There are several precautions that you should take to protect your new tattoo. Most tattoo artists will tell you to wait at least 24 hours before showering. They will also warn you to not use a scrub or harsh soap. When you do shower, make sure to use a soap that is fragrance-free and antibacterial. The right aftercare will help your tattoo heal properly and look great for years to come.
Your tattoo may be itchy for a few days while it is healing. In the meantime, you can use a lotion that is made for tattooed skin. It is important to moisturize your tattoo in order to keep it from drying out and losing its color. Using a tattoo-safe lotion will also help you to avoid infection. You can also add sunscreen to your skin to prevent inflammation.
If you get a tattoo, you will probably want to avoid swimming and using a sponge. These items can carry bacteria that can transfer to your tattoo. Swimming can even include chlorine, which is bad for tattooed skin.
Taking a bath can also be bad for your tattoo. While a sponge shower is okay, you should avoid soaking your tattoo. Soaking in hot water can dry out the skin and cause bleeding. This is why it is important to avoid getting your tattoo wet for the first few weeks.
If you are going to bathe your tattoo, use a fragrance-free soap and apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the area. Be careful to use a light amount of Vaseline, as too much will prevent your skin from breathing. Also, avoid rubbing your tattoo in too harshly. Scrubbing it can cause the skin to peel off, resulting in infection.
You should be careful to wash your tattoo thoroughly, but be sure not to get a lot of water into it. Showering with a nozzle that produces a strong spray can also irritate your tattoo. Keep your shower short. After a few showers, your tattoo will have healed enough to shower without any pain.
When you are ready to bathe, be sure to wipe the tattoo clean with can I shower after getting a tattoo? a towel. If you have a cling wrap on your tattoo, you should remove it before taking a shower. However, you should wait at least 2 to 12 hours before putting on a cling wrap. A cling wrap is not designed to absorb liquid. Once your tattoo has been removed, you can bathe with hot or cool water.
You should be aware that hot water can fade the colors of your tattoo, so you should only use lukewarm water for the duration of your shower. Hot water can also open up your pores and increase blood flow to your tattoo, causing the ink to seep out.
Avoid getting a bath or a sponge bath until your tattoo is completely healed. A sponge shower is fine for small and large tattoos, but a bath is not an ideal choice for any size. Excessive steam can also cause your tattoo to fade.