Tattoo Pre and Aftercare

Pre-tattoo instructions

- Any and all known transmittable diseases should be disclosed to your artist prior to starting the tattoo. Having a disease or infection does not mean you will be turned down for your tattoo. It is simply a courtesy to your artist.

- If you have any blood clotting issues, or any medical condition where breaking the skin or causing any sort of skin trauma may cause an issue, consult your doctor first and notify your artist prior to starting the work.

- Make sure you eat at least 4 hour prior to starting. Low blood sugar may lead to fainting.

- Try to wear clothes you can afford to have ink spilled on. Though not likely, it is still a possibility.

- No consumption of alcohol prior to getting your tattoo, you can drink all you want after.

- Use of any medication or controlled substance that isn't over the counter to control the pain of a tattoo is not recommended. Inform your artist if you are going to anyway.

- Shaving the area to be tattooed could make things easier. Just make sure you avoid causing any cuts or razor burn.

- It isn't recommended to tattoo over any skin blemishes like moles or warts or such. Your artist may decline the work if one is discovered or simply tattoo around the blemish. Scars are fine, but be aware the scars don't usually hold ink very well and the ink in the scar may fade quickly.

- It is not recommended to have a tattoo done over any broken skin like scratches unless you want a tattoo that looks like your scratch. Just wait till the scratch heals.

- It is not recommended to have a tattoo done on sunburned skin. You should wait till it heals.

- Tattoos should not be done on a woman while she is pregnant.

- Please make sure your artist is aware of any allergies, like latex or shellfish (some tattoo inks have

shellfish derivatives).

Aftercare instructions

- Wash twice a day with Dial Anti-bacterial LIQUID soap only, 2x a day or as needed, IE after a workout or if tattoo comes in contact with contaminants. Wash gently, do not scrub or over wash. Bar soap may harbor bacteria and contribute to an infection.

- Use A&D ointment or Aquaphore (both are baby diaper rash cream that can be found at Wal Mart, CVS, Walgreens or anywhere baby care products can be found) or a fragrance and alcohol free lotion. The A&D is most recommended. Use only enough to moisten the tattoo, do not over saturate. The goal is to not allow your tattoo to dry and crack.

- Do not pick at scabs, they must be allowed to fall off on their own. If removed prematurely, they may take ink with them.

- Do not pick at any flaking that may occur.

- Do not engage in any contact sports that may result in rough contact with your healing tattoo, such as football or rugby or wrestling. Any "repairing" of the art will incur a cost and there is no guarantee it can be fixed at all.

- Do not submerge your tattoo. No lakes, rivers, or oceans (full of bacteria). No swimming pools (chlorine will damage tattoo ink). No baths, showers are fine.

- If tattoo itches, do not scratch, lightly press to alleviate itch.

- If you find yourself stuck to clothing or bedding or anything else, soak what your stuck to thoroughly with water and gently peal it off, if you just yank it off, it may take ink with it.

- Do not bandage your tattoo, that will just hold warmth and moisture against your tattoo and possibly breed bacteria.

- No Neosporan or any other types of topical creams, or Vaseline.

- Your tattoo may appear to be coming off and ending up in the shower drain at around the 3rd day of healing. That is normal, it's just the top layer of skin falling off.

- Avoid spending too much time in the sun while your tattoo is healing. No tanning salons while your healing. After you heal, using sunscreen on your tattoo is recommended.

- Do not allow friends to "set" your tattoo. A ritual with some (mostly military personal) where they slap the healing tattoo hard to "help set it". Any hard impact has a chance of "blowing out" the ink, basically blurring out the art. This effect can't be undone, only covered up with more ink. This is usually a concern only during healing.

- These aftercare instructions only need to be followed till the tattoo is fully healed. The tattoo is healed when there is no longer any scabbing, flaking, or any kind of broken skin. A tattoo is a controlled aberration (like scraping your elbow). You'll know when it's fully healed when the skin is smooth and unbroken.

- If your tattoo requires more then one sitting, the tattoo can NOT be worked on again till the skin is fully healed as stated above. Any healing material still left on the skin, if pushed into the skin, may fester and lead to a serious infection.

There is no standardized aftercare in the world of tattoos. If you talk to 10 different tattoo artist, your likely to get 10 different after care instructions. The above recommendations have been endorsed by a doctor.