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Leave the bandage that you received after the tattoo for 2-4 hours (No more than 10 hours). This bandage is there to keep air-borne bacteria and other contaminants in the environment from invading your wound. DO NOT RE-BANDAGE!
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Before cleaning or touching the tattooed areas, wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Treat your new tattoo as an open wound.
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Carefully remove the bandage. If it sticks, gently wet any applied bandage and gently pull off so as not to damage any scabs or dried matter. Don’t force it’s removal!
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After removing the bandage, cleanse the area with antibacterial soap, such as :
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Recovery Tattoo Soap
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Following, water then rinse. Do not scrub the tattoo or rub with washcloth or towel. Pat dry with a clean dry towel and let the tattoo dry completely
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Lightly apply a thin layer of ointment such as :
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Recovery Tattoo Salve
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Make sure the tattoo is kept very clean and apply ointment 3-4 times a day by cleansing any old ointment and applying a thin layer of fresh ointment (only enough to make the skin shiny). Do not allow your tattoo to become dry. If a scab does form, do not pick at it, but allow it to heal on it’s own.
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At the end of day 3 switch to a fragrance free lotion or gentle moisturizer as needed until completely healed. It is best to use a moisturizer with aloe or vitamin E as this will help heal damaged skin. Regularly moisturizing a tattoo helps to keep the skin soft and the colors bright.Also, the sun can irreversibly damage even a well healed tattoo so remember to use a good sun block with strong SPF when spending time outdoors.
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Itching is expected.
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Do NOT pick or scratch the tattoo
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Do NOT soak tattoo or expose to sun, salt water or cholorine for 7-10 days
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Do NOT use Vaseline or other petroleum jellies
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Do NOT use heavily medicated antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin
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Do NOT use iodine, peroxide, or alcohol based product
Contact your tattoo artist with any questions. Do NOT listen to your friends, family or any other so called tattoo specialist.