TATTOO
AFTER CARE
Official Instructions
"A tattoo is much like a scratch, it does not go that deep into the skin. So taking care of your tattoo is easy, but it is also very important." DG Wilson
Healing your tattoo is quite easy. Just follow these steps and you will not have any problems. In the event that there is a light line, faded bit of ink or a deep spot in your tattoo notify DG Wilson as soon as you notice (usually within the week) and DG will take care of it typically for free!
DG guarantees your work to the best of his ability...if YOU don't look good, DG doesn't look good!
"You have a Masterpiece of a tattoo that will last as long as you. As soon as you leave the shop it is UP TO YOU to take care of your tattoo." DG
You want your tattoo to look as great as it did in the shop
so take care of the skin as you heal to ensure
the best looking tattoo results for the rest of your life.
STEP 1 Wash gently within a hour of getting your tattoo.
STEP 2 Apply thin layer of Vit A&D or leave your tattoo alone.
STEP 3 Wash again gently at night before bed, do not put more
ointment on.
STEP 4 Following morning and for next few weeks use LOTION to
keep skin soft and moist.
DO NOT SCRATCH, PICK, KISS, LICK YOUR NEW TATTOO
DO NOT SOAK TATTOO/GET IT TOO WET FOR A FEW DAYS
DO NOT LET IT DRY OUT AND GET SCABS
IN THE EVENT A SCAB DOES FORM DO NOT PICK IT OFF!
More details to these instructions follow:
Step 1. As soon as you get home (or within 1 hour) take off
bandage and wash your new tattoo gently with soap and water.
(Antibacterial soap is NOT necessary, and there is some debate as to whether it hurts the look of the tattoo later...so DG recommends that you use regular non scented and gentle soap.)
When you wash do not soak your tattoo or use too much water! The same applies for excessive sweating. Too much water on or around your new tattoo will saturate the red blood cells with fluid. It also dilutes the natural Blood Serium that includes Plasma, necessary elements for closing cuts in the skin. This makes the skin around the new tattoo puffy and loose. Think of a scab when you were a kid, after a bath the scab was white and loose. What happens is that the new skin that is healing becomes too soft and can easily be damaged by being rubbed off. If this happens to a new tattoo there is a longer healing time as your body needs to make new skin cells that replace the already healing ones. There is a stepped layer of healing that may affect the final look of the tattoo. Further, if done at a healing stage when the deeper layers of the skin are healing then there is the risk of removing the actual tattoo ink.
Cleaning is necessary, again a tattoo is like a scaped knee and we always wash our childrens' scrapes to keep out germs. So wash your tattoo but do not soak it because that will potentially damage the growing cells.
REMEMBER: Be gentle with the cleaning of your new tattoo, do NOT rub with a wash cloth or body brush! (This WILL remove skin layers and cause damage to the healing skin.)
Pat dry with a clean towel very gently. Do not rub.
Step 2. Apply some CLEAN Vit. A& D, or Baccitricine, or NeoSporin to your tattoo in a thin layer.
(NeoSporin has been rumored to fade tattoos. DG doesn't believe it. But at the same time he has not tried his own scientific testing. DG believes that NeoSporin is a blend between Bac. and A&D ointment with a few added ingredients. The only thing that DG has found over the years is that some people are alergic to the Bac. This will result in small red bumps on the skin where applied. They look a bit like pimples. This will indicate an alergic reaction. In this case stop using the product you are currently using and use ONLY Vit A&D.)
You can leave your tattoo out to get air if you wish. (This is DG's choice when he gives himself a new tattoo.) But you have to be very careful about rubbing your tattoo against ANY surface. You do not want germs to get into the fresh tattoo nor do you want any ointment to get on anything else. That is not sanitary.
In the event that you are going to have anything touch your tattoo or you fear getting your ointment on surfaces or people or fear dust, dirt, dander to get into your tattoo (such as may happen at work) then apply a loose, breatheable bandage. A paper towel is actually a good choice because most have them at home, they are big, and they do not stick to the healing tattoo like cheap Gauze. Further the ointment layer acts a barrier between the tattoo and the paper towel.
Apply a few small pieces of tape, masking tape works very well, to keep the bandage in place.
Change every 3-4 hours or at least 2 times a day, morning and night for the first day or two... NO longer!
Repeat Steps 1-4 for ONLY 1-2 days. Some people heal slower than others so they may need a bit longer with the ointment. (If you can't tell personally a good indication is when you put on lotion. If it burns slightly that means the alcohol in the lotion is hitting a still open tattoo. Wash gently to get the lotion off and apply the ointment again for yet another day.)
After the 2nd or 3rd day STOP using the Vit A&D, Baccitrine, or Neosporin.
The new skin has grown over the holes that were made during the tattoo by now. To keep using the ointment does not help the skin heal more, nor is the ointment a good moistuizing agent. Use MOISTURIZING LOTION now.
(like Curells) Use frequntly.
