Aftercare of a tattoo

Introduction

When stinging a tattoo, color is inserted into the middle layer of skin (dermis) with a needle. Since this is equivalent to an injury to the skin, a careful post-treatment must be done after the tattoo. As in the case of a slight abrasion or sunburn, the skin must be cared for and supported in its healing, so that it recovers quickly and properly.

There are certain rules for this, which are usually explained by tattooists after the procedure. Failure to comply with this unofficial set of rules, it can lead to permanent changes in the image. It can, for example, thick scarring and distort. Also color changes or a fading of the image are possible with poor aftercare or incorrect tattooing technique.

The foil after the tattoo

After each tattoo, a care cream is first applied to the tattooed skin, followed by a foil. Since the skin is injured, so-called wound secretion is secreted on the skin surface. This secretion is interspersed with inflammatory cells and serves to flush out bacteria from the injured skin.

Since the secretion can be sticky and is the first sign of the onset of wound healing, it usually sticks together when it dries out. To prevent the fresh wound from sticking to the overlying clothing and possibly being torn open when the garment is removed, a clean foil should always be applied over a freshly stitched tattoo. The wound secretion should be removed regularly after completion of the tattoo.

For this purpose, the foil can be removed and the cream including secretion with lukewarm water carefully washed off. After reapplying the cream again, a foil can be applied again over the tattoo, if there is a risk of irritation (by clothing) or soiling. If there is a possibility to leave the tattoo uncovered “in the air”, this should be done.

Thus, the wound secretion can be removed more often. This should be clear during the entire time – it should be a maximum of three days wound fluid from the skin to be released. Yellow fluid is probably pus and gives a clear indication of inflammation.

Normally the foil is worn the first night and removed the following day. If necessary, the foil can be left in place for the first one to three days – if there is a possibility of cleaning the wound and changing the foil. Only a clean foil fulfils its purpose.