Top Ten Tattoo Healing Concerns (In No Particular Order)

 Since starting my blog on tattooing, I have gotten asked a lot of questions from people who have recently been tattooed or are planning to get a tattoo about the healing process. It is awesome that so many people are seeking my opinion about their tattoos, and I am always happy to offer my advice. Often, the questions asked are about common concerns. Here are the ten most common questions I have been asked, in no particular order.

-Can I exercise/participate in sports while my tattoo is healing?

 I'm getting a tattoo this weekend, and the next weekend I will be participating in a tennis tournament.  Should I wait to get my tattoo until after the tournament, and are there any risks involved with getting a tattoo and working out?

 Generally, there are no real concerns with exercise effecting your tattoo.  The biggest concern I would have is the tenderness of the tattoo effecting your performance.  You would want to lightly moisturize the tattoo before and after the event, to prevent any possible damage from the skin stretching a "dry" tattoo.  You also want to make certain you can clean the tattoo after the event (assuming that you will be sweating more than normal), and if the tattoo is normally under your clothes you will want to put on a clean outfit.  

Not for at least two weeks.

-Can I use a tanning-bed?

 I am really excited about showing-off my summer-bod.  I have lost a LOT of weight, have been going to a tanning salon, and now I want to get a cute little tattoo.  I know I have to keep the tattoo out of sunlight as much as possible.  Do tanning beds effect tattoos?

 The guidelines for keeping your tattoo out of the sun as much as possible are the same for tanning beds.  You would probably notice that the light from the bed would irritate the exposed tattoo. Tanning can also fade your tattoo, and the darker your skin gets the less bright your tattoo will be.  The tattoo is a few layers under the outer-most layer of skin, so it will be like seeing your tattoo through a tinted window. You will want to hold off your visits to the tanning bed for at least two weeks.

-Are raised areas of skin normal in the tattoo?

 It has been about three weeks, and my tattoo seems to be healed (no skin peeling or scabs).  I noticed that some of the lines feel raised.  Will this go away in time and is that normal?

 Your skin is one huge organ with lots of different areas and types that react differently to being tattooed.  The thickness of your skin is not consistent throughout.  The raised areas are your skin's response to being perforated by a needle repeatedly.  Initially, you may have noticed that the entire tattoo was slightly raised, but most of it went down to normal. Some areas, however, take longer or will remain raised. Your skin is, in essence, scarred. While more experienced tattooers are better able to avoid damaging the skin in this manner, it can sometimes happen even when every precaution is taken. Once the tattoo is healed, you may want to try a scar reducing agent, like aloe vera sap. 

After a few days, this may be a problem.

-Is it normal for my tattoo to be red and hot?

 I noticed a few days after getting my tattoo that there is some redness around the area and the tattoo feels warmer than the rest of my skin. Is this normal?

 Redness and a fevered feeling is normal with a new tattoo for the first few days. Your tattoo is basically an abrasion, and the redness and heat is typical of your body trying to heal the wound. If the redness radiates from the tattoo, it has the appearance of a rash, has bumps or weeps anything more than a thin, clear fluid, talk to your tattooer and/or a doctor.

-How long does it take to heal?

 I am getting my first tattoo in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering how long it will take to heal.

 Healing times for a tattoo vary, and it can of depends on what you mean by "healed".  A tattoo can take three-to-six months to heal "completely", and even then the area is still technically contaminated with a foreign material (tattoo ink).  You body will be working to remove the ink from your skin for the rest of your life, which is one of the factors that contributes to fading.  That said, the time generally given for the skin to return to being relatively normal is two weeks.  This is an average, as the real indicators are that the tattoo no longer has any scabs and is no longer peeling.  This is when the integrity of the tattoo skin can handle sunlight and being submerged in water without any real risks.

Really not normal.

-How long before I go swimming?

 I want to get a tattoo, but I also really want to go tubing on the river in a week with my friends. How long do I need to wait after getting a tattoo before I get in water?

 The best time to get a tattoo is in the winter, and this is just one of the reasons. In the winter, there is no real urge to "hit the beach", and by the summer your tattoo will be healed and looking great. That said, you should wait until all the scabs have fallen off your tattoo and the skin is done peeling.  This generally takes about two weeks.

-When should I apply skin cream?

 My tattoo artist told me to apply a skin cream with no perfumes or dyes during the first two weeks while the tattoo is healing, after I wash it three times a day.  Sometimes it gets really dry.  Should I apply more moisturizer?

 In my opinion, yes.  The reason you moisturize after washing your tattoo is because the soap and water can dry it out.  If your tattoo becomes too dry, the scabs can crack, leading to bleeding and ink-loss.  However, you do not want to over-moisturize, either. When your skin starts to feel dry and taunt, apply a very small amount of moisturizer.

Normal scabbing.

-Is heavy scabbing on some parts of the tattoo normal?

 I noticed that some parts of my tattoo, in particular the large, black areas, are more heavily scabbed that others.  Is that normal?

