Comprehensive care instructions for your new tattoo: Important tips and detailed steps to promote healing, keep the colors shining permanently and preserve the health of your skin in the long term.
Directly after the tattoo appointment.
The care immediately after the tattoo appointment varies depending on the size of the tattoo. For smaller tattoos, we usually use Membrane patch to protect the tattooed skin. For larger tattoos, we usually use Film as acute wound care. Depending on the tattoo, there can of course always be deviations, which are individually coordinated with the tattooed person as part of optimal wound care .- Membrane patchAfter the tattooed area has been cleaned and disinfected by the tattooing person, the membrane patch can be left on the tattoo for seven days . If wound fluid blisters form under the membrane patch, the procedure should be started before the seven days have elapsed , likewise removing a film , otherwise it should be done after the period has elapsed.
- FilmYou can carefully remove the film at the earliest three hours after the tattooing process. You should then wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and PH-neutral soap, carefully pat it dry with kitchen paper and rub in a thin layer of panthenol cream. You should now only cover the tattoo for the first night so that it does not stick to your bed or nightwear.
In the next few weeks.
For acute care in the next two weeks after the tattoo appointment, you should rub the tattoo three times a day, a thin layer of panthenol cream. With appropriate care, the tattoo should normally have healed after about eight weeks, but of course not completely. A significant change in the color intensity usually still occurs after this period has elapsed. Minimal change for a lifetime, because the color in the second layer of skin is subject to permanent changes.
Cleanliness and correct care as the basis for optimal healing.
After a tattoo, hygiene and the correct care of the tattooed part of the body is the basis for optimal healing. During the healing phase – also known as epithelialization – a tattoo is an open wound and therefore a point of attack for viruses,bacteria and other germs. For this reason, you should never touch your healing tattoo with unwashed limbs. Please always remember that it is your body and an infection can, in the worst case, cause blood poisoning. The risk of infection with a tattoo is minimal, but not completely excluded.
Experience shows that most problems occur due to the following reasons, which must be avoided at all costs in the first two weeks.
- Touching unwashed limbs
- Cleaning products to which the body reacts allergically
- Insufficient and improper care
Avoiding risks.
In addition, you should strictly avoid the following risks until the tattoo has completely healed after eight weeks, as otherwise the quality of the tattoo may be permanently impaired.
- Jamming, snagging, pressure or getting caught on objects
- Scratch
- Sports that make you sweat a lot
- Contact with irritants, e.g. make-up, cosmetics, shower gel or shampoo
- Baths in the bathtub, swimming pools or lakes
- Steam baths or saunas
- Direct UV radiation from the sun or solariums
Emergency guide: What to do in critical situations?
Despite all the care taken with regard to aftercare, there are emergencies or unusual symptoms that require quick action. Here is a guide to help you be prepared for anything and act quickly.
- Severe redness and swelling
- Symptoms – The tattoo and the surrounding area are very red, hot, swollen and excessively painful.
- What to do – Gently clean the tattoo with lukewarm water and mild soap. Apply a clean, cool cloth to the area (do not apply ice directly to the skin). Do not use any additional creams or home remedies. Contact a doctor if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours or worsen.
- Pus or yellowish fluid
- Symptoms – Discharge of pus or foul-smelling fluid from the tattoo.
- Action – Gently remove excess fluid with a sterile swab. Lightly disinfect the area, e.g. with an antiseptic solution. Keep the tattoo dry and clean. Seek medical attention immediately.
- Rash or blistering
- Symptoms – Severe itching, blisters or rash in or around the tattoo.
- Action – Stop using care products immediately. Do not take any medication before consulting a doctor. Make a note of which products you have used and tell your doctor.
- Necrotic tissue
- Symptoms – Unusual dark discoloration that is not consistent with normal bruising. Hard or leathery areas of skin. Strong, unpleasant odor from the affected area. Unbearable pain that is not relieved by normal aftercare.
- What to do – Do not touch the affected area more than necessary. Cover the tattoo with a sterile bandage to prevent further contamination. Contact a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. Tell the doctor when and how the symptoms started.
- When should you see a doctor immediately?
- You have fever or chills.
- The pain becomes extreme and does not subside.
- The skin around the tattoo shows blisters, severe swelling or deep cracks.
- You notice signs of necrotic tissue.