Aftercare of your tattoo

Taking care of your tattoo is crucial to ensure that it looks beautiful and as perfect as possible over time. They say that when it comes to proper healing, 50% is the tattoo artist’s responsibility while doing the tattoo, and the remaining 50% is up to the person taking care of it.


Over the years, healing techniques and creams have evolved. Right now, two options stand out: the traditional method (specific tattoo care cream applied 3 times a day for 2 weeks + daily washing with soap and water) and Derm-X, a recently launched product that creates a protective and healing layer and is completely revolutionizing the market. In my studio, once I finish your tattoo, I let you choose between these two options.


Here are the steps to care for your tattoo depending on whether you opted for the traditional method or Derm-X. Both options will allow you to show off a beautiful tattoo over the years if you follow my instructions.

Healing with Derm-X

To ensure your new tattoo heals perfectly, I have used Derm-X, a medical-grade cyanoacrylate (>99%) medical device specially designed for tattoo protection and healing.

MAIN BENEFITS:

  • Optimal tattoo healing.
  • Total protection against bacteria and reduced risk of infection.
  • Waterproof and breathable. It allows you to shower safely and even take short swims in the pool, ocean, or rivers.
  • Peels off naturally without discomfort. Once the skin has healed (from the 7th day onwards), the product will shed naturally through skin growth and regeneration; there is no need to scratch or pull it off.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

  • Do not use moisturizers, oils, sunscreen, healing cream, or any other cream on top of the tattoo—Derm-X works all on its own.
  • No direct sunlight. It is an open wound, and since you cannot use sunscreen, you must be careful not to burn your skin in the sun. You can wear lightweight clothing to protect it.

After two weeks, you can return to your normal routine.

Traditional healing with a “second skin” dressing and healing cream

01.

Leave the protective film on your skin for at least 2 hours and then remove it after washing your hands with soap

02.

Wash the tattoo with cold water and neutral soap (hands or body soap)

03.

Dry it using a clean towel or paper towels using a soft-touch technique (small touches). Do not drag the towel around the tattoo area.

04.

Once it’s perfectly dried put a fine layer of tattoo healing lotion (Bepanthol, Easy Tattoo, Aquapor, Vegan Tattoo, Easy Tattoo…). You can purchase it at my studio for 5€ or in any pharmacy/drug store.

Repeat the cleaning, drying and using healing lotion process three times a day during two weeks.

SPECIAL CARE:

  • Do not cover the tattoo again with film once the original film is removed. Your skin needs to breathe. The initial film is used to avoid friction or getting your clothes stained with ink/blood.
  • Do not scratch or remove the scab. After a week or so you may have scab around the tattoo. That’s because your skin is healing. If you remove it you may take some ink with it and make part of the tattoo disappear.
  • Do not use Nivea lotion, Vaseline, petroleum jelly or any other body lotion that is not specific for tattoo healing. Those lotions do not have the adequate properties/ingredients to heal your skin recently tattooed. They might even have alcohol which may irritate your skin and/or they may not let your skin breathe.
  • Do not swim in the swimming pool or the ocean/sea. At least the first two weeks after getting tattooed. Salt water or chlorine may irritate the tattoo.
  • Do not let the sun directly hit the tattoo. You can be around the street, and you can also be at the beach, but sun rays must not hit directly the tattoo. You must cover the tattoo with clothes during the first two weeks after getting tattooed.
  • Avoid sweating for at least the first 24 hours. Sweating may irritate your tattoo, so if you like to practice any kind of sport I would suggest to take special care with sport equipment (gym machines, weights, sport balls, bands….) that could scratch the tattoo and maintain a proper hygiene when you finish practising your favourite sport.
  • When taking a shower avoid extreme hot water on the tattoo area to avoid irritation. Also, while washing the tattoo area, avoid using a sponge around it so you don’t scratch your skin too much.


RECOMMENDATION:

Some skins may be more sensitive or may suppurate more, that’s why I suggest to start the healing lotion routine the next day after getting tattooed, so the skin can breathe better during the first hours after getting it done and we avoid over hydrate it. But remember: even though we don’t use healing lotion the first 24 hours the first 3 steps are mandatory. It’s really important to wash the tattoo with soap and perfectly dry the tattoo area.

If you have any questions during the healing process don’t hesitate to contact me