AFTERCARE
After our session, you will leave the studio with your new tattoo covered with a film we call 'second skin.' It is a durable transparent, adhesive barrier that offers recently made tattoos a high mechanical protection against textile friction and contamination during the healing process. It is also waterproof, meaning that you can shower with it and it won't come off.
It is normal that the tattoo leaks fluids and ink when recently done, so it is highly possible that it will look completely blurry under the film after a couple of hours, sometimes even forming a small bubble of fluids on top of your tattoo. If the second skin is sealed, it should be fine and your body should reabsorb the liquid without any problems; however, if it starts leaking out of the second skin, it means that it's not sealed anymore and the physical barrier it should have to protect against dirt and bacteria is compromised, and you should remove the second skin as soon as you can, clean the area and start the next steps of the after care. If it happens on the first or second day after our session, you can also contact me and we can try to arrange a time to reapply a new piece on. The protection film should be left on for at least 24 hours and up to 5 days, which is the limit time the company brand says it's safe to leave it on. Unless you have an allergic reaction to it, keeping it on for the 5 days is ideal as it will be both more practical for you (less care during this first crucial days of healing process) but also good for your tattoo (it will avoid the skin to dry up too much and will also keep the tattoo protected from dirt and friction). Some people, however, might have a small reaction to the glue on the sticker, which can be noticeable through an unusual redness on the area of the second skin and possibly some itchiness. If anything seems abnormal, you should peel the film off and move on the the next steps of the aftercare. To peel it off, you should place the area under the shower and start removing the adhesive through one of the corners. It is not a painful procedure but it will be quite stuck to your skin, so you should do it slowly and delicately, never ripping it off quickly, as it can really damage your skin. Pull the film gently towards your skin until it's completely off, then wash the tattoo gently with neutral soap and water. Dry the tattoo with a clean towel, paper towel or let it dry naturally, to avoid exposing the area to bacteria in case the skin is still vulnerable. After having the film removed and the area cleaned, you should start applying with clean hands a gentle un-perfumed skin ointment/moisturizer of your choice. Avoid super greasy creams or applying a thick layer of the ointment, as it can also interfere with the healing process of your tattoo. Apply it daily 2–3 times a day, for the first 2 weeks after you remove the film. PLEASE NOTE: —During the healing process your tattoo might feel and look dry, tight and itchy. DO NOT scratch the area or pick the scabs that will form on top of it. Doing so can interfere with the final look of your tattoo, causing faded lines or patchy black areas, and it can even cause an infection. If needed, you can moisturise it to soothe the dryness, but never let you tattoo to be cover in a thick layer of cream or cream it too often. —During the first two weeks after getting a new tattoo, you should not immerse it in water, so no swimming or bathing during this time, and no sauna either. For at least one week avoid heavy exercise or activities that can make you sweat too much or that have a lot of impact/contact on the tattoo. Do not expose the area to direct sun for at least 2 weeks and do not apply any sun cream before that time as it can cause irritation to damaged skin. —The complete healing process of a tattoo varies from person to person, but it usually takes from 2 weeks to 2 months approximately, and the tattoo will reach it's final appearance only after 4–6 months. —In case of an infection, immediately stop applying any cream on your tattoo and contact your doctor. Signs that might indicate that your skin is infected are: redness and swelling, abnormal heat in the area of the tattoo, pain or unusual discharge (yellow, green or grey fluids). If you have any doubt or questions, don't hesitate to contact me! |