TATTOO AFTERCARE
SPECIAL TRANSPARENT FILM
DISPOSABLE BABY DIAPER
This film is a self-adhesive, transparent wound dressing called “Second Skin”. It should be worn for 5 days in most cases. During this time, it is best to avoid sports (contact sports for about 2 weeks).
You should not take a bath with the film on, but you can moisten the film with water. You can also have a short, non-hot shower.
Be careful when wearing the film and avoid wearing clothes that may rub or cling to the tattoo area, such as watches, chains, or tight clothing.
Lymph and ink may collect under the film, creating a bubble. This is normal and after 3-5 days, everything will dry up.
If the film was applied to fingers or hands, minimize contact with water and reduce hand activity for 3 days before removing the film from fingers.
Remove the film by catching on the corner and slowly pulling it off. You can do it in the shower.
After the film has been removed, apply the cream regularly, for 1-2 weeks, to keep the tattoo area moist. Apply it sparingly.
If, before the end of 5 days, moisture gets under or in a part of the film, it may peel off and expose the tattoo. In such a case, the film should be removed immediately. Depending on the circumstances, a new film may be applied or care can be continued without one. Please contact me with a photo attached and we will give you further advice. Most often, this is not something to worry about, so please do not panic.
It is OK to stay in the sun with a film on. The film protects the skin from UV irradiation.
DISPOSABLE BABY DIAPER
We use it when tattoos have lots of solid colors, so the whole surface is quite traumatized and “second skin” just can’t handle the amount of liquid that comes out in the first 12 hours after the tattoo session.
After the tattoo is done, we put Vaseline on it and wrap it with cling film and a paper towel. After 2 hours, remove the compress and wash the tattoo thoroughly with warm water and soap. Wash away any lymph and ink that has accumulated. Don’t rub it with your nails. Then apply a clean paper towel to the area and apply Dexpanthenol or Bepanthenol cream/ointment. Apply just enough, not too much. Make sure there are no towel pieces or other foreign objects on the tattoo, and keep it clean.
Close the tattoo with a disposable diaper and secure it with an adhesive patch to ensure it stays on the skin well. When applying the diaper to areas that move, be careful not to let the adhesive come off during stretching. Repeat this process before going to bed.
If you finish the tattoo in the evening with about 4 hours until bedtime, you can leave the diaper on until then and change it later.
Repeat this process the next day. Change the diaper every morning and evening for the next 2-3 days, with an interval of about 12 hours between each change.
How to know when it’s time to stop using diaper?
Usually it takes 2-3 days for diaper. With each change, there will be less and less lymph and ink left on the diaper. When there are no traces left after the next change, it’s a good sign to stop using the diaper and start using Bepanthen, Dexpanthenol, or Bepanthen+. Apply the product sparingly, just enough to keep the area moist. Do this until the skin has completely healed, which should take about 5-7 days.
After that, continue using any moisturizing cream for another 1-2 weeks. Avoid contact sports for 2 weeks after tattoo session.
If a crust has formed on a tattoo site after the bandage has been removed, please do not attempt to remove it, no matter how tempting it may be.
For the first two months after getting a tattoo, it is important to protect it from the sun's rays. If your tattoo is colored, make sure to wear appropriate clothing or apply sunscreen whenever you are outside.
IS TOUCH UP NECESSARY?
Rarely tattoos require a touch-up after healing. This is due to various factors, including the quality of the tattoo, the type of skin and the place where it was applied, as well as how responsible you were during the healing process.
Fine line and single-needle tattoos require touch-ups a bit more often then regular ones, as the healing can be more noticeable on the thinest lines and minimalistic designs. If you want to get a fine-line tattoo, be prepared to consider this possibility and plan for a touch-up later. If you have any questions, please send us a picture of your tattoo 2-3 weeks after your session.
Fine line tattoos touch-ups are not for free in our tattoo shop. Check the Healed tattoos page to get familiar of how tattoos look after healing.