Tattoo Aftercare
Once you leave the tattoo studio the care of your tattooed skin becomes and is your responsibility. The quality of your finished tattoo will be affected by the aftercare you have used and your care of the skin during the healing process.
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If your artist has bandaged your tattoo – leave the bandage on for at least 1 - 3 hours. If the bandage sticks to the skin, briefly soak the area in warm water until it loosens.
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Next, wash your hands with Dial© antibacterial soap. After your hands have been thoroughly washed, wet your tattoo with your fingertips only and wash gently with antibacterial soap to remove any surface blood. Do not use a washcloth – it is too rough and can harbor bacteria. Rinse with cold water, pat dry with a clean paper towel and let air dry for 15 minutes.
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After the tattoo is dry, apply a THIN layer of Tattoo Goo ©. Always apply sparingly.
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Repeat wash/Goo routine 3 or 4 times a day for 7-10 days.*
* During the first 24 - 48 hours, it may be necessary to rinse the tattoo more often. Every time it looks like the tattoo is “oozing” we recommend that you rinse with cold water – this could be once an hour for the first day or so. (This is Plasma and part of the healing process)
TATTOO FAQS
Yes! It’s perfectly normal for a tattoo to peel like a sunburn — and itch like a sunburn. Make sure you resist the temptation to scratch or peel off the skin as that can pull out your ink. Rather, let the skin flake off on its own. To help with this maddeningly itchy, peeling phase, our Tattoo Goo Lotion has an ingredient called Panthenol that helps relieve the itch. You can learn more about our lotion here.
The skin that is peeling is colored like the tattoo—is my tattoo coming off?
No, this is a natural part of a healing tattoo. The top layer of dead skin has been colored or dyed during the tattooing process. That outer layer will fall off revealing the fresh skin underneath.
My tattoo is peeling and itching. Is that normal?
It depends on the person and the location of the tattoo. Sometimes a tattoo can look healed on the surface but the layers under the skin are still being repaired. Two months is on the longer spectrum of healing time by most standards, but it’s a good rule of thumb to make extra sure your skin has fully healed — we say this because products with SPF can irritate healing skin, so the two-month mark is a good rule of thumb to be extra-sure your skin has fully recovered.
How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
Yes, you should wash your tattoo 2-3 times a day with a product such as Tattoo Goo® Deep Cleansing Soap. Do not use a washcloth, use only your hands, gently wash off the tattoo and pat it dry. Let it air dry for 10-15 minutes before applying aftercare. It is important that it is completely dry before applying aftercare. Do not soak the tattoo in water, swim, etc. until the tattoo is completely healed.
Can I wash my tattoo?
What causes scabbing with a tattoo?
Like with any open wound, your body responds by producing plasma
A lack of moisture can also cause scabbing. The philosophy behind all Tattoo Goo products revolves around the importance of replacing the moisture that’s lost in the skin during the tattooing process. By doing this, it can help prevent scabbing as well as speed up healing time.
No, once you’ve taken off the original bandage, you should not re-bandage your tattoo. The tattooed skin needs to breathe in order to heal faster and more effectively.
Should I re-bandage my tattoo?
A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process, it starts to look discolored and dull. Don’t worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back.
My tattoo looks like it’s fading. Is that normal?
It sounds like the tattoo is leaching. When too much aftercare is applied, the body will naturally try to push whatever is on top off so it can breathe. Wash the tattoo off and pat it dry. Do not put anything on it for one day. After that, start using Tattoo Goo® Lotion around three times a day—be sure not to over apply. Continue using the lotion until it heals completely. It may scab a bit, but do not pick the scabs—let them fall off naturally.
My tattoo seems to be losing ink. It is runny, wet and it looks like the ink is coming out. What should I do?
Yes! Scabbing is typically normal and happens during the healing process of a tattoo. Just like any open wound, your body is creating its natural defense to guard it against infection while the skin underneath repairs itself. If the skin does scab, it’s very important that you don’t pick or pull at the scabs since that can pull out your ink and in some extreme cases, lead to scarring.
