The infection of tattoos may cause permanent skin damage, or even other more serious health issues. If you plan to get a tattoo, you would be better off knowing in advance some necessary steps to prevent tattoo infection.
1. LEAVE ALONE THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A FEW HOURS
After you have just got a tattoo, the tattoo artist will clean up the surrounding area, apply antibacterial ointment, and cover it up with bandages. Do not remove this bandage cover after you leave. This cover protects the tattoo from dust and bacteria, so you had better leave it for at least 3 hours.
The tattoo artist may wrap the tattoo around with different methods. You have to ask the artist when to remove this covering. Some tattoo artists may not even put a protective covering on a new tattoo, depending on the products and techniques they employ.
If you leave this covering longer than what is advised by the artist, you become more vulnerable to infection. Also, the tattoo ink may also fade away.
2. WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE REMOVING THE BANDAGE
Washing hands first prevents the infection of tattoos upon being touched. To make it easier to remove the bandage, you can wet it with a little warm water till it comes off your skin. Pull it slowly to keep the tattoo intact.
3. CLEAN UP THE TATTOO WITH WARM WATER AND ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP
Instead of dipping the tattoo in the water, take a little warm water with your palm and pour it onto the surface of the tattoo. Then rub the tattoo softly with an antibacterial soap. After that, clean up the spots of blood or fading ink. In this way, the tattoo will not form a scab too quickly.
Avoid using a wash lap or sponge as it may carry bacteria. Don’t use any of those till your tattoo fully recovers. Also, avoid washing your tattoo with running water. The running water from the water tap may be too strong for your new tattoo.
4. LET THE TATTOO DRY BY ITSELF OR TAP LIGHTLY WITH TISSUES
Although it’s much better to let the tattoo dry by itself, there is no harm in tapping it with clean tissues till it’s dry. However, to avoid skin irritation, do not rub the tissues onto the tattoo surface. Regular towels may cause irritation to the tattoo, so it’s wiser to use tissues to dry up the tattoo.
5. APPLY UNSCENTED ANTIBACTERIAL CREAM
After the tattoo is completely dry, apply some moisturizing ointment (better made from natural substances) onto the tattoo surface. Make sure to only apply the ointment very thinly, then tap lightly till it is fully absorbed. If you have no idea what ointment to use, seek advice from your tattoo artist. Aquaphor is a recommended choice for this purpose. Avoid petrol-based products since these are too thick and likely to clog the skin pores. Do not wrap the tattoo around anymore once it is cleaned up and ointment has been applied.
6. FOLLOW YOUR TATTOO ARTIST’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Your tattoo artist will give you some details on how to take care of your newly-made tattoos. The way of wrapping the tattoo around could vary among artists. Do your best to do as said so your tattoos can recover well. Bali Tattoo Art Gallery is pleased to help you get an aesthetically pleasing tattoo on your foot, or elsewhere on your body. Our tattoo artists have won a number of international awards, with a huge portfolio covering an extensive range of styles and designs.
