How To Take Care Of A Tattoo – Main Instructions

 

How to take care of a tattooEveryone should know how to take care of a tattoo to make sure it heals properly and as fast as possible.  The tattoo artist who does your tattoo will give you instructions on how to take care of a tattoo and let you know what will normally happen with your tattoo so be sure to pay attention and write the instructions down if you’re worried about forgetting them.

If you wonder how to take care of a tattoo after you first get one, the artist will cover it with a bandage and tell you how long to leave it on.  That could be sometimes as short as one hour, or it may need to stay covered several hours up until the next day. Be sure to listen to this, and don’t take it off sooner, as much as you want to look at your tattoo and show it off.  Your tattoo will ooze a bit of blood, some more than others, depending on how big it is, so when it’s time to take the bandage off, use water to wet the bandage so it will come off without sticking to the tattoo.

You must be aware on how to take care of a tattoo that even when using the water to wet the bandage, you will need to be careful removing it.  If it has stuck in some places, be patient and let the water run on those areas and carefully work the bandage off.  It is important on how to take care of a tattoo never just pull it off the areas that it has stuck to the skin.

It is really important on how to take care of a tattoo that once the bandage is off, wash your tattoo with warm soapy water gently.  Just wash it for a couple of minutes and expect it to be sore to the touch, because it will be.  Don’t use any perfumed soaps. Just regular soap is best, and wash the area thoroughly.  Don’t be afraid to touch it, but you don’t have to scrub it and no washcloths or sponges are necessary.  This is just easy, gentle washing.

You can wash your tattoo in just this manner up to 4-5 times a day, but don’t overdo it either.  You should know on how to take care of a tattoo that over care is another common mistake new tattoo owners make, so whatever your tattoo artist has recommended to you is going to be the right amount to wash it.  They have experience in these matters, so if they say a couple of times a day, that will be fine.

You should know on how to take care of a tattoo that you can shower while your tattoo is healing but avoid submerging the tattoo in water for longer than 2-3 minutes.  No swimming, no long baths or anything like that.  As soon as you get out of the shower pat dry your tattoo, don’t rub it.  Whatever scabbing your tattoo does is necessary, and rubbing the area could cause the scabs to come off and lift the pigmentation off your skin.

Possible problem on how to take care of a tattoo is if your skin starts to itch, as sometimes cuts do as they heal. Don’t worry, leave it alone.  Don’t scratch it, and don’t pick at it.  Yes that will be difficult, but you don’t want to ruin your tattoo, so it’s a must that you keep your fingers off until the healing process is complete.   There will be some tattoo scabbing and tattoo peeling, but this is normal and shouldn’t alarm you.

After you wash your tattoo, your tattoo artist who knows best how to take care of a tattoo should have given you some ointment to apply to the tattoo with instructions on how often to put it on.  Again, follow the instructions they give you as they do know best if it’s a good shop and since you should only go to a reputable, good shop, you can trust their instructions.

Another tip on how to take care of a tattoo is letting your tattoo to breathe and be exposed to open air. It is important so if this is possible, do this as often as you can.  Avoid direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks and don’t tan.   Tanning will fade your tattoo and you shouldn’t put anything like sun block on your new tattoo, so just avoid it while your tattoo is healing. It’ll be worth the extra care you’re taking now to ensure you have a beautiful, colorful tattoo once the healing process has completed.

One more problem on how to take care of a tattoo is if your tattoo is scabbing and peeling but try not to worry.  This is normal, and what’s more important is what you do with it, not that it is scabbing and peeling.  Just continue with the aftercare instructions you’ve been given, being very careful not to remove the scabs before they come off on their own, and they WILL come off on their own.

Swelling is a normal process on how to take care of a tattoo, and so is tenderness, so these too issues shouldn’t be cause for alarm.  If your tattoo doesn’t appear to be healing, or becomes extremely painful to the touch, going in to see your tattoo artist isn’t a bad idea at all.  They can look it over and recommend what you need to do.  If it’s a small tattoo, you can expect much less scabbing and peeling than if it’s covering a large area.

Final thoughts on how to take care of a tattoo

Tattoos can take as little as one week and up to several weeks to fully complete the healing process.  Obviously, large tattoos will take longer to heal than small ones, so take that into consideration as well.  Tattoos are beautiful works of art, and they are permanent, so taking care of them the right way while they’re healing will ensure that your tattoo is beautiful for a long time to come. You should know how to take care of a tattoo to avoid unwanted consequences.

What’s Involved in the Tattooing Process?

 

Tattooing ProcessWhen many of us think of tattooing, we often tend to think of a lengthy process that brings with it a fair amount of pain. In fact, this terrifying thought is what prevents most of us from actually getting a tattoo. However, if we really take a look at the ins and outs of the tattooing process, we would probably have a much different outlook about the process as a whole.

To truly understand tattooing, you must first understand a bit about human anatomy. Our skin consists of two layers, which are the dermis and the epidermis layers. The epidermis is the outermost layer, while the dermis is the layer that is deeper, the one that we cannot feel or see. When a tattoo is placed on the body, it is inked into the dermis layer, as the epidermis layer continually sheds itself and would not be suitable to hold the tattooing ink for the span of your life, while the dermis can.

The history of tattooing dates back to ancient times, when sharp shards of bone were used to etch designs into a person’s skin. Though the tools have changed since then, the process itself has seen relatively little change. Instead of bones, we used needles today, and these needles produce approximately 30,000 punctures each minute. This process is known as stippling. A pattern of tiny dots make up the tattoo’s design, with dots that are further apart creating a fainter image that is ideal for shading, and dots that are closer together making a more solid look.

The machine that the tattoo artist uses to do their work is made up three parts: the ink source that holds the chosen color of ink, a tube that connects that ink source to the tattooing machine, and the needled that pierces the epidermis to reach the inner layer of dermis to deliver the ink. The needles used are often disposable. However, these needles should still be sterilized before each ink application, and then thrown away when the tattoo is finished.

The duration of the tattooing process greatly depends upon the design and size of the tattoo, as well as the placement of it on the body. When you arrive at a tattoo parlor, you will be able to choose any color combination you like, as well as your design. If you don’t already have a design in mind, many artists have samples of the work they do to pick and choose from, and then to customize for yourself. Once you’ve decided upon the color and design, the tattooist will place the appropriate type of needle into the machine and inject the ink into the skin by puncturing the epidermis repeatedly. Though many think that this process might be painful, most who have been through it claim that it is merely annoying, rather than painful. In fact, often the most uncomfortable part about getting a tattoo is simply sitting in one position for an extended period of time. Though, having your tattoo placed in certain, more tender, areas of the body can produce a good amount of pain.

Tattooing Process and aftercare

Taking care of your tattoo after the process is crucial. It will need to be bandaged and kept out of direct sunlight, and it should not be soaked or exposed to great amounts of water. Bleeding may also occur once the tattoo has been applied. Try to avoid itching or scratching it, as well, as that may cause your tattoo to distort or even permanent scarring. Overall, the time and discomfort involved in tattooing process is well worth it, due to the fact that you will have a piece of artwork which holds personal meaning forever etched onto your skin for all to see.

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