My tattoo is scabbing. Is that normal?
Sunscreen should not be used on a healing tattoo as it has many chemicals that can cause adverse reactions. You should keep the tattoo out of the sun until it is completely healed. Most artists recommend two weeks or more. After it is healed, you should always use sunscreen, such as Tattoo Goo Renew® SPF 50+ if your tattoo is going to be exposed. Tattoo Goo® Salve and Lotion contain no sunscreen.
Can I use sunscreen on my tattoo while it is healing?
PIERCING
RULE #1: KEEP YOUR NEW PIERCING CLEAN
If you want your new piercing to heal perfectly, you have to keep it clean. There are a couple ways to go about this. By best practices, neither method involves soap of any kind.
Ideally, you should spray your new piercing with an aftercare spray 3–6 times per day. If your piercing has an entry and exit point (e.g. an ear piercing or belly button piercing), be sure to spray both holes thoroughly. For something like a lip or cheek piercing, where one side of the fistula (i.e. the piercing hole) is external and the other side is internal, make sure to swish a saline oral rinse around your mouth for at least 30 seconds 3–6 times per day in addition to spraying the external side of your piercing with an aftercare spray.
Any time the skin around your piercing gets hot and irritated, it’s time to spray it again. You can never apply too much saline aftercare spray, but you could over-wash your piercing if you’re using soap. (Soap dries out the skin, so it can really irritate a healing wound of any kind when overused.)
At least twice a day, you should do more thorough sea salt solution soaks for new external piercings.
RULE #2: DO NOT PLAY WITH YOUR PIERCING
New piercings are highly susceptible to developing infection if bacteria is introduced. The easiest way to introduce bacteria is by touching your piercing. We know—it’s hard NOT to touch your new piercing. The piercing will feel foreign initially, plus you’ll be excited about it, and you’ll want to touch it. DON’T. If you have to touch your piercing, make sure you wash your hands with antibacterial soap first. Better yet, wear gloves.
If “crusties” form around your piercing, don’t worry, and don’t touch them with your bare hands. Crusties are just dried lymph, which is a clear fluid the body naturally excretes during the healing process that dries to a whitish crust. Piercers used to suggest turning, twisting, or sliding your body jewelry to break up crusties… but that’s not a good idea. You could transfer bacteria from your hands onto your jewelry and/or turn bacteria clinging to your jewelry into your delicate healing fistula. A much better solution for dealing with crusties is to soften them with sea salt solution or a piercing aftercare spray, and then gently wipe them away with a soft tissue. Always wash your hands first!
RULE #3: DO NOT CHANGE YOUR JEWELRY EARLY
Jewelry is one of the best parts of getting a new piercing. There are so many gorgeous body jewelry options available to tempt you, and you should indulge… but not until your piercing is fully healed. Different piercings take different amounts of time to heal, and different people heal at different rates.
If you take out your jewelry too early, you may have trouble getting your new jewelry in on your own. If the fistula isn’t fully reinforced yet and you’re moving too slowly, your piercing may close before you can get the new jewelry into it. For that reason, it’s usually better to have a piercer change your jewelry for you the first time.
Whether or not a piercer helps you, the only time you should change your jewelry early is if you’re having problems with the piercing and think the jewelry’s material or length may be part of the problem.
PIERCING HEALING TIME
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Belly Button Piercing Healing Time: 2–3 Months
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Bridge Piercing Healing Time: 2-3 Months
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Earlobe Piercing Healing Time: 4-6 Weeks
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Eyebrow Piercing Healing Time: 2-3 Months
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Female Genital Piercing Healing Times: 4 Weeks to 4 Months
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Helix/Cartilage Piercing Healing Time: 3-6 Months Minimum, More Typically 6-9 Months
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Lip Piercing Healing Times (Labret, Snakebites, Monroe, etc.): 2-3 Months
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Male Genital Piercing Healing Times: 4 Weeks to 6+ Months
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Nipple Piercing Healing Time: 9-12 Months
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Nostril Piercing Healing Time: 2-3 Months
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Oral Piercing Healing Times (Smiley, Frowney, Frenum & Tongue Piercings): 4-6 Weeks
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Septum Piercing Healing Time: 6-8 Weeks
RULE # 4: DEAL WITH PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY
Various issues can arise in the early days after getting a new piercing. Unfortunately, a lot of clients fall victim to certain piercing myths.
