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If you leave the shop with a long-term bandage (Tegaderm/ Tattooderm), please keep it on for 2 to 5 days. If the bandage seal is compromised, the dressing must come off right away to avoid bacteria or harmful elements from getting inside. Please do not keep on for more than five days.
When your ready to take this bandage off, please do it in the shower. The water will help lift the dressing from your skin. Most people have better success stretching the Tegaderm off. Pealing can sometimes tug on your skin; start with a corner at the top and pull away from your bandage. It should release about an inch with each tug or pull, let the water get in at the top to make the removal easier.
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The traditional way of taking care of your tattoo. Method one.
Please remove this simple plastic covering for a bandage after 2 to 3 hours (do not sleep overnight with your original plastic wrap unless your tattoo artist has directed you to wear Tegaderm/ Tattooderm). It is essential not to remove the bandage until you can properly clean the tattoo with mild soap and warm water. For soap, you want a liquid antibacterial soap, make sure it is unscented. Rinse with clean hands and remove any extra blood or a slimy coat that may have formed over the tattooed area while underneath the bandage. Gently pat dry with a paper towel or air-dry for 15/20 minutes before applying ointment.
You will then apply your choice of ointment. Everyone's skin is different, but please apply an ointment (NOT A LOTION). I recommend Redemption. A&D and Aquaphor are great ointments you can buy at your local store. Apply cream to the tattoo as needed, massaging a minimal amount into the skin (with clean hands) to keep the tattoo slightly hydrated but NOT smothered. Your tattoo may require more cleaning for the first day or two, and the tattoo may secrete blood or a clear slimy substance. Ensure any extra moisture doesn't get trapped under the ointment by washing and air-drying 2 to 3 times a day.
The healing tattoo should never stay submerged in water for long periods. Your tattoo shouldn't be introduced to lakes, oceans, be soaked in pools, bubble baths, or long showers. It's also essential that a fresh tattoo be protected from the sun and dirty environments, as it's still an open wound at this time. All your normal activities involving water or sun exposure can usually be resumed in about two to three weeks.
Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on your tattoo at any point.
Apply ointment to your tattoo until it peels (pealing happens about 4-7 days after receiving a tattoo). When the peeling begins, let it naturally fall off. The area will become dry and itchy; you can use fragrance-free lotion. If you have any questions, please email me immediately with the headline HEALING CONCERN.
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Wet Bandaging Method. Method two.
This method works well for larger tattoos or tattoos in awkward areas that are covered with clothing. If you find that your tattoos have healed poorly in the past, this method may be an effective alternative.
Remove your bandage after 2-3 hours, and clean it with antibacterial soap and warm water as in Method 1. After washing, let the tattoo air dry. When the tattoo is dry to the touch, put on your ointment of choice, but very little. You are then going to wrap the tattoo in a non-breathable plastic wrap. You can buy a role in the kitchen area of your local store. If you decide to do this, you must change your bandage every 6 to 12 hours. And for every 12 hours that it is wrapped, you will wash your tattoo and let it air dry for 1 hour.
With this method, the tattoo is kept completely covered with plastic wrap for 22 hours a day, for as long as it takes to peel (3 to 5 days). It's essential to wash the tattoo every 6 to 12 hours or after any period of sweating, and you must use a new piece of plastic wrap each time you rebandage. Take the same precautions as Method 1 regarding water, sunlight, and dirty environments.
When the peeling begins after 3-5 days, avoid picking at the cracked and flaking skin. When the tattoo has wholly entered the peeling phase, discontinue the plastic wrap. The area will become dry and itchy, and you can use a fragrance-free lotion for the remainder of your healing.
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