Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

Now you have a brand new tattoo and you are going to want to take good care of it! From this point on, YOU are responsible for any infections or problems that you may have if you choose not to properly care for your tattoo. It is very important to follow these guidelines word for word. A real beautiful tattoo can turn into a disaster if the proper aftercare is not taken.

Skyline Tattoo Studio will not be responsible for the cost of a tattoo that needs additional work due to neglect or irresponsibility. If this happens, there may be additional charges for repairing your tattoo.

1. LEAVE THE BANDAGE ALONE!

We took care to cover your tattoo for a very good reason, to keep bacteria from invading your wound. Yes, as awesome as your new tattoo is, it is still a wound. Open flesh is a breeding ground for bacteria and infections. Leave the bandage on for a minimum of one hour!

The excitement of having a new tattoo will make you want to remove it to show your friends, but your friends will just have to wait.

2. WASH AND TREAT

After you remove the bandage, you will want to gently wash your tattoo with lukewarm water and antibacterial hand soap such as Dial. This will remove any ointment or residue from your tattoo. Gently wash your tattoo using your fingertips only (do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive), then pat dry with a paper towel. The first few times you clean it a little bit of ink may flake away; don’t worry, this is normal. Follow up with applications of Lubriderm fragrance-free lotion.

***DO NOT USE NEOSPORIN OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS!***

These are wonderful for use on cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to them, which causes little bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink from your tattoo. In the end you will end up with a polka dotted tattoo.

Continue to keep the skin moist with light applications of dye free fragrance free lotion, or a tattoo healing product over the next two weeks as needed.

After this, you may notice that the color of your tattoo is not exactly the same shade as the color that you picked out. This is because the first few layers of your skin are transparent and these layers hold the ink in your skin. This is how a tattoo works, however your skin also contains pigment that gives you the color that you see in your skin. When the ink is injected it will slightly sit below the pigment and when this heals it may have a slightly different shade. This will all depend on the color of your skin. Sometimes it may be a little darker or lighter, but don’t worry, this is normal.

3. SCABBING AND PEELING

After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. This is also normal and there is no need to panic. You will also start itching just like a sunburn when it begins to heal.

DON’T PICK AND DON’T SCRATCH!

If you pick or scratch at your tattoo it can cause it to bleed and bleeding will push the ink out of your skin causing a polka dotted tattoo. Mildly pat the skin to help relieve some of the itch; this should subside in a day or so.

If it is peeling, gently apply some lotion to moisturize the area. If it is scabbing, LEAVE IT ALONE. Your tattoo is almost healed and now is not the time to ruin it.

4. PROTECTION FROM THE SUN

After your tattoo is healed, you will always want to protect it from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat or sun, protect your tattoo with a minimum of 30 SPF sunblock.

This will keep your tattoo vibrant for many years so it will continue to be a source of great pride.

5. SAFETY

At the first sign of any infection, consult a healthcare professional. Call us at (320) 632-5520 if you have any questions about aftercare for your new tattoo!