Tattoo aftercare and common problems

Tattoos go through several stages while healing. I will describe the normal healing process and some common problems. Most issues clear up on their own or with minimal treatment but it is important to recognize a more serious problem should one arise. Every shop will have a different idea about the specifics about how to care for a new tattoo. Some are bound to local boards of health regulations regarding aftercare, some are not. It can vary from county to county, state to state.

Basic Instructions
Remove bandage after a few hours. With clean hands gently rinse tattoo and apply antibacterial soap and rinse again. Allow the new tattoo to air dry and apply a thin layer of unscented lotion. Avoid lotions with lanolin if you have a sensitivity to it. A&D ointment will also work, just use in small amounts, don’t smother it with a thick layer. Clean twice daily. You can apply lotion/ointment a little more often than that if you need but try to keep the tattoo from being too soggy. Itching is normal. Peeling is normal. This is not an allergic reaction, just normal healing. The peeling will be the color of the tattoo, this is also normal. The outer layer of the skin that peels is also tattooed and will be the same color. DON’T PEEL OR PICK AT IT. If it is itching like crazy, slap it. You may need a touchup after it is done healing (4-6 weeks). Keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight while it its healing, also avoid keeping it submerged in water while it heals. Take showers instead of baths, and stay out of pools and hot tubs. Here are a few pictures of tattoos peeling, this is normal and usually starts within a few days of getting a tattoo. it can take a week or so for the peeling to stop.

Common Problems
If it is recommended to you by a shop to use a bacitracin or Neosporin ointment, keep in mind that occasionally people will have a sensitivity to this type of product and will break out in a red bumpy rash. If this happens, wash it off with soap and water, allow to dry, and replace it with a small amount of unscented lotion. If you use these products and this happens, wash it off and let dry and apply the lotion and it will usually clear up in a few hours. It is important that you wash it off and let it dry before you apply the lotion. The redness and itching will usually pass from this type of allergic reaction within hours of stopping its use. Even if you don’t have an allergy, scented lotions will sting a new tattoo pretty sharply. 

Allergies to latex gloves may be a culprit in redness or excessive irritation after a tattoo. As a general rule, Nitrile gloves should always be used just in case, as some folks with a latex allergy can have a very nasty reaction to even minimal exposure. I myself seemed to develop a sensitivity to latex after using them for a few years early on in my career. In my case, I developed red and cracked skin on the tops of my hands and around my wrists when wearing latex gloves. It corrected immediately after switching to Nitrile.

Take care to avoid friction as much as possible while your new tattoo is healing. Clothes and shoes that rub a tattoo may peel the skin before it is ready to come off and may lead to patchy spots and trouble healing. 

I have never in 20,000+ had a tattoo get infected. I have heard of a customer who contracted MRSA after taking his new tattoo to the gym and it came into direct contact with the padding on exercise equipment. If proper sterilization procedures were in place when you got your tattoo, infection is highly unlikely. But keep in mind that there is still cause to avoid contracting MRSA from another source after you leave the tattoo premise. 

For more information about MRSA:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735

Tattoo etiquette: Should I tip my artist?

Of course! 
But like every other tipping situation, it is not mandatory and should reflect the quality of service you got. Consider how much time went into prepping for your appointment or piece. Was it custom drawn? Did you feel safe and welcome? Does your artist own his or her own studio space? Artists typically pay a 40-50% cut to the shop owner to cover supplies, expenses and permits. I typically get tipped 10 to 20% of the actual price.
There are many ways to charge for a tattoo. Some shops do piece by piece pricing, some do hourly, and some do hourly packages that are an even better deal. I prefer hourly pricing because it takes the guesswork out of it and I am fair to all my customers. In my experience, most shops in a region are competitive with each other and slight variances in price do not usually indicate a quality difference. Always check your artist’s portfolio to see what their quality of work is like. It is not uncommon to be asked to show a portfolio or sterilization records and your artist should take no offense.

Can black folks get color tattoos?

In general, yes.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there regarding tattoos on black skin. Obviously, a lot depends on the exact skin tone of the customer. Lighter skinned customers should not shy away from any colors, including white for highlights. Folks with medium toned skin may not show yellow tones as well but it really depends on the individual. Medium toned skin can usually also benefit from using white highlights when called for. Folks with darker skin may want to consider a mostly black and gray but will still show some reds, blues, purples and greens. Yellow and white may not work very well with dark skin, but it isn’t always the case.

I have had dark skin clients that showed lighter colors surprisingly well. It may be worth doing a small color test in a part of the tattoo to determine if it will work or not before it is ruled out completely. Also, areas of the body that receive less sun usually have better luck with lighter colors. Never just assume that something will not work without giving it a good honest try, I have seen experienced artists just toss out a general no can do statement when it comes to dark skin. Tattooing on dark skin, like most other things, shouldn’t be generalized.

Fun fact: when a stencil is applied to dark skin it will shine gold. It will show purple again if you blot it with a wet paper towel.

A little about me.

I gave my first tattoo in 1982 and have been going strong ever since. I have worked in shops and studios around the country and have learned what works and what doesn’t. This blog is an effort to pass along the knowledge I gained in 31+ years in the business. Here are the answers to tattoo FAQs from customers and new artists in no particular order...