Tattoo Aftercare: Treat Your Terrific Tattooed Skin!

Tattoos are one of the oldest and richest art forms in the world. It’s a powerful way to express yourself, your ideas, experiences and so much more. But what about your skin in this process? Just because you have an impressive ink, it doesn’t mean that the skin under and around it is now covered for good. Your skin requires extra care after the tattoo process, for two main reasons; first, to preserve the tattoo itself, and second, to maintain your skin’s health. Here are Particle’s ultimate Tattoo aftercare skincare tips. 

Here are Particle’s ultimate Tattoo aftercare skincare tips.

The First Weeks

After the tattoo, your skin will probably be red and swollen. The bandage can be taken off after a few hours, but it’s best to ask the artist exactly how long you need to keep it on. Recommendations vary depending on where the tattoo is, how big and elaborate it is. Because tattooed skin is a kind of bruise, once you take off the bandage you might see blood, plasma, and ink. You should now wash the area with clean hands and warm water. Use fragrance-free soap and fragrance- and alcohol-free moisturizer. If your tattoo is anywhere around the face or neck, use a suitable moisturizer.

Leave the tattooed skin open to dry, breathe and heal. As with any bruise, scabs will begin to form in the first few days. Keep cleansing and moisturizing the area once or twice a day. It’s normal for some ink to keep oozing out. Repeat the procedure for the rest of the first week. Avoid picking at the scabs, because this may cause scarring.

You should now wash the area with clean hands and warm water.

After the First Month

By the end of the first month, your tattoo aftercare focuses more on letting the skin heal. The redness and oozing should subside and the area should stop itching. The scabs will have mostly peeled off on their own. Let the skin naturally shed them, do not touch. The area might still require regular moisturizing to return to its normal state of hydration. The skin is a layered organ and heals in 4 stages. By the end of the first month, the top layers should have mostly healed, but the lower layer will require 2 or 3 more months. By the end of the 3rd month, the colors of the tattoo should be clear and bright. 

The redness and oozing should subside and the area should stop itching.

After a Year

After a year has passed, to keep your tattoo aftercare at its best, good skincare is essential. You should establish a routine to make sure your skin is protected, and as a result, your tattoo too. Keep moisturizing regularly: avoid harsh chemicals, opting for fragrance-free and natural products instead. Keep the pores of your tattooed skin clean to prevent infection. Use a nourishing and revitalizing body soap that will restore the skin’s hydration and suppleness. 

Make sure the area is dry before applying a moisturizer because excess moisture can lead to irritation, rash, itchiness, infection, and damage to tattoo and skin if you’re tempted to scratch. After sweating during exerting activities, wash the tattoo gently. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your tattoo, both to preserve its colors and also provide a layer of protection to your skin. 

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your tattoo

Conclusion

Good tattoo aftercare doesn’t end after you first remove the bandage. In fact, it continues many years later. The issue with tattoos, with regards to skincare, is that people tend to forget that the skin under and around the ink needs extra care. Hydrating, covering, and being super gentle are usually the key elements. Don’t forget, inked skin needs a pampering skincare routine!