Underwood Tattoos

Tattoo aftercare

What to expect from a healing tattoo:

Your body will produce fluid when healing your tattoo, some ink molecules will also be expelled along with this. This can vary in volume from person to person, but is a natural part of your body's healing process and is nothing to worry about. You will not lose all of the ink from your tattoo.

It is common for the area that you've been tattooed to be sore and swollen for up to a week after your appointment. This should only cause mild discomfort in the first few days, but should improve quickly, depending on your body, what you've had tattooed, where on your body and how long your appointment was, as well as how much rest you have been able to give the area.

It is common for the adhesive in microporous tape or Dermalize Pro to cause some mild redness or irritation when worn for a minimum of a few days. This shouldn't cause more than minor irritation, should not be painful and should clear up within a week or two with regular gentle washing and moisturising.

It is common for redness, irritation and occasionally small spots to appear around or on a healing tattoo. Provided there are no other signs of infection, these are usually nothing to worry about and clear up quickest when left alone, besides the usual washing and moisturising of your healing tattoo. Do not squeeze or pick any spots, as this can affect the healing of your tattoo and increase the risk of infection.

Infection is always a risk when healing a tattoo, you can minimise this by following
these aftercare instructions, ensuring plenty of rest and minimal stress after your
appointment. If you have any concerns about an infection, please e-mail us: underwoodtattoos@hotmail.co.uk

If you would like to use alternative healing methods or products, please ask us for our advice.

Dermalize Pro - This is our recommended aftercare routine

The first Dermalize Pro dressing can be worn until it needs to be changed.

It’s fine to shower with the dressing on as it is water resistant. The longer you soak
your dressing in the water, the more likely it is to come off.

You may not need to change your dressing at all. If it does not come off on its own, we recommend leaving it on until you are finished with the wrapped stage of your healing. If the dressing leaks but does not come off, you can wipe the exces fluid away and, if necessary, apply strips of Dermalize Pro around the edges of your dressing to provide extra coverage.

You will notice that after a few days the fluid under your dressing will have been somewhat or completely reabsorbed. This is perfect for healing your tattoo well and is a sign that your dressing can be removed, if you feel it is time. If you would like to wear it for longer, and are comfortable, you may do so.

If your dressing does come off on its own before you are done wrapping, gently wash the area with clean hands, warm water and a mild, unscented or tattoo specific soap. Thoroughly pat dry with a clean towel or hand towels (no sharing!)

Apply a fresh Dermalize Pro dressing. If you feel your tattoo needs it, you can apply a thin layer of Butterluxe before applying the new dressing.

You can use Dermalize Pro for up to seven days, changing dressings when necessary.

You may notice an imprint of the tattoo on your worn dressing, this is completely normal and will not affect your healed tattoo.

If your Dermalize Pro dressing is hard to pull off the skin, let some warm water run under the tattoo film so that the glue softens and removal of the film is easier.

Once finished wrapping, and have washed your tattoo, leave it open to the air for a short time so that it can gently scab over and not stick to any layers of clothing.

Continue to apply Butterluxe or a natural moisturiser, such as pure coconut oil, until your tattoo has finished healing. Use a thin layer of moisturiser whenever necessary (usually two to four times a day), do not smother your tattoo.

Once your tattoo has gently scabbed over, you are fine to carefully wash it, when you would normally; e.g. when you have a shower or bath or are washing your skin or body anyway. You do not need to over wash the area, as this can cause unnecessary irritation.

 

Cling film - This routine is recommended if you cannot use a second skin product for whatever reason

The first application of cling film can be worn for a maximum of 12-24 hours, depending on your skin and how it feels under the cling film.

Once you have removed the cling film, gently wash the area with clean hands, warm water and a mild, unscented or tattoo specific soap. Thoroughly pat dry with a clean towel or hand towels (no sharing!)

Apply a fresh covering of cling film. If you feel your tattoo needs it, you can apply thin layer of Butterluxe before applying the new covering.

