On another mostly US-based board I read, I’ve been perusing a Tattoo Megathread, where users have posted pictures of their ink and give instructions and suggestions to each other. Several posters have also given information about the healing process, including several tattoo artists. Details vary, but for the most part they seem to be: cover with cling film for 1-24 (sometimes as long as 48) hours, then let a scab form (not too thick a scab, but also not too soft and squishy). There is a great deal of discussion about the scarring process: people describe how their scabs itch, warn against picking at scabs to prevent colors from becoming blotchy, and warn against moisturizing the tattoo area too much or too frequently to prevent the scab from softening and falling off, since it “protects the tattoo underneath”.
This surprises me, because I got my first tattoo last month in Finland, and my artist gave me very different instructions concerning aftercare. In fact, I visited the web pages of tens of Finnish tattoo parlors before making my decision as to who I would go to, and every aftercare page I read specifically spoke out against scabbing. The instructions are the same everywhere: cover with cling film for 1-4 hours after tattooing, and whenever coming into contact with clothing or bedsheets for the first four days; otherwise, leave uncovered and frequently rub in a medicated lotion (Bepanthen) to prevent a scab forming.
Why are the aftercare instructions so different from each other? Is this a cultural difference of some sort? Are the medicated lotions different here somehow? What gives?
My tat artist (in San Francisco) used cling film, recommended against it after the first day, and implied that a little caution was all the physical protection needed after that. He specified that one of a few very basic non-medicated lotions be rubbed in very gently to prevent disturbing the scab. I find it hard to believe that anything could prevent scabbing, actually; at most, I’d think moisturizer would just keep the scab pliable, which would be all to the good.
FWIW, When I got my first tattoo in Dallas in the '80’s, the artist said let it scab so it would heal faster. When I got my most recent tattoo last fall in NE, the artist recommended keeping it moist with A&D cream to keep it from scabbing, and keeping it covered for several days. Never did scab, and healed much more quickly (and evenly, IMHO).
It seems that aftercare directions have more to do with the artist then anything else. Assuming that’s the case, I think that’s were the cultural differences come in.
I have three tattoos, by three people. None of them have ever used cling film (but I have seen it done). Two of mine covered it with a bandage, told me to remove it in a few hours and then spend the next few days washing it two or three times a day and puting Original Curel on it. The thrid one didn’t bandage it (it didn’t bleed at all) and basically just said don’t touch it. Lotion if you really want to, but don’t touch it. BTW it’s my best looking one.
Also, I can attest to the splochiness factor if you pick at it. I had a couple of mosquito bites around one of mine and ended up scratching part of the scab off. Yup, it’s splotchy.
Checking in from Canada, here. My artist told me a combination of two and three. Bandage for a few hours even though there was no bleeding, then a bit of Tattoo Goo for the next week. (That lotion is nice stuff, IMHO, and a very reasonable price for the quality of the product.) His line was if you could still see the product after applying it, you were using too much. Two years on, the tattoo still looks great.
Mine hasn’t scabbed at all. It’s been three weeks now, and I’ve been frequently applying a thin layer of Bepanthen.
I asked my tattoo guy, and he said that in his opinion, scabbing would mean that the needle went in really, really deep. I don’t know though; several tattoo artists posted in the megathread and I don’t recall any of them saying anything of the sort.
my little ankle tat will be 11 years old this june (inked in celebration of my 40th). it’s been through assorted MRIs (thank you, mythbusters!) several intensive tanning bed sessions, large quantities of sun and salt water in the bahamas and hawaii, and it still looks as good as the day it was inked.
instead of higher on the leg, where the artist originally intended it, i redirected him to ink it starting one inch above the anklebone. the whole tattoo is only about an inch square. it smarted a little, but no big deal. IIRC, because it was pretty much on bone, he recommended cling wrap or some kind of similar bandaging for a day or so, a little cream applied now and then, absolutely NO products such as baby oil (something about it smearing the ink in a fresh tattoo), and no swimming for two weeks.
this dismayed my girlfriend, who was off to the bahamas herself a day or two following our joint tat session (she got the exact same little rose in the exact same place but on the other leg), but she went ahead and swam anyway and there were no repercussions. neither of ours ever scabbed, either.