normal healing signs
At first, the tattoo looks shiny, puffy, and the colors are very bright. Within 24 hours the scab forms, it should be very thin, it looks like the tattoo and with proper care it is slightly flexible.
After about 4-5 days, the tattoo will go through a period of peeling. This resembles a sunburn peel. The peeling scab will be the color of the tattoo and will look like the tattoo is peeling off. Sometimes this stage is accompanied by mild itching which can be relieved by gently rubbing in more ointment or lotion.
Never make your tattoo slippery or sticky.
Always blot up any extra pomade or lotion.
When the tattoo is completely peeled off, you will notice a layer under the new tattoo that contains healing skin cells that will make the skin look milky instead of transparent. Do not worry about this; it’s all part of the healing process and it only takes about a month to go away. If you wish, you can put a lotion on the tattoo to make it look brighter and more healed during this final stage of healing.
Symptoms of poor healing
When healing goes wrong, there are very few things that can happen. Some of the signs that things are going wrong are; extreme vision, heavy crusting, excessive swelling, and sometimes a rash (small bumps) or pimples.
Often when things go wrong, people assume that the tattoo is infected. Unless you work or live in a very dirty environment (see below), it probably isn’t. You should always show your tattoo to your artists before heading to the doctor’s office.
Most doctors know nothing about tattoo aftercare and some of them are prejudiced against tattoos. They often prescribe unnecessary medications and treatments that can further impair healing.
A professional tattoo artist has been trained in healing correction. They know what infected tattoos look like and will only refer you to a doctor when necessary. Seeing the right person can save you time and money, not to mention the final look of your tattoo.
aftercare mistakes
Negligence –
If you don’t practice good personal hygiene, remove your tattoo, wear tight clothes or let clothes stick to it, rub the tattoo, take too long or aren’t careful in the shower, your tattoo won’t look good when it’s on. finished. healing. May be missing ink and sometimes heavy scar tissue on it.
Always follow the care instructions. If you feel like you don’t understand them, call and ask for help. Although we cannot correct healing problems without seeing the tattoo, we are happy to teach you more about our healing instructions.
We’d rather spend a few extra minutes helping you get a good heal than trying to fix the healing of a tattoo gone wrong.
Your Health –
If you have any immune deficiencies, blood disorders like diabetes, or take certain medications like steroids or blood thinners, your tattoo could be affected. It could take longer to heal and not work out very well.
It’s a good idea to consult your doctor before getting a tattoo if you suspect there may be a problem. It is a good idea to inform your artist of any health problems so that she can tailor the healing to her needs.
Damaged skin –
Long-term cigarette smoking, drinking too many soft drinks, eating poorly, and excessive sun exposure damage the skin. A tattoo on damaged skin will rarely look as good as one on healthy skin.
Sometimes colors and lines aren’t as bright or clear as they should be and artists can’t do anything about it. If you have damaged skin, you will need to maintain reasonable expectations. Sometimes, if the skin is damaged, the artist will want to do the tattoo in stages to avoid overwork* and hopefully ease the healing process.
If your skin is older, thinner, weaker, or sun damaged, it may also be more difficult to heal. However, with a little patience and care, the tattoo can heal well. So be sure to follow the instructions carefully and for as long as possible, which may be longer than healthy skin.
(*When the skin is damaged, it is very easy for the artist to accidentally overwork the tattoo. Doing this can also make the scabs thicker. If this happens, it is not the end of the world. Just be patient and when the tattoo is fully healed, your artist will want to touch it up for you).
Sun exposure –
The sun is the worst enemy of your tattoos, if you expose your healing tattoo to the sun it can fade the ink before it heals. Tattoos that are exposed to the sun too soon look faded, fuzzy, discolored, and much older than they should be. Under no circumstances expose your healing tattoo to prolonged direct sunlight or tanning.
Even a healed tattoo will eventually fade when exposed to the sun or tanning beds. If you must expose your healed tattoo to those evil UV rays, be sure to use a sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 45)
Allergic reactions to latex –
If you’re allergic to latex, you’ll most likely know it before you get your tattoo. Let the artist know so he can accommodate you. Signs of an allergic reaction to latex are rash/extreme redness in the case of latex (from gloves worn by the artist), we can use non-latex gloves and duct tape.
Allergies to tattoo ink –
Allergic reactions to tattoo ink are very, very rare, but unfortunately possible. Most professional tattoo pigments are made from natural ingredients that shouldn’t cause any problems. They have been proven by their successful use in the tattoo industry for many years.
Most people have no idea that they are allergic to certain colors of ink until after the tattoo is applied. However, we have noticed that people who are allergic to metals and have reactions to cheap jewelry often react. In our stores, we have only seen reactions with a particular red that we rarely use.
If you are allergic to a pigment, it will be apparent only by that particular color bubbling and lifting off your skin. It looks like a raised red mole or blister. It will itch and won’t look fully healed no matter how much time has passed.
You have two options. One is to remove the offending color or use hydrocortisone cream to control itching and promote healing, which can take up to 5 years. Removal is no more painful than the tattoo process and after it heals another color can be used to finish the tattoo.
If you are concerned about having a reaction to the tattoo ink, ask your artist about performing a “prick test” where a small dot of each color is tattooed under the skin to be used in your potential artwork by least 10 days before your tattoo. This will cost you extra money, but if you have a lot of allergies, sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Exposures to toxins or bacteria –
If you work/live in an environment with dirt and grime, you are at risk of infection. Emergency rooms, nursing homes, hospitals, being around animals and their waste, toxic chemicals, and dirt of all kinds can cause serious infections.
It is almost impossible to get an infection from a professionally applied tattoo. Tattoo shops must use more safety precautions than hospitals, doctors and dentists. Most stores are regularly inspected by the local health department and display a certificate of their status. If you’re still worried about the store, go somewhere else.
Be smart and use common sense. If you have a dirty job, wear loose protective clothing and don’t touch your tattoo unless you’ve washed your hands. Dirty bedding is another problem. Put clean sheets on your bed if you haven’t done so within a few days of getting the tattoo. Wear clean clothes. Use clean towels and cloths.
Advice from family and friends –
When things go wrong, people tend to panic. Tattoo healing problems are not an emergency.
If you think you are having a reaction to your tattoo or the aftercare, the best thing to do is go back to the tattoo shop where you got the tattoo. It is very important that you consult your artist.
After analyzing the problem and asking some basic questions, they can tell you what the problems are and help you work through them. Very few healing problems are unsolvable or require medication.
Don’t go to your friends and family for advice. They don’t have the training to help you. There is a lot of popular tattoo tradition out of date. Everyone you talk to will have a different opinion and idea of what to do. This can be dangerous.
Tips from other tattoo shops –
Don’t go to another tattoo shop. Each artist uses the care instructions that she knows will best heal her work. This is usually different from artist to artist. What works well for one artist may spoil the work of another.
Another problem with going to a different shop is that tattoo shops are very competitive with each other and an unethical and unprofessional tattoo artist will lie to persuade customers to switch artists. Sometimes they even give bad advice to ensure the failure of the tattoo.
Do not call or seek advice on the Internet. NO ONE can help you without seeing the tattoo first.
Your artist knows how you can save your tattoo if you take care of the situation right away. Don’t trust outside sources.
Do the right thing. Take care of your investment. You’re going to have it for the rest of your life…