QOW: No Shower for 7-9 Days?
"I just got a my first tattoo on Feb. 21, 2008 on my lower hip. The artist told me to keep the bandage on for five hours, after that, take it off and wash it gently with warm water and soap and put an ointment cream on. He then told me to not let it get wet, no matter what, for 7-9 days. Just use polysporen everyday. Are there any other suggestions that you might have, instead of not being able to have a shower for a week? Or should I stick to what he told me to do?" - J.M.
Answer:
I really try not to interfere with an artist's aftercare instructions, but
telling you not to shower for 7-9 days is ridiculous! 90% of germ removal
is through washing, not ointments. Antibacterial ointments can only do so
much, and applying layer upon layer of ointment without ever washing it
only sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
There is nothing wrong with showering. You don't want to take a bath and soak your tattoo, but gently washing it - at least once or even twice a day - is not only acceptable, but necessary. Not to mention the fact that the rest of your body (and the people around you) will thank you for staying clean!
Use a very mild liquid soap to wash your tattoo and use only your hand - no cloths or scrubbers. Gently rinse off the soap, BLOT dry with a CLEAN towel and then apply your ointment.
Don't go swimming, don't soak in a jacuzzi, don't take a bath - but please do shower!
Comments
Thanks for this…I had been wondering about this too…but my tattoo aftercare said 2 weeks without getting it wet. All I did was keep a towel over it so it didnt get really wet and then patted it dry. I just didn’t want to mess up my tattoo after getting it.
Another question…I was told never to use an antibotic to help with healing. I was told it would pull the ink out…so is it really safe?
I have alot of tattoo’s & my tattoo artist said to wash them with mild antibacterial soap several times a day & pat dry. He gave me some “Tattoo Goo” to apply for 2-3 days & after that keep keep it clean & moist using Lubriderm Hand Lotion to keep it from becoming to dry.Don’t soak in the bathtub or hot tub or pool for about 2 weeks or so. I have never had any problems using this method.
There is nothing wrong with you taking a shower. Just don’t let the shower pressure pound on the tattoo. Also it is important to let it air dry about 1/2 hr or even an hour before applying a very thin layer of ointment, or you will water log your tattoo, and it will look faded when healed. Its that simple!
For any tattooist to advise not to shower for 4-5 days is completely rediculous! I am a professional tattooist and I have over 20 years experience, its not good to soak any freshly done tattoos in any kind of water for any long periods of time, it will damage the tattoo healing process. Anyone getting a tattoo needs to keep it cleaned at all times and this helps heal the tattoo faster!
there is nothing like taking a shower daily to prevent infections or a bad tattoo, you know, to be clean means to be healthy!!! (i can tell you that cause i´m a tattooist)
Tattoo is afterall similar to a wound. It’s common sense, if you have a wound and not washing it definitely it will become stink and leads to complication like infection. same goes for piercing too. keep it clean and dry are the best solution. Dab it after shower, not scrub it.
With all this in mind you must pay attention to the shower products that do come in contact with the tattoo. Showering doesn’t hurt the tat but some products like dandruff shampoo and exfoliating soaps can hurt them also most of the acne soaps will hurt them. Ointments such as Bacitracin can pull color especially when you cake it on. Use all aftercare products sparingly. You should give your tattoo only a shimmer with whatever you use be it Tattoo Goo or Ointments. I preffer Tattoo Goo but there are other methods that work.
i just got my second tattoo on my lower hip too last saturday. i was told the same instructions for this one, as my first one…which is: take the bandage off after an hour, wash it with my fingertips w/ water and soap 5-6 times a day, and keep a&d ointment on it (do that for 2 weeks). i have never been told to keep it from being wet with clean water. youre just not suppose to go swimming, get in hot tubs, or go tanning until the healing is done.oh and DONT scratch it, or pick at it bc sometimes they peel a little.
I just had my second tattoo done 3 weeks ago now and it has healed fine. Some instructions I was given was, 1)to remove the bandage 2 to 3 hours after and wash it really well using a mid soap such as ivory and to pat dry with a papper towel,(DO NOT RE_BANDAGE) 2)allow it to dry out for the first 24 to 48 hours before applying any creams, because applying cream early can conceal moisture and it would be the same as water logging your tattoo, 3)do not soak it for the first two weeks or until it is healed, this will water log the tattoo and cause heavy scabbing 4)DO NOT use polysporin or any type of medicated ointment, it will draw out the color, 5)DO NOT pick at scabs, 6)DO NOT scratch at it while it is healing.
I got my third tattoo just 6 months ago. The artist told me to go home right away, take the bandage off, and stick it under extremely hot water - as hot as I could stand it. He said this would ’seal’ the tat, and make it heal faster. Didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but I did it, and it hurt so bad. I was also told not to put anything on it. Everyone I know that has a tat said that didn’t make any sense to them either. (I did end up stealing my dad’s TattooGoo.)
As this is an older posting you may not gain help except as reference to future tattoos. From the responses many others can too. After getting inked leave bandage on two hours, remove wash w/ unscented antibacterial soap rubbing as well as you can w/ only your finger tips, pat dry and air for a bit, apply a thin layer of aquaphor not a+d, should not be allowed to dry out and/or scab up, repeat sequence three times a day for three days then it should be healed up some now maintain cleanliness and apply lotion(unscented) until fully healed
Howdy! May I make a suggestion….I know that after sitting for a tattoo (especially your first) you’ll be tired and excited (we all are). I would suggest that you talk to your artist about the aftercare BEFORE you are inked. Ask questions, make sure you understand what you need to do and if something doesn’t make sense (like two weeks without a shower)you understand exactly what to do and how to do it. If you think of questions later call and ask.
After getting each of my four tattoos I was told to keep it clean, showers not baths, leave it uncovered and to use lotion that did NOT contain aloe vera because that would cause problems with the color. I made sure I understood and I didn’t have any problems.
I hope your tattoo healed nicely and is as beautiful as you hoped.
i dont have a tattoo but just get stick tape or suran wrap and wrap it around the tattoo