Swelling: if the area of your body you’ve just had pierced swells excessively, your jewelry may begin to press uncomfortably into your skin. This is a problem you need to deal with immediately because prolonged pressure can cause necrosis (tissue death), which can lead to infection and/or cause you to lose your piercing. If you experience this issue, see your piercer right away and ask him or her to give you a longer barbell.
Tip: A captive bead ring makes great starter jewelry for many piercings, and it’s ideal because it leaves plenty of room for swelling. A captive ring is much less likely to put pressure on a swollen new piercing than many barbell styles. If you’re having your ear cartilage pierced, a labret stud is also a good choice, since that part of the body tends not to swell as much as fleshier areas do when pierced.
Allergic Reaction: if the skin around your piercing becomes excessively red, itchy, or excessively swollen, you may be allergic to your starter jewelry material. Surgical stainless steel and titanium are the two best metals for starter jewelry because they’re the most inert metals and least likely to trigger a reaction. (Typically people who have reactions are reacting to the high nickel content of cheaply-made jewelry.) BioPlast is another good hypo-allergenic alternative for people who have sensitive skin.
You may be able to avoid a full-on infection if you ramp up your sea salt solution application regime right when you begin to notice problems, but if your symptoms are severe or they persist, you should see a doctor right away. Don’t take infection lightly, particularly with oral and facial piercings.
If your doctor tells you to take out your piercing, don’t worry. As long as you keep your piercing clean while you take antibiotics, you should be able to keep it. It isn’t a good idea to take out jewelry while you have an infection anyway since bacteria could get trapped inside when the hole begins to close, which could potentially create an abscess.
OVERALL TIPS FOR A HEALTHY PIERCING
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If you’re well, your piercing will be well.
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Be hygienic overall.
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Get plenty of sleep.
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Avoid aspirin, at least early on (it’s a blood thinner).
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Avoid alcohol and nicotine (these substances can slow the healing process).
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Wear loose clothing if your piercing’s in an area where clothing may irritate it.
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Protect your piercing (e.g. try not to sleep on it, catch your hairbrush in it, spray hairspray on it, etc)
SIGNS OF INFECTION
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Thick, Yellow, Pus-Like Discharge
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Red Streaks
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Skin That’s Hot to the Touch
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Fever
PIERCING BUMPS
Piercing bumps are small lumps that can appear after a piercing. They often occur following cartilage piercings, such as in the nose or upper ear.
Piercing bumps occur when the body’s immune system responds to the wound and initiates the healing response. This response leads to inflammation, which is what causes a bump.
A person may notice bleeding, bruising, and some swelling at the site of the piercing in the first few weeks after getting it. These symptoms are all typical. Other symptoms that are not typically a cause for concern may include:
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itching
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some whitish fluid coming from the site of the wound
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crusting around the piercing jewelry.
Piercing bumps are part of the body’s natural response to injury, and they do not typically require treatment. However, people can take steps to keep the area clean, prevent infection, and allow the piercing to heal. These include:
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keeping piercing jewelry in, without changing or removing it, for at least 6 weeks
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washing the hands before touching the piercing
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washing the piercing with a saline solution or gentle soap and water once a day
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patting the area dry with a clean cotton pad after bathing or showering and avoiding using a towel, which can introduce bacteria
Hopefully this provides some decent guidelines for your healing process. Of course as with any healing wound, if you have questions or especially concerns with anything during the healing process, it’s very important to seek medical advice from your doctor to ensure your body is healing properly.