Tattoo Care: The Right Care for Tattooed Skin

People often express their personality and individual preferences with a tattoo. To ensure the body art looks beautiful and well-maintained long-term, careful care is important from the very beginning. In our article, we provide important tips for the right care of tattooed skin, for example, to avoid skin irritations or fading of tattoo colors.

After Tattooing. The Right Care for Tattooed Skin.

The fine tattooing needle pierces the epidermis up to 10,000 times per minute and penetrates the middle layer of skin (dermis). To protect the fresh wound or freshly tattooed area from contamination and inflammation, the tattoo artist covers it with a sterile film. The transparent protective film can be removed at home after a few hours, but some important tips must be observed to ensure the skin around the fresh tattoos is optimally protected:

1. Always wash and disinfect your hands thoroughly.
2. Carefully wash off blood and wound fluid accumulated under the film, as well as color pigments, with clear, lukewarm water, possibly with a fragrance-free, pH-neutral soap.
3. Gently pat the tattoo and surrounding skin dry with a lint-free paper towel. But be careful not to let any foreign particles get into the wound and, above all, do not rub.
4. Finally, cover the wound with a breathable plaster.

The plaster must be changed if a lot of wound fluid has accumulated underneath. Otherwise, the wound should be left undisturbed, and the plaster should remain on the skin for the next three days. As with any wound, redness and a feeling of tightness in the skin may occur in the first few hours and days. Itching is also possible. However, if severe pain, fever, and chills occur, a doctor should be consulted immediately. This also applies if the wound is still heavily weeping or even suppurating after a few days.

Fresh Tattoo: Supporting Wound Healing.

From the fourth day, the outermost layer of skin is generally healed enough that no further covering is necessary. To promote the regeneration of the natural skin barrier, it is recommended to apply a medicinal wound healing ointment to the tattooed area twice a day. ilon Woundcare, for example, supports this with a special combination of natural ingredients. Stressed and sore skin, in particular, needs special care.

Medical skin care then contributes to faster and better skin regeneration and reduces the development of inflammation. The ointment leaves a protective film on the skin and, thanks to its good tolerability, is also suitable for sensitive skin. Depending on the size of the tattoo, the healing process takes several weeks to months to complete. To optimally promote wound healing of the skin, it is important to:

• Do not scratch the wound. While this may be difficult with severe itching, it can cause scars and damage the tattoo.
• Short showers are possible, but it is better to avoid full baths and exfoliants on freshly tattooed areas.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing made of smooth fabrics, as rough materials like wool can chafe the wound and promote inflammation.
• Sports and other strenuous physical activities should be avoided for the first 14 days.
• Avoid direct sunlight, as well as visits to saunas, solariums, and swimming pools for at least six weeks.

Tattoo Care: How to Make the Color Last Longer.

To counteract the fading of the tattoo, regular moisturizing care – tailored to the respective skin type – should be maintained even after the wound has healed. Special tattoo creams are available for this purpose. High-quality plant-based oils promote the supply of essential nutrients to the skin, improve moisture content, make the skin smoother and more supple, and enhance the tattoo’s expressiveness.

Tattoo Care in Summer. UV Protection for Tattooed Skin.

Direct sunlight not only harms the skin but also the tattoo. UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, causing color pigments to fade and sharp contours to blur. When spending time in the sun, it is therefore always recommended to apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, such as SPF 50+, and to reapply the sunscreen regularly.

If the Tattoo Is Not Liked After All: Tattoo Removal.

Generally, a tattoo should be forever. But sometimes it simply doesn’t look as desired, or it is no longer liked after some time. However, a tattoo cannot be removed that easily, and removal should be carefully considered. The larger and more colorful the tattoo, the more difficult this becomes. The color pigments are located up to 4mm below the skin surface and must be removed from there. Grinding or abrasion was done in the past. Today, a laser is mostly used. After laser removal, the skin should be treated similarly to tattoo aftercare: disinfect, protect, and care for it well.

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