Aftercare

The aftercare process is just as important as the tattoo application! As the owner of a brand new tattoo, it is your responsibility to care for your new open wound properly to have the best possible heal.

All aftercare advice provided is based on combined experience and knowledge of many tattooers, but it is important to note tattooers are not medical professionals. If you experience adverse healing, or signs of infection, alert your tattooer and seek advice from a medical professional.

Questions throughout your aftercare experience?

Email Tattoosbyallison@gmail.com with photos, so Allison can provide further insight and thoughts on how to navigate your tattoo’s healing process.

FYI

Second Skin: Hypafix. Latex-free, oxygen and water vapour permeable.

Supplies Needed

Unscented Soap (Please use bottled soap. Bar soap presents cross-contamination risks and is likely to hold onto bacteria from previous use.)

Unscented Lotion (Your plain, white, old-lady hand lotion.)

Don’t get creative during the aftercare process. Do not use things like essential oils, Vaseline, coconut oil, DIY wrap/bandages, or scented products on your healing (open wound) tattoo.

Things to Avoid

  • Direct Sun exposure

  • Working out or participating in sports for at least 10-14 days

  • Sunscreen, perfume, lotion, and spray tans

  • Swimming, baths, hot tubs, submerging in any kind of fluid or liquid

  • Dirty work environments without proper clothing coverage.

DAYS 1-5: Second-Skin Bandage

Leave your second skin on for 3-5 days. You can shower while wearing this bandage.

There will be a pool of liquid (your plasma) in your bandage, this is NORMAL.

  • Color tattoos generate a LOT of fluid, as they create a larger surface wound.

  • The first 24-48 hours is when the body exudes plasma, and should you remove your bandage before the recommended 3-5 days, your wound is particularly vulnerable.

If your bandage leaks, tears, rips or exposes your tattoo, it is no longer sterile and needs to be removed. If you remove a bandage early, you may experience drier skin and more flakes compared to leaving it on for the full 5 days.

Depending on the size and placement of your tattoo, Allison may send you home with small ‘patch’ bandages. These bandages are intended to help you patch any small leaks at your personal discretion, and comfort level taking this type of risk. By doing so, you acknowledge any leak has the potential to expose your tattoo to outside bacteria, and you are choosing to take this risk based on all factors of consideration provided.

Some areas of the body (ex. wrists) are more likely to experience a leak, and a patch has the potential to be a better solution than exposing a fresh tattoo to the environments you live or work in, particularly if your bandages leaks before day 3.

OR — ALTERNATIVE BANDAGING

If you are allergic to second skin and we use an alternative bandage, remove this bandage after 4 hours of leaving the studio, wash it throughly, and follow aftercare instructions.

Important to note: The first 24-48 hours is when the body exudes plasma. Your tattoo may express plasma so it is recommended to wash your tattoo more frequently, upon noticing you have exuded plasma.

How to Remove Second Skin

  • Step in the shower

  • Under running water, stretch/peel your bandage off

  • Take your time, don’t rush the process

  • When bandage is fully removed, use your hand to lather unscented soap over your tattoo. Be sure to remove all sticky residue (excess plasma).

  • Pat dry with clean paper towel

  • It is within the range of normal to experience slight discomfort removing your bandage, depending on your anatomy, the placement of your tattoo, and your personal skin sensitivities.

DAYS 5-21: How to Clean Your Tattoo

Wash your tattoo twice a day: morning and night with unscented soap. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Once the initial tattoo bandage is removed, use thin layers of unscented moisturizer a throughout the day, when your tattoo feels dry, tight, or itchy.

PLEASE AVOID

  • Picking or scratching at your tattoo

  • Submerging your tattoo in water (showers are ok)

  • Exposing your tattoo to dirty environments

  • Touching your tattoo without washing your hands

  • Exposing your tattoo to sunlight

  • Use sunscreen or petroleum based lotions (Vaseline, coconut oil etc)

SIGNS OF INFECTION INCLUDE

  • Yellow or green discharge from your tattoo.

  • Swelling and redness multiple days after you have been tattooed. (Some areas are more prone to swelling, such as joints, lower legs and feet, inner arms. Certain bodies swell more than others— for instance, if you have connective tissue disorders, auto-immune conditions, Ehlers-Danlos, etc.)

  • Pain and redness in a larger area around the tattoo, or red streaks radiating from the tattoo.

  • Splitting, oozing, cracking or bleeding of a tattoo that is over a week old.

  • Allergic reactions show up in the form of a rash or hives soon after your tattoo is done.

If you suspect your tattoo is infected, seek immediate medical attention, and inform Allison of your situation please!