How long should I keep the bandage over my new tattoo?
- Tuesday Dec 29,2009 03:40 AM
- By diddy
- In Others
I’m getting my first tattoo done on Saturday and I’ve been told different things from everyone I’ve asked about how long I should keep the bandage on. Any tips on how to take care of it and tips on cleaning it would be great, too.
Thanks!
Bandage, Different Things, New Tattoo
18 Comments
I’ve been told conflicting things, too. I personally keep it on for about two hours (I was told 1-4, so I figured two would be good).
Someone mentioned until it’s healed - yeah.. no, it is a wound. and like wounds, all of them need to breathe.
I am pretty religious with my tattoo aftercare, and this is my normal process:
-Take bandage off after 2 hours, wash with antibacterial liquid (frangrance free!) soap, gently pat (do not wipe) dry with a clean towel.
-Apply thin layer of A&D ointment on it three times a day for 3 days.
-Switch to frangrance free Curel or Lubriderm (I have used both and like both), use 3 times a day for 5 days.
-After that, put lotion on whenever it feels or looks dry.
And if (and when) it starts itching, DO NOT scratch. Lightly slap the skin to relieve it.
DO NOT pick at the scabs. I did that to my wrist tattoo (it was my second, way back when), and I have to get it redone.
Anyway, listen to what your tattoo artist says… each artist has their reccommendations. All of this is just what I have been doing, and all (except the wrist :[ ) healed perfectly.
My tattoo artist told me one hour
a hour to a couple hours-no longer
and it really doesn’t need to be on even that long
they should have told you-where u got it done at-what to do and how to take care of it
Why don’t you just ask the person doing to tattoo for you. I’d think he/she would be the reliable one…
Ive been told only a few hours, until i get home & can wash it.
keep the bandage on until it is healed! as long as you feel like it may leak or bleed keep it on… and when it is scabbed over, do NOT pick at it, you can mess it up and it will look all smudgy. take care of it like you would any other "wound". wash it, keep it clean.
Well, i had to keep mine on for two hours, and just use the lotion that they will give you, and when you wash, dont be afraid, just wash, and DONT SCRATCH!!!
Good luck, send pics when its done!!!
Did your artist not tell you this?
As you’ve found, there’s a lot of different methods. Personally, I take the wrap off in 1 - 4 hours. Don’t leave it on too long, the skin needs to breathe so longer isn’t better. The time I leave it on depends on how bad it’s weeping.
I wash it with Provon and put A&D on it. I continue to wash twice a day and apply A&D when needed until it stops flaking (usually about 4 days for me), then I switch over to non-scented lotion until it’s settled.
An hour or so, otherwise you’ll have a hard time getting it off because it will start drying to your tattoo. (This actually happened me) Your artist will tell you how to take care of it and how long to keep it covered though.
xx
Ask your tattoo artist, he/she should be able to give you a better answer than internet folk. That being said, I have 4 and each one I had on for a different time period. It depends on what I am doing that day. If you are going to be in a relatively clean and dust-free environment, an hour or two should suffice. If you will be working or doing something where you clothing will rub it, you may want to have it on longer.
As far as I know just keep it on until it stops hurting. Trust me it should stop huting after about 3 weeks. For cleaning I use a sponge (soap in the sponge is fine)it stings at first but you get over it.
Keep the bandage on for 2 hours after the tattoo is done and then be sure to wash with antibacterial soap and warm water . Let heal dry heal for about a week and then use the smallest amount of gold bond healing lotion (about $5 at walmart -white and blue bottle ) and put light lotion over tattoo.. Experience with husbands half sleeve tattoos and 5 more plus my 2 .. Hope that i could help…whatever you do DO NOT PUT A&D ointment, Vaseline, triple antibiotic ointment, alcohol ,no scratching…and do not let sit in water too long ..as this can cause the tattoo to heal like crap and also look really bad ..just ask your tattoo artist and they will explain to you ..and whatever else you do do NOT peel the skin off when it is peeling
The bandage stays on for about an hour. When you remove the bandage you can clean it by dabbing it with a wet towel. DO NOT scrub it, and DO NOT use soap. The best post care is keeping it moist with bacitracin or another ointment equivalent to bacitracin. This will help keep it from scabbing. If you do get scabs, DO NOT pick them, picking will compromise the quality and look of the tattoo. Also, apply a little extra bacitracin to it, when you shower, this will help keep the water off and deter the tattoo from drying out. This process lasts about ten days, then you should be in the clear. I know it’s tedious, but it works, I did this to the four tattoos I have, and I never had a scab issue, and the color looks great! Good luck!
they should tell you exactly what to do in the place where you get it done. and i believe you shouldn’t leave it covered for so long. it needs to heal you just need to put lotion every so often, they’ll tell you
When I got mine on my right shoulder blade, everyone told me to keep the bandage on for a few hours then take it off.. I was afraid of the peeling from the drying afterwards. I kept it on for the whole day and into the next afternoon, while I kept it heavily lubed with bacitracin ointment. It looked great and I didnt have to deal with any peeling and the fear of color looking patchy. (oh and keep tat out of direct sun until its at least 5 days old- for fading issues)
Keep the bandage on for two hours. when you take it off, gently hand wash it with anti-bacterial "soft soap", blotting it dry with a clean towel. after washing it, put a generous amount of lubriderm (unscented) hand lotion on it. You should be washing it 3 to 4 times per day and putting the lotion on it 7 to 10 times per day. I know a lot will tell you to use A+D ointment, but its not really necessary.
you only have to keep it on for an hour or two after you get it done. also you have to wash it every day with soapy water useing just your hands. then put some kind of moisturizer on it.
However long your tattoo artist says to leave it on for.
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