Healing guide · Lady Moon Tattoo

Aftercare

Your new tattoo is a healing wound. Good aftercare will keep your tattoo looking as crisp as the day you got it.

Here's how we recommend healing

Your artist may give you instructions specific to your tattoo — always follow those first! This is our general guide for the first few weeks.

1.0

Unwrap Tonight

Do your best to keep your bandage on until you sleep. If you're going out afterwards, be sure to keep it wrapped and covered! Your tattoo is in its most vulnerable wound state at this time, and can pick up an infection. Wash your hands before taking the wrap off, and wash your tattoo with unscented antibacterial soap. Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor before turning in for the night.

2.0

Wash and aquaphor

For the next 2-3 days, wash your tattoo gently 2-3 times a day with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap, using clean hands only. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. At this time, it's normal for your tattoo to be red, swollen, and to push out excess ink and plasma. Your tattoo is still a healing wound that is prone to infection during this time!

3.0

Moisturize

Once your tattoo starts to feel dry and it starts to lightly flake, apply a thin layer of the fragrance-free lotion to the tattoo. Do this 2-3 times a day until it is fully healed. Ensure you're using thin layers of lotion — your skin needs to breathe, and more isn’t better. Though your care still matters, your tattoo is exiting its wound stage and becoming less likely to contract an infection.

4.0

Let it heal

Within the first week, your tattoo will start to flake, peel, and itch — don’t pick or scratch! When all of the flakes have shed naturally from the tattoo, your tattoo is finally settled under the skin and fully healed. This entire process should take 2-4 weeks, and once it is fully healed you can resume all swimming, soaking, and sunscreen use.

While it heals.

Avoid until healed

Soaking

No pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, or the ocean swimming. Quick showers are encouraged!

Sun

Keep it out of direct sun and tanning beds. You can not use sunscreen on your tattoo while it is healing, so be careful not to get a burn. Once it’s healed, sunscreen can be used and keeps your colors bright!

Friction

Wear loose, clean clothing over it. Avoid shaving, waxing, or any localized friction until it's healed.

Picking

Don’t pick, peel, or scratch scabs and flakes. Let them fall off on their own, and if any ink seems to come off with them, let us know and we will touch up your piece free of charge.

When to reach out

Normal

Some redness, swelling, tenderness, and a little clear or inky fluid in the first few days. Some tender areas are prone to bruising (ditch, armpit, inner arm).

Doctor?

Contact us and see a doctor if redness or swelling spreads or gets worse, you see red streaks, yellow or green discharge, or you develop a fever in addition to these symptoms.

Questions

Email ladymoonpgh@gmail.com or DM your artist. Touch-ups are always free if they’re needed.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. If something doesn’t look or feel right, contact a doctor.

Start at 1.0.

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