How to care for a tattoo: the whole healing process

A tattoo is, above all, a wound, because the needles damage the epidermis. How a person will handle the tattoo after application depends not only on the appearance of the image in the future, but also on the general state of health.

Remember that the quality of the healing depends 50% on the skill of the tattoo artist and 50% on the care of the drawing in the first days.

How long does it take to heal?

A tattoo takes 14 days to fully heal, in rare cases a little longer. The time it takes for the job to heal depends entirely on the size of the tattoo and the density of the paint.

Don't be afraid to visit your teacher during the healing period, he will help you control this process.

If you follow the recommendations of the tattooist, the work will heal quickly and correctly, thanks to which you will soon be able to show everyone a masterpiece.

General recommendations

You should start with three simple but important rules:

1. Try to go out less during the first 5-7 days after drawing a drawing, after all, during this period, the wound is most afraid of sunlight and can also be damaged by the slightest contact with any surface or clothing. Also, it is important not to infect, and for this you need to process the tattoo on time.
2. The most obvious rule, but at the same time the most important: before choosing a tattoo artist, be sure to review his work, read reviews, because no proper care will correct crooked lines, fuzzy contours or relieve wounds and infections that a layman can cause. Do not be fooled by discounts and promotions, do not go with friends who "tried and succeeded", because the result can come back to you in a completely different way.
3. Do not get a tattoo if you have an allergy to paint, low blood clotting, skin diseases, diabetes, as well as if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, drunk or have bronchial asthma.

In the first days and the following weeks

Once the tattoo artist has applied the tattoo, he must treat the wound with an antiseptic. Above, you need to wrap the place of the pattern with a transparent film, which is fixed with an adhesive plaster.

Often for these purposes a cling film or diaper from a pharmacy is used, which absorbs moisture. However, there is also a special German-made film: Suprasorb F. It protects against infection and, thanks to its gas- and vapor-proof texture, allows the skin to breathe. This film contains glue that does not cause allergies, so no plaster is necessary.

The first 10 to 14 days after applying the tattoo, you should deal with care and beware:

• wash the picture at least twice a day with soap, and never use a cloth and towel;
• after washing the wound, apply ointment or moisturizer;
• choose loose clothing and natural fabrics so as not to rub the wound;
• under no circumstances comb the drawing, even if it itches a lot;
• constantly and closely examine your tattoo, redness and inflammation can be only in the first 3-5 days, then they should subside and fade;

If you feel discomfort, contact your teacher. And if severe swelling or pus appears, don't hesitate to see a doctor. It is the specialist who will be able to accurately determine the problem and choose the treatment.

After its restoration

After the tattoo is fully healed, it is recommended to continue to moisten it with lotion or oil to keep the image bright color for a long time. Also, before going out during the day, regardless of the season, if the tattoo is open, protect it with a cream that contains the maximum SPF.

What should not be done while the tattoo is not heal?

To avoid further health problems, you need to know what is strictly forbidden to do after getting tattooed.

Drink alcohol

If you drink alcoholic beverages after tattooing, the healing process will take a long time, it will take a long time to get out of the wound, the ichor will stand out, the paint will wash off, as a result of which the drawing will turn pale. It is necessary to leave the alcohol during the whole period of recovery of the skin; otherwise, instead of a beautiful image, you will get completely unattractive scars. A day or two before going to the teacher, you should also give up alcohol.

Drinking before the procedure can lead to the loss of a significant amount of blood. This is not only harmful to health, but also very dangerous to life.

Combing a tattoo

During the healing phase, the tattoo is almost always itchy. It is very important to withstand this period, because as a result of scratching, the image may be damaged, which will lead to the need for correction. If the application site is already very itchy, you should lightly touch the image with the palm of your hand. If you can't tolerate the itching, use special remedies, such as Panthenol.

Exercise

The gym promotes strong perspiration. Excessive moisture can build up on your tattoo, and this can contribute to longer healing and even distort the outline of the pattern. To minimize the risk of blurring, it is best to postpone your workouts until the tattoo has healed.

Scab removal

Removing the peeling around the tattoo will cause peeling and loss of ink. As a result, the color will become less bright where the crust peeled off and the overall appearance will be marred. To prevent this from happening, you must not further interfere with the healing process.

To minimize crusting, use Bepanten. It hydrates the wound well and accelerates the skin's recovery process. This ointment is hypoallergenic and has no side effects. The drug is used 4-5 times a day, applying ointment to the entire image area.

Visit the sauna, the pool

Like playing sports, going to the steam room causes a lot of sweat to form, which can lead to leaching of dyes. Swimming in the pool can cause infections.

Solarium and beach

Those who like to sunbathe should know that hitting a new tattoo with UV light causes a loss of gloss of the paint. As a result, the drawing itself will become much lighter, and the colors may become uneven. You can sunbathe only after the tattoo has fully healed. But even after that, it is advisable to use tanning products.

Isolation with adhesive plaster or bandage

Air is required for the correct process of cell regeneration, therefore, the place where the drawing is applied must breathe. If you seal the wound with adhesive plaster or wrap it with a bandage, suppuration may form and the healing period of the tattoo will also last.

What to do if the tattoo does not heal?

There are times when a person got a tattoo, but after a few days the redness did not disappear, but the wounds are not covered with a scab, an incomprehensible liquid is released, or simply pain is felt. If you find yourself in such a situation, be sure to consult a dermatologist.

The fact that the wound is bothering you in some way is not a very good sign, it indicates inflammation or infection. tattoos Regardless of the stage of image healing, action must be taken immediately, otherwise the consequences may become more serious than you think.

Your image on the body It is an open wound, which is very susceptible to various types of infections, because the epithelium layer is disturbed, which prevents the penetration of bacteria into the skin.

Below are the most common symptoms, in which you can understand that the tattoo is infected and you need to run to the doctor.

Swelling

This is characteristic of a new tattoo on the first day, but if the drawing becomes more and more swollen within 3-5 days, you should not postpone the visit to a specialist.

Temperature rise

The application site is sometimes hot; this is allowed in the first 2 days. But the temperature of the pattern cannot be much higher than the body temperature and in no case will it increase over time. If the work remains hot in the following days, it may indicate inflammation.

Unusual fluid discharge

If the wound is infected, it may leak foreign fluids. Can be:

1. golden or colorless liquid;
2. ichor;
3. green or yellow mucus and thick consistency.

In critical cases there may even be a collection of different colors of pus. You should definitely go to a dermatologist!

Unpleasant smell

If the discharge from a recent tattoo has a smell, this is an absolute sign that the inflammation process has already gone too far and an abscess needs to be treated urgently.

Painful sensations

If constantly worried about the pain which increases within 3-6 days after getting a tattoo or there are bursts of spasms within the drawing, then the wound is more likely to have an infection.

The appearance of blisters

The formation of bubbles symbolizes the development of the infectious process. They can soon turn into red sores with lymphatic fluid or even abscesses.

Signs of complete healing

Redness and swelling should pass around the image as well as under it. If these signs have not disappeared in 10 days, contact a dermatologist.

Lymph that appears on the surface of the pattern in the first few days will first dry out and form a scab. When the scab disappears on its own, a thin film will appear, which must be washed frequently and smeared with moisturizers. When the film is completely gone, the tattoo can be considered fully healed.

There should be absolutely no discomfort, burning or itching at the place of the drawing, then your tattoo. freshly cured.

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