself to my first tattoo on my ankle (so it was in socks and boots as it was mid-winter). I was told by the staff at Yankee Tattoo (Burlington) to use cocoa butter and it came out perfectly.

Answer 5

That is normal, give it about 2 weeks to heal before you jump to conclusions.

Answer 6

you answered your own question.put vaseline on it for a couple days see what it does...

Answer 7

Learn from it and don't get any more tattoos...