Tattoo Precare and Aftercare

So you just booked an epic tattoo project! What’s next?

One of the most common mistakes I see when people come into and then leave the tattoo studio are their PRECARE and AFTERCARE methods. These two aspects of skin prep and skin care are pivotal and make a huge difference in how your skin handles the tattoo application trauma and then heals and settles the ink, directly affecting the quality and how the tattoo will continue to age. Keep reading for a comprehensive list of DO’S AND DON’TS in Tattoo PRECARE and AFTERCARE regiments. 

TATTOO PRECARE 

Precare is an incredibly important step when planning for your tattoo sessions. The quality of your skin during the tattoo application has a drastic impact on how your skin handles the initial trauma of getting tattooed as well as how primed it is to heal.

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Here are some very simple steps so that you and your skin are feeling the best when walking into your next tattoo appointment.

1. Drink lots of water the week(s) leading up to your tattoo appointment.
   
2. In addition to water add electrolytes like sea salt or a powder mix of your choosing to further hydrate your body.
   
3. Lotion & hydrate your skin the week(s) leading up to your tattoo session.
   
4. EXFOLIATE your skin in the 48 hours prior to your tattoo appointment.
   
5. DO NOT drink alcohol or partake in drugs the night before your session.
   
6. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before your tattoo appointment
   
7. PLEASE DO NOT shave your own skin before coming in to get tattooed. Let the artist shave for you.
   
8. Eat a good meal before you come in for your appointment.
   
9. If you can stand to DO NOT drink coffee or highly caffeinated beverages before your session. It causes high blood pressure and dehydrates the body.
   
10. DO NOT show up to your appointment under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
    
11. If you have a sun burn or skin irritation consult with your tattoo artist, there is a chance you will have to reschedule your session to a date when your skin is not inflamed. 

Keeping this checklist in mind when preparing for your next tattoo session makes a huge difference in your skin’s ability to handle the trauma of getting tattooed and sets your skin up for success in the healing process. 

TATTOO AFTERCARE 

Aftercare is the second most important aspect in a tattoos quality after the artist’s application techniques and expertise. Understanding what helps a good heal and what hinders it can be the make or break in how your tattoo heals, settles, and ages. Here are some simple things to keep in mind when healing your tattoo. (Please respect and follow your artist’s instructions after your tattoo procedure. You can refer to this list as a reference).

1. Drink lots of water, especially during the first week of healing your tattoo. 
2. Include additional electrolytes to help hydrate the body and skin cells.
   
3. After your tattoo procedure you can drink orange juice, take turmeric, or take advil/ibuprofen to reduce inflammation.
   
4. After your tattoo procedure you can ice pack your tattoo to reduce inflammation. 10 minutes on 10 minutes off for about 30m to an hour. PLEASE NEVER PUT AN ICEPACK DIRECTLY ON OPEN SKIN. Wrap icepack in a paper towel and apply it on your second skin or saran wrap.
   
5.  I personally recommend you leave your second skin on for 2-3 days. (If you have opted to use the soft bandage, take it off the next morning to clean).
   
6. When taking off your second skin you can use tepid water to loosen the bandage. NEVER rip your bandage off. But instead pull up and out or gently roll bandage off the tattoo so as to not further traumatize the area of skin.
   
7. After the second skin (or soft bandage) is removed proceed to general aftercare. 
   1. Twice daily (more if the area gets dirty or sweaty) for 20seconds with warm water and clean hands gently clean your tattoo with mild unscented antibacterial soap from the pump. Dial Gold or Dr Bronners unscented baby soap is my recommendation.
   2. Dab the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel or let air dry.
   3. Apply a small amount of unscented lotion from the pump. You want the lotion to absorb into the skin. 
   4. DO NOT OVER LOTION, you want to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated but be aware to not apply too much lotion and choke the healing skin out. Unscented Lubriderm or Aveeno brands work great.
      
8. DO NOT scratch or pick your tattoo during the healing process. This can be difficult especially during the itchy peeling phase but just don’t do it.
   
9. DO NOT apply salves, ointments or petroleum based products during the first two weeks of the heal. I personally recommend against aquaphor type products.
   
10. DO NOT workout, exercise or sweat excessively for the first 7 days of your heal. Sweat is the enemy of a good tattoo heal. If you do sweat excessively, clean your tattoo. Refer to #7.
    
11. DO NOT SUBMERGE YOUR TATTOO IN WATER for the first 3-4 weeks after getting your tattoo.
    
12. DO NOT EXPOSE YOUR TATTOO TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT for the first 3-4 weeks after receiving your tattoo. And even after that a mineral based zinc spf 30 or higher is recommended anytime sun exposure might occur.
    
13. Please tell your tattoo artist if you have any allergies to adhesive so that they don’t use second skin on your fresh tattoo. There are other wrapping methods that can be used.

You can always refer back to this list when in doubt of what good PRECARE and AFTERCARE methods are. Each artist tends to have a different variation of these core concepts, so make sure to respect and follow your artists care methods when prepping and healing your next tattoo. 

-Lee Rose