Ghost in the Machine Tattoo
Tattoo Care Instructions
(Scroll down for Tegaderm aftercare)
Please be aware that a fresh tattoo is an open wound and should be treated as such. Following our aftercare guidelines will greatly increase your chances of healing without problems. Your tattoo will take about 10-14 days to heal superficially, and about 6 weeks to heal completely.
Every tattoo artist will have his or her variation on healing protocol, so follow any instructions your artist at Ghost in the Machine has advised, but do NOT follow the advice of any friends, “experts” you found online, other tattoo artists, etc. Help us help you. Your tattoo was applied under clean conditions using single-use and/or autoclave sterilized equipment. Successfully healing your hard-earned tattoo is up to you…
1. Keep your bandage on a minimum of three hours. If you will be going to bed before then it’s ok to leave it on overnight.
2. After removing the bandage, wash the tattoo thoroughly with cool soapy water. A mild antibacterial soap is good, but in general whatever bath soap you know your skin agrees with will usually be fine. A quick shower is fine but do not soak in a tub, go swimming, use a sauna, etc until the tattoo is healed. Do not re-bandage.
3. Dab it dry, and with clean hands apply a very thin coat of Aquaphor (available over the counter at any drug store), or whatever ointment your artist has recommended. Less is more! You don’t want to smother the tattoo.
4. For the first two weeks, be sure to wash the tattoo morning and night. If it seems necessary you can wash it throughout the day as well. Re-apply the ointment with clean hands.
5. Do not pick at your tattoo! Dead skin and possibly some light scabbing will flake off your tattoo as it heals- do not pick at your tattoo! Your tattoo may also itch while it’s healing- do not scratch your tattoo!
6. After about 3 days you can switch from the Aquaphor to thin coats of moisurizing lotion. Fragrance-free Eucerin or Lubriderm are good. Moisturizer may help with the itching. The tattoo should be completely closed over by now, but on the off chance you have trouble spots that are still weeping stick to the Auquaphor until it stops.
7. Avoid direct sunlight while the tattoo is healing but do not apply sun screen until it is completely healed. A lifetime habit of sunscreen use in the future will help preserve the color in your tattoo.
8. Ghost in the Machine strongly recommends against working out while your tattoo is healing! A dirty gym or equipment, your sweat, and friction and contact with the new tattoo will greatly increase the chances of infection.
9. If you have any questions regarding the care and healing of your tattoo, just call us! We take pride in our work and want it looking as good as the day it was finished for many years to come…
Aftercare with Tegaderm Bandage
Let the bandage be! Your bandage is specially designed to stay on the surface of the tattoo for 3-4 days. You can shower with the bandage, just avoid getting too much hot water or soap on the bandage itself. While tegaderm does help prevent contact with dirty surfaces (gyms etc), it is still recommended that you take a few days off to avoid stressing the area.
The night of or day after your tattoo, the area may look muddy or smeared. This is totally normal! This is just your body getting rid of some extra ink, blood, and plasma, and while it may look alarming, your tattoo is perfect safe under the muck. If it’s a small amount, your body will naturally dry it up. If a “pouch” of fluid builds up, gently push the bubble towards the edge of the bandage and wick away with a paper towel.
If the bandage comes off in the first 24 hours after your appointment, there are two options. The first option is to just follow the aftercare instructions listed above for non-tegaderm tattoos. The other option is to purchase tegaderm (or similar bandage) at a pharmacy and apply it yourself. Be sure to clean the skin and gently dry it before applying any new bandage. Do your best to keep the bandage on for three days.
REMOVING TEGADERM BANDAGE: After 3-4 days, your bandage will be ready to remove. The bandage works a lot like a Command Strip. If you gently pull a corner outwards, not upwards, the adhesive will stretch, and the bandage will break down. DO NOT rip off like a band-aid! Slow and gentle! During the very last phase of healing, your tattoo may look a little bit light, shiny, or waxy. This is the final layer of skin healing over, and will return to a more normal looking texture within a few days.
Once the bandage is removed, wash with a mild soap and water, pat dry with a paper towel, and apply a thin layer of unscented moisturizer. repeat twice a day for about a week.
If you have anymore questions please feel free to call the shop at 617-562-4089
or email us at gitmtattoo@gmail.com