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Tattoos – A Body Art - Tattoos and After


Tattoos and After

A new tattoo must be maintained cleanly. It must not be exposed to the sun for long periods to prevent fading.

Tattoo artists, and those who sport the tattoos have their own after care preferences. But common consensus prevails with regard to the following after care methods –

  • The tattoo has to be kept under wraps initially. The time varies from less than 2 hrs to 24 hrs depending on the tattoo artist
  • Do not expose the tattoo to the sun for long periods to avoid fading of the image.
  • A newly created tattoo must be kept clean.
  • Lanolin, cocoa butter, salves and other oil-based ointments are recommended to be applied in very thin layers.
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  •  Soap and warm water should be used , along with other products, as a part of after-care work up.
  • Care must be exercised in removing the scab from a new tattoo.
  • More recently, commercial tattoo after-care products have been exclusively developed.

Many artists advise against overhydration for the first two weeks. This is to prevent the ink from the tattoo being washed out (which may culminate in fading) and also to avoid exposure to chlorine and infection-causing bacteria. At the end of the day, the quantity of ink particles that are retained in the skin after the entire healing process determines the final outcome of the tattoo.

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