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Post by rawrchicken on May 22, 2017 15:27:27 GMT
So I'm generally more well versed in piercings and the healing of them - and once they're done healing you pretty much can just leave em alone and they're good to go.
Tattoos sound like they're a bit of a different story. Despite years on the forums/BME I've never really picked up on a lot of tattoo aftercare except "wear sunscreen". That one for me is generally a given when I know I will be out in the sun for a while since I'm pale af. When I got my 1 tattoo done I was told to not take baths or go swimming for about a month - that to me makes sense. However, someone I know won't go swimming for up to 3 months after getting new work done - this to me seems excessive, but maybe I'm wrong.
I'm not trying to promote recklessness with tattoos like getting hella sunburn, but just trying to figure out what is kinda over-cautious wive's tales and what precautions really need to be taken.
So. How do you keep your tattoos in good shape over the years?
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Post by PiercedOff on May 22, 2017 15:33:51 GMT
I put lotion on them sometimes but that's about it, but that's really only because sometimes I put lotion on my arms/legs after a bath and both tattoos are on my arms. If I had tattoos on my back they would probably go forever without any additional aftercare cos I can never be bothered to moisturise anything other legs and arms. If I'm going to be in the sun for a while I put sunscreen on (they're covered with clothing like 99% of the time so it's not often). I've had both less than... 6 years? so I can't really speak for super long term effects but they look fine. I don't think they really need much care besides sunscreen.
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Post by justine on May 22, 2017 15:38:19 GMT
I just keep sunscreen on mine and lotion my skin regularly to keep my skin soft and the tattoos vibrant looking. That is basically it. Sunscreen really will make a huge difference in how long and how well your ink holds up.
3 months to not swim is excessive, I usually wait a few weeks to a month (but I also don't swim often). After my initial healing period I just leave it mostly alone and I judge what I can and can't do based on how I am feeling. After my outer elbow I was healed up really fast and I felt like I could do pretty much anything after nearly 2 weeks of barely moving it to help it heal. My elbow ditch was different though and anytime I get tattooed near it I know it will take some extra time and tlc before I can resume normal activities.
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Post by wtfhayleygeez on May 22, 2017 16:59:49 GMT
i would just wait until the tattoo is fully healed to go swimming.
if i notice my tattoos look a little dull i apply lotion. my boss says vitamin e oil is good for them.
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Post by Khan on May 22, 2017 17:59:35 GMT
Pretty much all of the above re: sunscreen and lotion, with the occasional exfoliation.
I don't go swimming, but I wait to take baths until everything is done peeling plus a week, which is usually about a month total.
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Post by rawrchicken on May 23, 2017 15:55:53 GMT
Thanks for all the replies guys!
All you said basically echoes what I've always heard about what to do post tattoo healing.
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Post by chantrierimoon on May 23, 2017 21:26:16 GMT
Heh, I'm pretty sure I've taken a bath during every stage of tattoo healing. No way would I swim for a few weeks though.
I use dry oil sunscreen on mine everyday. Dry oil sunscreens are super moisturizing to your skin/hair (and don't usually contain weird hormone disrupting ingredients). I'm way too lazy to use lotion, so that's a two birds, one stone kinda thing for me. My blackwork gets really ashy, so every couple of weeks I'll make an exfoliate scrub out of raw sugar (extra gritty!), olive oil, and whatever citrus/herbs are ripe in my garden. Oh, and obviously it's good for you anyway, but staying well hydrated and taking A/B vitamins is great for your skin.
My health conditions make skin age faster so I have to put in extra work but if I frequently get asked if my years-old color tattoos are fresh, I think that means what I do is working!
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