You can use cling film for up to seven days, changing once every 12-24 hours.

Once finished wrapping, and have washed your tattoo, leave it open to the air for a short time so that it can gently scab over and not stick to any layers of clothing.

Continue to apply Butterluxe or a natural moisturiser, such as pure coconut oil, until your tattoo has finished healing. Use a thin layer of moisturiser whenever necessary (usually two to four times a day), do not smother your tattoo.

Once your tattoo has gently scabbed over, you are fine to carefully wash it, when you would normally; e.g. when you have a shower or bath or are washing your skin or body anyway. You do not need to over wash the area, as this can cause unnecessary irritation.

Tattoo Armour - This is recommended for the first day or two after colour sessions or if you do not wish to use wet healing for whatever reason

Tattoo Armour can be used as the only dressing or in combination with Dermalize Pro or cling film - for the first day(s) after a colour session, when the tattoo is wettest.

Tattoo Armour dressings can be worn for six hours each.

Once you have removed the first dressing, gently wash the area with clean hands, warm water and a mild, unscented or tattoo specific soap. Thoroughly pat dry with a clean towel or hand towels (no sharing!)

Apply a fresh Tattoo Armour dressing. If you feel your tattoo needs it, you can apply thin layer of Butterluxe before applying the new dressing.

You can use Tattoo Armour for up to seven days, changing dressings every six
hours.

You will notice an imprint of the tattoo on your worn dressing, this is completely normal and will not affect your healed tattoo.

Feel free to cut the pads to a smaller size to fit around awkward areas, however avoid using them to a create a 'mosaic', as this can hinder the performance of the pad(s).

Sleeping with the pads on is completely fine. You do not need to wake up in the middle of the night to change your dressing. Due to the fact that you're moving a lot less, you'll bleed a little less as well. It all evens out.

Once finished using Tattoo Armour, either apply Dermalize Pro (if using both) or leave unwrappped (if you have wrapped for at least a few days).

Once finished wrapping, and have washed your tattoo, leave it open to the air for a short time so that it can gently scab over and not stick to any layers of clothing.

Continue to apply Butterluxe or a natural moisturiser, such as pure coconut oil, until your tattoo has finished healing. Use a thin layer of moisturiser whenever necessary (usually two to four times a day), do not smother your tattoo.

Once your tattoo has gently scabbed over, you are fine to carefully wash it, when you would normally; e.g. when you have a shower or bath or are washing your skin or body anyway. You do not need to over wash the area, as this can cause unnecessary irritation.

 

General advice for after the wrapping stage:

Do not let your tattoo dry out.

Do not soak your tattoo in the shower or bath while it is healing.

Do not pick your tattoo, even if it scabs.

Do not use fake tan, cosmetics or perfumes on your tattoo until it is completely healed.

Do not go swimming or use a sun bed until your tattoo is completely healed.

Do not go to the gym for the first week or two (depending on what you've had tattooed and how it is healing) after your appointment.

Do not follow any aftercare instructions besides these.

Avoid alcohol for the 24 hours preceding and following your tattoo session.

Treat as a wound i.e. keep it clean and protected.

Keep your tattoo out of the sun until it is completely healed and then use factor 50
sunblock on your ink whenever it is exposed.

Your tattoo may look healed relatively soon after your appointment, but will not be finished fully healing until four to eight weeks after the session.

We offer one free touch up appointment, up to six months after the initial tattoo appointment, provided that our pre-tattoo advice and aftercare instructions have been strictly followed. After six months there will be a charge, either our minimum charge or the relevant amount to cover the work.

Thank you so much for getting a tattoo with us, if you'd like to share your experience please leave us a review on Google. Your feedback means a lot to us!

https://g.page/r/CfaEAjqDcvgsEB0/review

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail us: underwoodtattoos@hotmail.co.uk 

Mim and Rob  💜

 

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