Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare

1. Keep the Tattoo Covered

Your tattoo artist will clean the tattooed area and then send you home with a bandage over your fresh tattoo. For the first few hours – a minimum of three – wear the bandage. If your artist used Tegaderm or Saniderm, you may keep it on for up to three to four days (but always confirm their instructions).

When you remove your bandage, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. From here, move on to washing your tattoo.

2. Wash Your Tattoo

Once the bandages come off, use a gentle, fragrance-free, liquid soap like Dial antibacterial to clean the area. Wash with lukewarm water and pat it dry with a clean paper towel. Do not scrub the skin or rub it dry, as this can damage the healing area.

Avoid harsh soaps or exfoliating products.
Lukewarm water is ideal. Hot water may irritate the skin, while ice-cold water can slow the healing process.
Wash your tattoo gently twice a day for the first two weeks to remove plasma, excess ink, and bacteria.

If you notice a bit of ink running into the sink as you wash, don’t panic – it’s just excess ink. Continue to be gentle with the area as it heals.

3. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

After cleaning your tattoo, using a moisturizer is a crucial step in tattoo aftercare. Keeping the area hydrated protects it from drying, cracking, and bleeding. Apply balm or lotion after each wash to keep the area calm and moisturized without suffocating the skin.

Use a thin layer of moisturizer two to three times daily, as over-applying can suffocate the skin, trap excess moisture, and slow the healing process.
Avoid petroleum-based products, as they can trap bacteria and hinder healing. Instead, opt for tattoo-specific balms or products containing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, or aloe vera, which are safe, nourishing, and effective for the healing process.

Once your tattoo is healed (usually after two to four weeks), switch to the Mad Rabbit Replenishing Body Lotion for long-term hydration and ink preservation.

4. Protect Your Tattoo from the Sun

Your new tattoo is fragile and sensitive to UV rays. Sun exposure can cause fading and interfere with healing. Avoid direct sunlight for the first two to four weeks, and cover your tattoo with loose clothing if you need to be outdoors.

Once healed, apply SPF sunscreen to protect your tattoo from UV damage and keep it looking fresh.

5. Avoid Strenuous Activity

Working out can introduce bacteria to your fresh tattoo through sweat, overstretch healing skin, and cause scabs to tear. Wait 48 hours before doing light activities like walking or cycling. For the first four to six weeks, avoid strenuous exercises and clean your tattoo immediately after any physical activity.

6. Avoid Tight Clothing

Wear loose, breathable fabrics over your tattoo during the healing process. Tight clothing can stick to lotions or gels, pull off scabs, and cause unnecessary pain or irritation. Dedicate a few pieces of clothing specifically for this stage to prevent ink from staining your wardrobe.

7. Do Not Pick at Scabs

Scabbing is a natural part of the healing process. Picking at scabs can pull ink out of your skin, leading to patchy spots and scarring. Resist the urge to scratch, and use your moisturizer to calm any itching.

8. Avoid Swimming

Pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water expose your fresh tattoo to bacteria and chemicals, which can lead to infection. Avoid swimming for the first two to three weeks or until the scabs have fully healed. Showering is safe as long as you’re gentle and avoid soaking the area.

Piercing Aftercare

Cleaning Solutions

Mixing your own sea salt solution is no longer a suggested practice from the APP. Mixing your own sea salt solution will commonly result in the product being far too salty and strong, this can over dry the piercing and interfere with healing. We strongly encourage you to use a sterile saline, labeled for use as a wound wash. Your saline ingredients should list 0.9% sodium chloride as the only ingredient (sometimes purified water will be listed). Additives like moisturizers and antibacterials should be avoided, as well as similar sounding products like contact lens saline, nasal spray, or eye drops.

Cleaning Instructions for Body Piercings

WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.
SPRAY with sterile saline wound wash while healing. Moving or rotating jewelry is not necessary during cleaning/rinsing and may actually irritate the piercing.
DRY with clean, disposable products like gauze or cotton swabs, gently removing any crusty debris or build up. Cloth towels should be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry.

What is Normal?

- Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising.
- During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid that will form some crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
- A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is actually complete. This is because this type of wound will heal from the outside to the inside. Although it may feel fine on the outside, the interior could still be fragile. Be patient, and keep the piercing clean throughout the entire healing period.
- Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. Cleaning your piercings as part of your normal hygiene routine can help them stay clean and avoid having normal, possibly smelly, secretions accumulate.
- TIP: Piercings, even healed ones, can shrink or close in minutes, even after having been there for years! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in—do not leave it empty.

What To Do

Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave the piercing alone except when cleaning.
During healing, do not twist, spin, or rotate your jewelry.
Exercise and sweating during healing is fine. Avoid activities that could jostle or aggravate the piercing. Keep the piercing protected from bacteria present on gym equipment or exercise mats.
Make sure your bedding is washed and changed regularly. Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while you are sleeping.
Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.

What To Avoid

Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial soaps, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Also avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long-term wound care.
Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay your healing and irritate your piercing.
Avoid undue trauma such as friction and pressure from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.
Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
Avoiding things like excessive stress, drug use, excessive caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are suggested as they can prolong the healing process.
Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, oceans, hot tubs, etc. Or, protect your piercing using a waterproof transparent film dressing. These are available at most pharmacies and are ideal for nipple, navel, and surface piercing placements.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.
Don’t hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed.