Tattoo Care

So i finally got my first tattoo. Here's a picture that I took right after it got done. It was with my phone so it isn't the best.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/hightek505/mytat.jpg

its the letters of my Fraternity. Phi Gamma Delta, its on the inside of my right foot, right below the ankle.

anyways, everyone i talk to says to do something different. I have both A&D and Tattoo Goo to put on it. I dunno which one though, i have been using the tattoo goo just because my sister uses that and she likes it better than A&D.

what all do you all do for new tats?

How long does it usually take for it to heal?

I used Bepanthen cream (its a scentless diaper rash cream).

Leave it uncovered and wash it gently with soap and lukewarm water every couple of hours so the scab is thin. After 2 days wash & moisturise with the cream bout 3 times a day.

Took about 2 weeks to heal up. Will scab over, maybe weep a tiny bit. Scab will fall off and it will look very pale, but thats just extra skin that will vanish too and the full colour will come out.

i just used a&d put it on twice a day and showered at night tatts look fine allthough it did take a long time to heal.

I use antibacterial neosporin on mine. Washing is key. Healing will be done in a few weeks as far as you'll be able to tell but it really takes months for a tattoo to heal. Try to minimize exposing it to a lot of direct sunlight or color will fade.

And dont scratch! Even though its gonna itch like a motherfocker.

Lubriderm. It heals super fast. Don't pick the scabs.

A lot of people I know have been gettin tats in the last 2 weeks. they just use a basic triple-antibiotic 3 times a day. One girl has 4 now and thats all she uses.

does anyone have any info on wearing a sock? so far i have been wearing flip flops, but i need to wear dress shoes this weekend. I heard that I should just put saran wrap over it and then put the sock on. any specific way i should protect it when wearing a sock?

Saran wrap is really the only way to go. Just put a lil neosporin (or whatever) on there and wrap it with as little plastic wrap as possible and definitely don't keep it like that too long.

The girl that got a tat last nite got it right on her foot. Herr flip flop goes right over it. She says it hurts pretty bad. Saran wrap is good for short periods of time.

Ouch, how was it getting a tattoo there?

Ouch, how was it getting a tattoo there?

it didn't hurt as bad as i thought it would have. the worst part was the top of the Gamma (upside down L) because it's right at the bottom of the ankle.

I would have died from the tickling sensation.

yeah, it was a little tough to take it, just because i wanted to move my foot so much. it was weird, i actually got used to the needles, so when the guy stopped it hurt, but when he was actually tatooing it felt wonderful.

I don't like neosporin or other triple antibiotics because they have an agent in them that draw out impurities, that can cause some fading. Neosporin is also really thick it doesn't let any air get to the tattoo.

I recommend using a soap with any scents to it as you can have a break out or other problems from that. I use A&D on mine and an all natural soap I get at CVS, it is still antibacterial just doesn't contain the deordorant scent.

Speaking as someone who has quite a few tattoos (5, and they're all large), I can tell you things I have learned.

1 - NO NEOSPORIN! It can actually infect a tattoo, because it draws out bacteria and stuff, which is great, but after about 4 hours, the antibacterial action stops, and any bacteria that is left now has a warm, moist place to stay, which is optimal for growing more bacteria. Use tattoo goo or lubriderm unscented (I usually use the sensitive skin one just to cut down on impurities and stuff).

2 - As was said before, don't pick the scabs. Even when they are halfway peeling off, keep them on there. And keep a lot of lotion on so that they won't flake off. The longer the scabs stay on, the more ink the tattoo can absorb. If you pick the scabs, you will inevitably end up with little white spots, even in a tattoo that small.

3 - You will probably need/want a touchup in a few weeks when all the scabs have come off. Your tattoo artist should be willing to do this for free or for VERY cheap (like $5). I don't go to an artist unless he/she offers free touchups for life... That's like offering a lifetime guarantee on the work, and I don't feel comfortable going to someone who does not have the confidence in their work and their ink to offer a guarantee like that.

4 - You will want another one within a few weeks. Trust me.

Heheh. Emily's right. Except mine never needed a touch up and it's mostly solid black ;)

Planning my next one...

Solgirl knows her stuff. It's true about Neosporin. I put it on my first tattoo in the middle of my back. It was hard enough to get to in order to put anything on it. After a day of using Neosporin I noticed I broke out in hives around the tattoo. It totally freaked me out. But it healed up super quick with Unscented Lubriderm. I have some good sized tattoos on my arms and they healed up nicely by using the Unscented Lubriderm and not picking the scabs.

4 - You will want another one within a few weeks. Trust me.

people always told me this. and i never realized how true it was until i actually got one. i'm already itchin to get another one.

I am the tattoo GODDESS! muahaha

And dammit now I want another one too. hmmm....