Tattoo Aftercare Guide | Tattoos By Charlene

Looking after your new tattoo

Good aftercare supports healing, but it cannot guarantee a particular result. Follow the specific instructions given by your artist and the directions for any dressing or product used. Healing varies with the tattoo, placement, skin and individual health.

Immediately after your appointment

Keep the initial dressing on for the period advised for the type of dressing applied. If you have Second Skin or another adhesive film, follow the product-specific instructions given to you. Do not leave a dressing on longer than its instructions allow. If it leaks, becomes heavily contaminated or causes a significant reaction, contact the studio for advice on removal and seek medical help for severe symptoms.

Cleaning and moisturising

Wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
When it is time to clean the tattoo, gently wash with clean, lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, unless your artist has advised otherwise.
Pat dry with clean disposable paper towel or allow it to air-dry. Do not scrub or rub.
Apply only a thin layer of a suitable aftercare product when advised. More product is not necessarily better.
Do not pick, scratch, peel flakes or remove scabs. Let the skin shed naturally.

While it heals

Avoid soaking the tattoo in baths, swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes or the sea until the skin has healed.
Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning while healing. Once healed, protect the tattoo from the sun.
Choose clean, loose clothing and avoid friction, dirty environments and activities that repeatedly stretch or contaminate the area.
Avoid applying alcohol, peroxide, harsh chemicals or unadvised home remedies to the tattoo.
Do not shave over the tattoo until healed.

What can be normal?

Some tenderness, mild redness, slight swelling and peeling may occur early in healing. These should gradually improve. Tattoo fading and changes in appearance can happen over time and depend on skin, placement, sun exposure, technique and aftercare. A healed tattoo may need a touch-up, but this cannot be guaranteed or assessed accurately while the skin is still healing.

When to get medical help

Seek prompt medical advice if redness or swelling is spreading or worsening, pain is increasing, the area becomes very hot, there is pus or a bad smell, you develop fever or red streaks, or you experience a significant allergic reaction. For breathing difficulty or swelling of the face or throat, seek emergency help. The studio cannot diagnose or treat infections.

Need help?

For questions about the dressing or the studio's aftercare instructions, WhatsApp 071 334 4172. For medical concerns, contact a qualified healthcare professional. See our general aftercare guide and aftercare products.