Cody Knight

As spring is here and summer is near, tattoos are on the minds of many college students. As exciting as getting a new tattoo is, it is very important to remember to keep up with the aftercare, as this is going to affect how good your tattoo is going to look and hold up over time. 

According to an article titled “Everything you need to know about tattoo aftercare” by Healthline, it takes about two weeks for a tattoo to fully recover. During those two weeks, one could take two different approaches when taking care of their brand new tattoo including a more traditional way of things, such as washing your tattoo twice a day and keeping the area moisturized, or a newer way of taking care of your tattoo- which consists of applying adhesives called “Saniderm” or “SecondSkin.”  

According to New Life Tattoos, a popular tattoo shop in Illinois, “your new tattoo is most prone to infection the first 48 hours  of receiving it.” They also state that the more traditional way to take care of a tattoo is to wash your new tattoo twice a day with non-scented soap, followed by applying non-scented lotion. Healthline recommends a “mild, fragrance free soap or a specifically formulated tattoo cleanser to clean the area.” According to The American Academy of Dermatology Association, it is important to keep your tattoo moist, but not soaked, so that it doesn’t cause your tattoo to grow inflamed or infected. Their article “Caring for Tattooed Skin” recommends staying away from “petroleum-based jelly, as this product could cause a new tattoo to fade.” Healthline also recommends a lotion “free of fragrance, ethyl alcohol, and other additives, such as colored dye that could dry out your skin.” Repeat these steps for two weeks or until the tattoo is fully healed.

A newer way of taking care of a new tattoo is something called second-skin. According to The American Academy of Dermatology Association, “second-skin is an adhesive placed on the newly tattooed area and acts as if it is a giant band aid keeping bacteria away, allowing your body to use its own plasma to heal the tattoo on its own.” Throughout the steps posted on their website, this method has its ups and downs. You will need to change it every 1-5 days or so, depending on how your skin and tattoo reacts to the adhesive. It can be quite painful to take off, but can be worth it if you do not enjoy the feeling of Aquaphor or lotions hitting your clothes. Second-skin is also proven to heal your tattoos quicker according to Good Vibrations Ink, a tattoo shop located in Orlando, Florida. Good Vibrations Ink recommends second-skin in the tattoo healing process on their website under “tattoo advice,” a section of their website written by Sarah Kuehler, a tattoo artist and body piercer, to help their customers with their new ink. Kuehler says, “using second-skin can reduce the healing time and protect you from infection.” 

According to Mystic Owl Tattoos, a popular tattoo shop located in Atlanta, there are many things to stay away from when you get a fresh tattoo. The newly tattooed area will eventually grow itchy and will start to peel as the skin is healing. It is important not to scratch, peel, or even touch the new tattoo without washing your hands first. Scratching, peeling, and touching your new tattoo with dirty hands can lead to inflammation or infection, which could be more painful than initially getting the tattoo. This could also prevent your tattoo from healing to the best of your body’s ability, leading to a bad tattoo. Always wash your hands before applying any products to you new tattoo. Infections are painful and cover-ups are expensive.

After getting a fresh tattoo, you also want to stay away from pools, oceans, and other bodies of water. The ocean and swimming pools can hold an insane amount of bacteria which could also lead to infection. It is also not a good idea to soak your tattoo in any way, as it is important to allow your tattoo to breathe.

Your tattoos biggest enemy is the sun. Leaving your fresh tattoo out in the sun can lead to sunburn, which can be extremely painful on a healing wound. Mystic Owl Tattoo states, “the sun’s rays can penetrate the tender skin around the tattoo causing burning, sensitivity, itching, and even blistering. And with repeated exposure, the sun can cause your brand new tattoo to fade.”

Tattoos are great ways use your body as a canvas and to express yourself and describe your life experiences through art. They are huge commitments and will remain on your skin for the rest of your life. Remember to take care of your new tattoo for the best results. Happy tattooing!