Looking after your new tattoo
Tattoo aftercare.
Keep your new tattoo clean and protect it while it heals. Follow the plan selected by your artist and contact us if you are unsure.
Your artist’s plan
Keep the plan your artist gave you to hand. It should include:
- Your artist’s name and the date of your tattoo
- Your selected plan: wet healing, dry healing or second skin
- The name of your dressing or product
- The date and time to remove or change your dressing
- Your next steps and product instructions
If you are unsure about your plan, contact us.
Everyday care
Wash your hands before touching your tattoo. Once the dressing is removed, gently wash with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap. Rinse and pat dry with clean paper towel. Wash once or twice daily and after it gets dirty. Do not scrub.
Take short showers. Avoid baths, swimming, hot tubs and saunas until healed, even with a waterproof dressing. Wear loose, clean clothing and use clean bedding. Avoid rubbing, heavy sweating, picking and scratching.
Keep the tattoo away from direct sun, sunbeds, dirt and pets. Use high-factor sunscreen only once the skin is fully healed.
Wet healing
After washing and drying, apply a very thin layer of the fragrance-free moisturiser agreed with your artist. The skin should feel comfortable, not greasy or soggy. Do not soak the tattoo or re-wrap it in household cling film.
Stop using the product if it irritates your skin and ask for advice. Avoid antiseptics, alcohol, peroxide and antibiotic creams unless advised by a clinician.
Dry healing
Once the initial dressing is removed, gently wash and pat dry as above. Leave the tattoo without cream or further wrapping if your artist has chosen this plan. You still need to wash it.
Let flakes and scabs fall away naturally. Contact us if the skin cracks or becomes painfully tight.
Second skin
Wear time
Keep the film on until the removal or change time written by your artist in your aftercare plan. Wear times vary, so follow your own plan. Tell your artist about any reactions to plasters or adhesives.
Keep it sealed
A little fluid and ink beneath the film can be normal. Do not lift an edge, puncture it or squeeze fluid out. Wash underneath only when the film is removed.
Daily care
Shower briefly and pat the outside dry. Avoid soaking, swimming, rubbing and heavy sweating. Do not put cream beneath the film.
Remove it early if needed
Remove the film if it leaks, water gets inside or the tattoo becomes exposed. Remove it for burning, blisters or an itchy rash and seek medical advice. Do not patch a failed seal.
Take it off gently
Wash your hands, then remove slowly using warm water and the method shown by your artist. Do not rip it off. Ask us for help if it is difficult to remove.
After removal
Gently wash, rinse and pat dry, then follow your agreed wet or dry plan. Apply a fresh piece only if your artist has instructed you to. Never reuse film or cover scabs or a suspected infection with it.
What healing can look like
Mild tenderness, redness, slight swelling and a little clear or ink-stained fluid can occur at first. Flaking and itching may follow. These symptoms should gradually improve.
Know when to get help
When to get medical help
Contact an urgent GP service or NHS 111 for increasing pain, heat, swelling or spreading redness, pus, an unpleasant smell, red streaks, fever or feeling unwell. On darker skin, redness may be less visible. Do not wait for a studio reply if infection is possible.
Call 999 for breathing difficulty, sudden swelling of the mouth or throat, collapse, confusion, or blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin.
We are here if you need us
Contact us for routine aftercare questions. For medical concerns, speak to a healthcare professional.
AWAKE.arise Studio
269 Melrosegate, York, YO10 3SN
Monday–Saturday, 10am–5pm
A little support goes a long way
Share your experience
Leave an honest Google review. Thank you for supporting the studio.
Leave a Google review