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Aftercare

Taking proper care of your tattoo after getting it done is crucial to ensuring that it heals properly and looks great for years to come. The aftercare process can help prevent infection and keep the artwork looking vibrant and sharp. At Atomic Lotus Tattoo, we are committed to helping you take care of your new tattoo properly. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about maintenance so your new piece will stand the test of time and maintain its original brilliance.

Keep It Clean.

To ensure proper healing and longevity of your new tattoo, it's crucial to keep it clean. After removing the bandage at home, wash your tattoo with a liquid antimicrobial soap like Provon or PurSan while showering. Make sure to wash your tattoo twice a day during the healing process. During the first few days, your tattoo may ooze like a rug burn, but it's essential to prevent the fluid from drying and forming a thick or cracked layer on your skin. Rinse your tattoo with warm, clean water between washes to remove any dried-up ooze that could damage your new tattoo.

Remember that your skin has been compromised during the tattooing process, so it's important to use a soap formulated for compromised skin. Avoid soaps containing chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate or triclosan, as they're better suited for hand washing and not wound management. Taking a minute to read the label can make all the difference in ensuring a healthy, long-lasting tattoo.

Keep It Moisturized.

It's important to keep your new tattoo moisturized. Many people prefer to use ointments such as A&D or Aquaphor during the first few days. If you choose to use an ointment, apply it evenly and remove any excess with a clean paper towel. Your tattoo should not appear greasy or shiny. After the third or fourth day, you should switch to a fragrance-free lotion like Cetaphil or Curel for the remainder of the healing period.

Some individuals prefer to skip the ointment and use lotions as their primary moisturizer. Regardless of what you choose, ensure that you apply the product thoroughly and massage it in until it's fully absorbed. No product should be visible on the tattooed area.

Keep Stuff Off It.

Nothing touches your new tattoo. That means clothing and accessories: socks, shoes, sheets, bras, waistbands, jewelry. That means your own hands, too. Do not pick or scratch at your new tattoo. You can shower, but avoid bodily fluids and keep out of bodies of water for the first three or four weeks. Yes, that means even hot tubs and bathtubs.

A healing tattoo can sometimes shed skin with pigment in it. This may appear to you that your tattoo is coming off. It is not, and everything is fine. As your skin regenerates a small amount of sloughing will occur, this can be startling if you have never had a tattoo before. Under no circumstance should you pick at the peeling skin.

Your new tattoo may get a milky look to it. This is just the same exfoliation process and nothing to worry about. Make sure you don’t scrub your tattoo. You should only use your clean fingertips during cleaning.

Your new tattoo might itch, but do not scratch it. Scratching will irritate the tissue, prolong healing, and could degrade the quality of your tattoo. If it itches, give your tattoo a firm pat or slap, instead.

Failure to clean and moisturize your tattoo properly can lead to irritation or scabbing, both of which can negatively impact the appearance of your tattoo after it’s healed.

Do not rip or otherwise force it off. Instead, take the affected area into the shower and run warm water over it until it comes off by itself.

The sun can quickly fade the color and contrast of your tattoo. Once your tattoo has healed, it’s important to apply sunblock every time you’re exposed to the sun.

Please give us a call or stop by the studio and we will be more than happy to walk you through any questions you might have about your new tattoo.

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