Captain Bret's Tattoo Shop - 2 Collins St.

Newport, Rhode Island  

 Next door to Newport Police Department 

   401-846-4488

TATTOO AFTER CARE

Tattooing, a technique of marking the skin with colors, has been practiced since antiquity. Now this ancient art is enjoying a renaissance. Movie, television and sports stars have begun sporting Tattoos, and others are following their lead.

We want your new Tattoo to turn out perfect for you to enjoy for years to come.  So please  follow our recommendations for the proper care of your new Tattoo.

The Tattoo machine, in a simplified explanation, operates like a mini-sewing machine: the Tattoo needle that is attached to the Tattoo needle bar moves up and down very rapidly as it penetrates the superficial (epidermis) and the middle layer (dermis) of the skin. This process creates a superficial abrasion to the skin that is only about as deep as the thickness of your fingernail. Properly and professionally done, Tattoos cause minimal trauma to the skin and heal very quickly. Depending on the individuals care and reaction to the process, it may take from one to two weeks average time to heal over nicely.

The most critical time to control and direct the healing process for a new Tattoo is from the completion of the Tattoo until there is no more oozing of fluid from the Tattoo.

This requires you to wipe off oozing fluids ( which appear as droplets on the surface ) until fluids no longer reappear.

This may take several wiping every 15 minutes immediately after getting a Tattoo.

Timing is critical to prevent dead cells from accumulating, sticking and drying on the surface of the Tattooed area.

Allowing Tattoos to dry prolongs the healing time, producing a dry scab and loss of ink.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that wounds moistened with ointment heal faster, produce less dry scabbing and  consequently keeps more Tattoo ink in the skin which heal brighter and sharper looking.

As soon as you get home from the Tattoo shop ( no longer than 2 hours ) follow these instructions:

1.       As soon as you get home remove bandage, wipe off the ointment and oozing body fluid with a tissue.

 DO NOT WASH

 Water content of the Tattooed area is a major factor in the speed of healing.

 KEEP DRY !

 2.    Apply a thin layer of A&D ointment, Bacitracin, or comparable product.

 The biggest problem is not the selection of ointment ( all comparable ointments of this type will produce good healing ).  Getting any ointment and using it as directed and having you follow these instructions is critical for promoting proper care and healing for your new Tattoo.  This is more important than fretting over what type of ointment to purchase.

A&D ointment is the preferred product to use due to the fact that some people have an allergic reaction to the zinc and other ingredients in Bacitracin or Neosporin ointment.  If you are not allergic to these products they are fine to use.  Otherwise buy and use A&D ointment because it contains none of these allergic reaction causing ingredients.

BUY A&D OINTMENT IF AVAILABLE.

3.       Wait 15 minutes and see if bubbles of fluid appear on the surface of the Tattooed area.

4.     If they do, wipe of with a tissue and reapply ointment.

5.     REPEAT THIS TILL NO MORE BUBBLES APPEAR ( 2 to 5 times ).

 STOP AND READ STEP 1 TO 5 AGAIN.

 THE BETTER YOU CARE FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO

IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING IT

THE BETTER IT WILL TURN OUT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE !

 IT IS CRITICAL TO REMOVE FLUID FROM THE TATTOO AND KEEP MOIST DURING THE FIRST FEW HOURS AFTER GETTING YOUR TATTOO.

You can use your CLEAN finger tips to apply the ointment.                                  

DO NOT BANDAGE.

When oozing stops, apply a thin layer of ointment 4 times a day.  

• No skin to skin contact with people or pets.

• No scratching.

• No picking.

• No peeling.

• No swimming.

• No sauna.

• No Jacuzzi.

• No tub.

• No sun.

• No tanning salon.

• No contact sports.

• No shaving.

Be very careful at work, keep clean.

If you work in a Hospital or other medical or clinical setting ( nursing home, doctors, dental office, labs ) be very careful not to come into contact with anything in the building with your new Tattoo. Bandage with a sterile NON-STICK bandage while at work to protect from any such accidental contact. Use surgical type hand scrub at home after work before caring for Tattoo.

The better you care for your new Tattoo immediately after you get it the better it will heal and look for the rest of your life.

At night, just before bed, wipe the area down lightly with alcohol to help control microorganisms on the surface of the skin during your hours of sleep.

You must keep the Tattoo dry during showers.

Coat with Vaseline ONLY during showers so as not to allow Tattoo to get soaking wet.  Wipe off after shower.

After 2 days stop using the A&D ointment and SWITCH TO A MOISTURIZING SKIN CREAM OR LOTION ( a dry skin or hand lotion ).

Lubriderm is the preferred hand or skin ointment, lotion to purchase.

BUY LUBRIDERM IF AVAILABLE.

The type of skin lotion you purchase is not as important as the act of actually getting ointment and using it.  Buy a brand name lotion preferably without a lot of fragrances or odd ingredients, purchase a quality name brand, such as: Vaseline intensive care dry skin lotion, Jergens, Nivia, Lubriderm.

Lanolin in some lotions causes allergic reactions in some people.

Bee’s wax in some lotions can clog pores and is not recommended.

Use moisturizing lotion for 3 to 5 times a day for another 4 or 5 days.

Keep very lightly moist, DO NOT ALLOW TATTOO TO DRY OUT.

It is true that Petroleum jelly or any petroleum based products tend to drain the color from a Tattoo.

Please do not be stingy with the purchase of Tattoo aftercare products.  You probably will spend a lot of money for a nice Tattoo, so the amount spent on care products is negligible.

Your New Tattoo is a wound that MUST BE PROPERLY CARED FOR !  

Some people can be allergic to the ingredients in hand lotions and antibiotic ointments.

A reaction can appear as small pimples or a redness around the Tattoo area.

If this occurs, discontinue use of this type ointment, Wash with alcohol, let dry for the day and switch to Vaseline lotion or a different brand skin lotion    ( look at label, do not use same ingredients as in reactive brand).

Some people may have an adverse reaction to the particular pigment used in the Tattoo ink  this may result in swelling or itching. This can usually be relieved by using a topical corticosteroid cream and keeping the Tattoo out of direct sunlight (which may make the reaction worse).

Also it is noted that that some people have a allergic reaction that occurs in certain colors when exposed to sunlight.  This is rare and if it does occur do not itch the area as this will only increase the reaction.  A cold compress pack and the application of a topical corticosteroid  cream should reduce the swelling.

If you have a medical condition, are aware of allergic reations or are on any medications, please notify your Tattooist.

If you experience any problems with the aftercare instructions or products recommended here, discontinue use immediately.

I WILL STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE AND FINEST TATTOOS TO MY VALUED CUSTOMERS, THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY WEB PAGE, CAPTAIN BRET

Skin&Ink Tattoo magazine article about Captain Bret's Celtic Tattoos

My article and picture in Harley Davidson 100 year Anniversary Book