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A tattoo is a pattern on the body, applied under the skin. The coloring pigment is embedded in the subcutaneous tissue. Tattooing is a microtrauma of the skin over large areas. There are various ways of applying a skin pattern, but in any case foreign particles get into the epidermis, which leads to inflammation lasting a week. For healing to proceed faster and painlessly, the tattoo is taken care of from the first day of application.
How can the skin react to the tattoo
Tattooing is a painful process, and healing is the same as repairing damaged skin. The tattoo provokes the following epidermis reactions:
- Acute hemorrhage due to damage to connective tissue and subcutaneous capillaries and vessels.
- Aseptic inflammation, accompanied by redness and swelling of the surrounding skin. It is caused by capillary permeability, thinning and penetration through the walls of leukocytes and erythrocytes into the subcutaneous tissue. For inflammation is characterized by a strong redness of the skin and even an increase in body temperature.
- Phagocytosis, the process by which macrophage cells designed to fight foreign particles (and in this case, punctured skin cells and the pigment itself), absorbs the coloring matter itself. But the process of digesting macrophages can not overpower. Due to this, the pigment remains visible under the skin.
- The body reacts unpredictably to the tattoo. In the worst case, puncture sites are marked with red spots and a rash.
Features of tattooing
Much depends on the experience and skills of the master. However, the healing rate is affected by the care of the pattern applied under the skin. After tattooing, this area of skin is treated with antiseptic and healing agents. Then applied a kind of compress from a transparent film. It performs an important task - to prevent the tattoo from contacting clothing.It will protect damaged skin from infection and accelerate healing. The tattoo master will be sure to warn you how long the film will be removed (usually it is 3-4 hours).
ATTENTION! You can not independently apply compresses on the site of tattooing. Follow the recommendations given in the cabin. If the situation gets out of control, consult a dermatologist. Perhaps something went wrong, and inflammation started, which turned into sepsis.
Applying a tattoo is a traumatic process, and the body reacts to it with the formation of lymph. So, a crust forms on the skin, which will later fall off, which negatively affects the quality and brightness of the pattern.
How to care for a tattoo in the first days after application
After removing the film, the tattooing site is washed with water and antibacterial soap. Only the following brands have positively recommended themselves:
- Solid soap Absolut Nature of the Russian perfumery-cosmetic company "Spring". It has a pleasant aroma, does not dry the skin, well cleans, protects against germs.
- Liquid antibacterial safeguard soap. Does not spread, well foams, has a pleasant aroma of aloe vera.The component “triclocarban” fights bacteria, the antiseptic “chloroxylenol” reduces inflammation. Reliable antibacterial shield.
- Liquid soap Dettol. Kills E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It has a pleasant aroma of lavender.
- Vegetable antibacterial soap Weleda "Tea Tree". Disinfects the surface, helps eliminate aseptic inflammation, promotes healing of micro wounds. It has in its composition only natural ingredients.
- Jason liquid antibacterial soap. Contains panthenol and tea tree oil, chamomile extract and vitamin E. The soap will soothe the inflamed skin and accelerate the healing of wounds.
Soap will have to use often, because it should be washed away every 3-4 hours. By the choice of soap fit seriously. He should be tested on himself even before applying the tattoo. After all, the antibacterial effect is obtained due to the strong components for which allergies are possible.
After each rinsing, a layer of ointment “Bepanten” or an aerosol for external use “Panthenol” is applied on the tattooed area of skin. The active ingredient dexpanthenol penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin, turning into pantothenic acid, the component of coenzyme A. Ointment or spray activates the regeneration of the skin. They are applied in the first week 4 times a day.
Solar activity affects even healthy, intact skin. What can we say about the inflamed skin, on which micro wounds have not yet healed. Staying under the sun in the first week after tattooing is prohibited! If you leave the house, wear a long-sleeved cotton T-shirt (if the tattoo is applied to the arm) or natural fabric pants. Be sure to apply sunscreen SPF = 50. It is able to protect the skin for 4 hours. This will help protect the paint from burning.
What should limit yourself after tattooing
By applying a tattoo should be taken seriously. This is not a procedure after which you can wash and go on. To get a tattoo of your dreams, follow all the recommendations, and also limit yourself to sunbathing.
- Give up on fitness and sport. Not for long, just a week. During this time, the lymph will cease to secrete in large quantities, and a crust forms on the skin. If you work out in the gym or aerobics, you can sweat and re-moisten the skin with tattooed skin. This will cause the image to be distorted.
- Give up alcohol a few days before and after applying the tattoo. Alcohol slows down the skin's healing process.
- Do not wear clothes made of artificial fabrics, tight clothes. Any contact with irritated skin will adversely affect the healing and elimination of the effects of aseptic inflammation. If you made a tattoo in the winter, wear a cotton undershirt under a sweater or jacket.
- Before going to the tattoo parlor, please note that you should not wash for a week. Of course, no one forces you to completely refuse hygiene, but you should forget about taking a bath or even a shower for a week. If, after all, water got into the place of tattooing, be sure to blot the area, apply Bepanten or Panthenol on it and wrap it with food film. Do not go the first 10 days in the pool and solarium, as well as a sauna and a bath. So you protect yourself from getting on the injured skin infection, as well as remove the risk of accidental wet tattoo.
- If you feel bad, you have all signs of ARVI, runny nose, etc., transfer the date of tattooing. If you have an infection or a virus, healing will be delayed at times.
Do not forget that tattooing is risky, and it depends only on you how comfortable you will create the conditions for the healing process. Keep the tattoo from moisture and sun, use high-quality healing tools. The tattoo is applied for life, so try it to bring you joy, not regret.
Video: how to care for a tattoo
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If properly maintained, then no problems arise. The skin reacts normally, but may itch and itch, but against this there is a spray Panthenol that with a smiley on the packaging is real. He quickly relieves itching, and thanks to him, there is no crust and the pattern heals evenly.By the way, I still like the fact that you don’t need to smear it, which means there is no unnecessary contact with damaged skin.
And yet, how much I read about caring for a tattoo; I just can not understand how much it should be closed? And is it worth doing this every time you leave the house, and in general, a few hours are enough or until it heals. Information is everywhere рас
Good day Julia!
1) All the information on tattoo care should have been told to you by the master who made it.
2) Constantly covering the tattoo with a film is not worth it (this is done the first time as soon as you do it). The skin must breathe.
3) With the help of anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Panthenol), the healing process can be accelerated.
Julia, the master who makes the tattoo, if it’s just not a dubious studio, where the procedure is carried out in doubtful conditions, gives a reminder how to care for the tattoo from the moment of application until full healing. We talked about this on courses all the time. But about panthenol, I want to add, this is a very good tool for healing.I only recommend it to my clients, but with the addition, it is worthwhile to use only real medical panthenol, not a cosmetic with the same name. The difference is simple, on the medicine on the package is an orange smile. This is a guarantee that the drug is real and not harmful. With cosmetic ointments and creams, I do not recommend treating the tattoo, at least they can “eat” the paint, not to mention the fact that they are not suitable for healing.