Keep the new skin cells forming and the old skin cells moist so that there are no scabs and if there is a scab, then the lotion will keep the healing edges of the new skin and the scab moist so there will not be any tearing off of the scab or the new skin. The best result is to apply the lotion AROUND the scab. Do not put on it. The scab is the bodies natural bandaid. This closes any open holes and keeps out germs. Under the scab the new skin is forming. To apply lotion to the top softens the bandaid and makes it more flexible to be removed. Applying the lotion around the scab helps the new skin cells forming at the edge to be softer and flexible, which actually keeps the bodies bandaid in place and less likely to be pulled off.
IN THE SUN your skin will dry out, crack and burn. The skin is the window through which we view your new tattoo. That is why you want to keep your skin in top condition. Bad skin will make a good tattoo look bad.
Apply SUN BLOCK to your entire body when you go out, at least SPF 45 or greater. It has been suggested for years that this should be done every day of the year. ESPECIALLY apply sun block to your new tattoo area to allow the new skin cells to heal slowly and without burning.
PEELING OF YOUR NEW TATTOO IS COMMON Do not be alarmed when the skin starts to look like you had a sunburn and lines, skin appear to coming off. THIS IS NORMAL! This peeling is actually the skin that you had the day of your tattoo. The new skin cells formed new layers over the holes, so the old skin around them shed to allow the new skin to show.
DO NOT PEEL OFF THIS NEW SKIN!
Apply the lotion GENTLY and frequently and richly to the tattoo and you will notice that some skin cells will come off on your fingertips, this is natural and a good thing. You just do NOT want to rub hard or peel the layers of the skin intentionally or with dry skin. (This will tear the new skin cells and may damage the overall appearance of your tattoo.)
It may look like some "Lines" or "Ink" is coming out of the tattoo. This again is the old skin the day of the tattoo shedding to allow the new skin to show. (The ink is from the top layers of the skin, the NON PERM skin. The tattoo is below these layers in the Dermal Layer which never sheds.) Again these top layers coming off is normal. Do not pull on the new skin or remove, let it happen naturally and at your bodies' pace.
NEVER SCRATCH YOUR TATTOO
EVEN IF IT ITCHES!
Scratching will tear the new skin and rip out the lines from below the healing skin cells. This will cause massive damage to your tattoo. White skin around the area on the tattoo is a signifier of this incident.
IF it is allowed to fall off naturally there will be NO damage to the skin. Damage to the skin and tattoo happens when scabs are pulled off! In the event a scab forms: This will result in the white skin cells around a deep hole. This needs to be healed slowly and completely before any touch ups. This may take several months (dependant on your health)
Tattoos in HIGH MOTION areas like the inside of the elbow often have this white cell damage in a line or small area. This TOO is normal to the tattoo process and WILL BE TOUCHED UP FOR FREE when it is healed completely. The reason is due to this is a normal occurance during the healing process because there is so much movement during the healing. This happens naturally and is not due to scratching, yet has the same damage. In the event that this happens just notify DG within three weeks from getting the tattoo. If you do not notify DG within that time touch ups may NOT be free.
TOTAL HEALING TIME FOR A MASTERPIECE TATTOO IS ABOUT 7 DAYS.
Light spots or faded lines are usually intentional and give your tattoo by DG Wilson a unique and artistic look. Occassionally light spots do happen and were not a part of the artistic vision (you and DG are human.) In the event that you feel a touch up is needed, that is no problem.
Within 3 weeks after your tattoo, touch ups are generally free (some restrictions may apply as listed above.) Just give DG a call to set up a time, and make sure to inform him the nature of your touch up.
DG takes care of his tattoos in a somewhat looser way. This is because his body and mind are used to the tattoo and how to heal it. This system may not be best for all, it is just what DG does for himself. After the tattoo he puts on ointment and a simple bandage to keep the ointment from getting over other objects, people and to keep out germs. After 1 hour he washes off the ointment and drying scabs gently. He applies more ointment in a thin layer. After about 2 hours he takes off that ointment very gently. Then he leaves his tattoo to open air. The skin is closed by then on him so there is very little risk of outside germs. After a shower at night he applies a very thin layer of ointment and allows to air dry. The following day his tattoo is healed. Ointment is no longer necessary. Lotion is what keeps the skin soft and smooth so he applies a thin layer all over the tattoo and around. 2 hours later there is a thicker layer applied. For the next week DG will apply as much lotion as he deems intuitively necessary.
For those that are interested in the Ultimate Care of your Tattoo:
Treat your entire body well. Our skin is our largest organ and does tremendous things for us. Keep your body healthy as a whole and your skin will reflect the health from within.
When you go out apply sunblock.
Drink plenty of fresh and clean water every day.
Don't smoke.
Don't do drugs.
Drink alcohol in small amounts.
Eat fresh and organic fruits, nuts and veggies every day.
Do not eat junk "food" or fast food.
Breathe deeply, fill your lungs and expell completely during every breath or at least during quiet times in your day.
Light excercise is very good for the body, do it daily for a few minutes a day and you will notice an improvement in all aspects of life.
Meditate.
REMEMBER: During showers do not let the water hit your new tattoo too much. Get it clean but do not soak your new tattoo. Again do not use a wash cloth or a body brush on your new tattoo.
When done, pat gently the new tattoo, do not rub dry.
"Thank you so much for visiting Masterpieces Art Studio!
Let me help you stand out from the crowd!
(And Improve your SEX LIFE!)"
DG Wilson
(718) 398-6876
