Make Sure It's Clean: Key Steps in Cleaning Your New Tattoo

Tattoos are becoming more and more of a mainstream staple in today's society. Everyone from all spectrums of the world, young and old, are endeavoring into the realm of tattooing. It could be the alluring buzz of a tattoo gun, methodically running its course, or maybe just the creativity to turn your imagination into artwork, and on any part of your body at that. Considering that a tattoo should be treated as a one-of-a-kind piece of art, it is absolutely vital that you do everything in your power to maintain it so that it will be healthy for quite some time.

Typically, when someone walks out of a tattoo shop, you will notice that, rather than brandishing an intricate tattoo, they are wearing a bandage. There is a reason for this, and a good reason at that. Tattoos, essentially, are a flesh wound inflicted by the constant thrusting of a needle into the skin. Therefore, they are quite susceptible to infection-causing bacteria when they are first completed. To more-or-less block any bacteria, most tattoo artists will apply a makeshift bandage over the fresh tattoo. While it may be tough to wear a bandage over the immaculate artwork you just had done, it is vital that you keep the tattoo covered for at least two hours.

After the initial two hours have passed, you can remove the bandage carefully, but you are not free just yet. Now, the cleaning process commences. To clean a new tattoo, rather than using a rough wash-cloth, use your hand, combined with warm water and a antibacterial soap to gently wash away any residue that has accumulated on the surface of the tattoo. This residue can be anything from excess ink, to blood and plasma. Once the area has been cleaned properly, grab a paper towel and gently pat (do not rub!) the area dry.

Once dry, the tattooed area is now ready to receive some much-needed ointment. Moreover, when it comes to ointments, you will get opinions from everyone, and since there are hundreds of different types of ointments available, it can get rather confusing. The key aspect to keep in mind is simply to get an ointment that has antibacterial properties. A&D ointment is usually the preferred choice among tattoo artists.