How To Prepare For Your Upcoming Appointment
Your tattoo is a day or two away, but there are some things you can do now to help prepare for a smoother session with less pain and better healing!
Drink lots and lots of water before, during, and after your appointment! Being well-hydrated will help your body heal the tattoo faster and make it go into your skin more smoothly. Bring water or an electrolyte beverage with you to your appointment!
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and drugs! If you take prescription blood-thinners, consult with your doctor before scheduling a tattoo appointment. Otherwise, avoid alcohol and caffeine 24 hours before your appointment to help prevent bleeding and minimize redness. Certain drugs (including weed) can actually make your tattoo experience more painful, so try to avoid smoking before your appointment.
Eat a big meal before coming to your appointment! Food is the fuel that your body uses to burn energy, and getting tattooed takes a lot of energy! Eating a hearty meal and bringing snacks can help reduce your chances of passing out or getting the cold sweats partway through. Carbs and sugars in particular will help your body stay strong during your tattoo.
Tattoo Aftercare
Now that you have a fresh tattoo, there are a few things you can do to help your body heal it faster and reduce your risk of infection or irritation. Please adhere to the guidelines provided and feel free to ask me if you have any questions!
When you get home from your appointment, remove the plastic wrap and wash your fresh tattoo with fragrance-free soap. Make sure your hands are clean before you touch it, and do not use washcloths or towels. Let your tattoo air dry or pat it dry with a clean paper towel.
Do not moisturize your new tattoo until it starts crusting over with new skin, after about two days (it may be sooner if your tattoo is just linework). Over-moisturizing your tattoo can cause irritation or infection, so I recommend avoiding products with petroleum jelly (e.g. Aquaphor or Vitamin A & D ointment). Do not use topical antibiotic creams like Neosporin, even if you suspect your tattoo is infected.
Once it’s time to start moisturizing your tattoo, use a fragrance-free lotion such as Lubriderm or Aveeno three to five times a day after you’ve washed your tattoo. Do not leave excess lotion sitting on top of your tattoo.
Use clean sheets and keep your tattoo from coming into contact with pets or public equipment (e.g. gym equipment) for one to two weeks. Avoid heavy exercise for at least the first few days after your tattoo, though one to two weeks is preferable.
Do not swim, take a bath, go hot-tubbing, or otherwise submerge your new tattoo for a minimum of two weeks. If you’re using a second skin adhesive bandage, you must still avoid submerging it. Avoid exposure to sunlight for a minimum of two weeks, and always use SPF on your tattoo once it’s fully healed.
If you suspect your tattoo may be infected, always consult your tattoo artist. Many times, a tattoo may become irritated due to over-moisturizing or contact with irritants like fragrances or pet hair. Irritation may present as redness in or around the tattoo, soreness, and minor swelling. Irritation will go away on its own in a matter of days with the elimination of the irritant. Infection may set in if you do not appropriately manage the irritation. Infection may present with yellow or greenish pus, a high fever, extreme pain in and around the tattoo, and excessive heat radiating from the tattoo. If your tattoo artist confirms that your tattoo is infected, go to your doctor immediately.
