Proper aftercare is an important part of protecting your new tattoo and helping it heal properly. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your tattoo artist.
Leave the bandage or protective covering on for the amount of time recommended by your artist. Different types of coverings may require different care.
Always wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your new tattoo.
Once you are instructed to remove the covering, gently wash the tattoo with clean, lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Do not scrub or use a washcloth, loofah, or exfoliating product.
Use a clean paper towel or allow the tattoo to air dry. Do not rub the area.
Apply a thin layer of the recommended tattoo aftercare product. Avoid applying too much product, as the tattoo needs to breathe while healing.
Continue gently cleaning and moisturizing the tattoo according to your artist's instructions while it heals.
Peeling, flaking, itching, and scabbing can be a normal part of the healing process. Do not pick, scratch, or peel the tattoo, as this can interfere with healing and affect the final appearance.
Do not submerge a fresh tattoo in pools, hot tubs, baths, oceans, or other bodies of water while it is healing. Showers are generally preferred.
Avoid exposing a healing tattoo to direct sunlight. Once fully healed, use sunscreen to help protect the tattoo from fading.
Avoid tight or abrasive clothing that repeatedly rubs against the tattoo.
If you develop signs of a possible infection, such as worsening redness, increasing swelling, severe pain, pus, or fever, seek medical attention.
Proper aftercare helps support the healing process and reduces the risk of irritation and complications. Healing times vary depending on the piercing and your individual body.
Never touch a healing piercing with dirty hands.
Use the aftercare solution recommended by your piercer. Sterile saline wound wash is commonly used for many piercings. Follow your piercer's specific instructions.
Avoid unnecessarily moving, spinning, or removing the jewelry while the piercing is healing.
Do not remove the initial jewelry prematurely unless instructed by a qualified professional. Removing jewelry too early may cause the piercing channel to close or create complications.
Try to avoid pressure, friction, snagging, and excessive touching of the piercing.
Regularly clean items that come into contact with the piercing, such as phones, headphones, glasses, pillowcases, and clothing.
Avoid pools, hot tubs, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water during the initial healing period unless your piercer provides different instructions.
A piercing may appear healed on the outside before the inside has fully healed. Do not change jewelry prematurely.
Oral piercings require additional care. Follow the specific instructions provided by your piercer regarding oral hygiene, eating, drinking, and cleaning.
If you are concerned about your piercing or notice unusual symptoms, contact your piercer or seek medical advice when appropriate.
Healing times vary from person to person. Everyone's body heals differently, and following aftercare instructions does not guarantee that complications will never occur. If you are concerned about your healing tattoo or piercing, contact a qualified professional for guidance.