 Yes, that is normal.  The more worked the skin is, the heavier the scabbing will tend to be. Black is the least forgiving when it comes to open or light spots, so tattooers tend to hit black heavier than other colors. However, heavy scabbing will probably also lead to fading in that area.  Keep it moisturized, definitely do not pick at it, and if it needs a touch-up speak to your tattooer.

-My tattoo really itches.  What should I do?

 It has been about 8 days since I got my tattoo and it has really started to itch. What causes the itching and what should I do about it?

 Your skin goes through a phased-healing process, which involves a layer of skin growing over the tattoo that will initially die and peel off.  Another layer typically grows, dies, and peels off as well.  Your body's reaction to peeling skin is to become itchy so you will scratch the old skin off and reveal the layer of new skin beneath.  DO NOT ITCH YOUR TATTOO! You can try slapping your skin AROUND that tattoo, or itching near the tattoo (tricking the brain into believing the area has been relieved).  Other than that, it is best to just tough it out.

-When should I speak to my tattooer or a doctor about problems with my tattoo?

 I don't know if I am being a baby or not, but this is my first tattoo and I have some concerns about the way it is healing.  Reading your blog has let me know that most of what I am worried about is probably normal.  I was wondering when I should be worried enough to see a doctor?

 I wouldn't want to just assume that anything medical I read about on the Internet was applicable to me.  Treat what you read as a suggestion.  If your worried about anything to do with your tattoo, start by talking to your tattooer.  They can verify if what you are seeing is worthy of concern and suggest what you can do if there is a problem, probably saving you hundreds of dollars in doctor's fees in the process.  However, if you are not confident in your tattooer's advice, see a doctor.  Better safe than sorry.

 Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/

Making Getting a Tattoo as Comfortable as Possible

 Tattoos are painful. There is simply no way around it.  People deal with pain in different ways, and different areas of the body are more or less susceptible to pain than others.  The primary goal of any tattoo artist is to execute a good tattoo.  This means that the artist has to deal with the client's discomfort.  Once, there was a school of thought that stated that all that mattered was the artist's ability to get the needle into the skin, and the client needed to contort themselves into whatever position and deal with whatever pain as required.  We've learned a lot since those old-school days.  We know from experience that the more comfortable a client is, the easier they will be to tattoo.  While some discomfort is inevitable, as artists we need to try to minimize any issues to make the tattoo easier for both the client and for ourselves.

 Set Expectations

 There is no sensation quite like getting a tattoo.  When asked how a tattoo feels when I am getting a tattoo, I look at the duty cycle of the power supply and take into account the number of needles on the bar being used, and then state that "it feels like (x number) needles piercing my skin at (y) cycles per second."  No other answer really will suffice, and no answer can truly express what is being experienced.

 That said, the client should be advised that the tattoo will hurt, will at least be uncomfortable, and the pain will vary throughout the process.  If the client wants a tattoo in a typically painful spot, the artist should advise that client of this and possibly suggest a less painful alternative.  Painful areas include spots which are normally sensitive or ticklish (the spine, ribs, neck, bikini area) as well as area where there is little tissue between the skin and bone (hands, feet, sternum).  The least painful areas to tattoo are typically the arms and shoulders.

 A tattoo artist will explain to the client that what will be needed is pain-management.  They should try to continue to breathe normally throughout the process, try not to tense-up, avoid flinching, and make the artist aware of any issues such as dizziness or needing a break.  Using drugs or alcohol in an effort to inhibit pain generally just makes the client less likely to be able to manage the pain as well as if they were sober.  

 Speaking of breaks, it should also be explained that while breaks will be necessary from time-to-time, the tattooed area tends to be more sensitive after a break.

Good Bedside Manner

 As a tattoo artist, you have to be able to read people.  It is easy to become engrossed in the tattoo process and to be aware of little else.  Every so often, it is a good idea for the artist to look up and access the client, simply by asking how they are doing.  

 The artist should also try to assess the client's personality.  Are they a talker, or do they stoically deal with the tattoo process?  The stoic client will generally look to the artist to lead them through the process.  The artist should ask how the client is doing and tell them when the artist will be taking a break.  The artist should make certain that the client doesn't seem "out of it".  The artist should be on the look-out for the client becoming pale, swaying, seeming to lose focus, or having abnormal pupil dilation.

 It is easier to assess a talker's issue because they will either tell the about what they are dealing with or they will go quiet, which means the artist needs to pay more attention to what is going on with them.

 In either case, during the tattoo is a good time for the artist to get to know them.  Ask them about their choice of tattoo.  Discuss with them future tattoo plans.  Not only does it make for good conversation, it helps the artist build a connection with the client as well as assess their mental acuity as they are being tattooed.    

 Tattoo studios can be a little crazy, with artists often chatting among themselves.  Artists should try to include their clients in the shop-talk.  If the client seems uncomfortable with the subject matter, the artist should ask his co-workers to discuss something else.

 Also, the artist should make it clear that pain is normal during a tattoo, and needing a break is equally as normal.  There is nothing wrong with needing a break, and the client should feel comfortable about asking for one as needed.  If they need anything else; water, a candy, whatever, they should be made aware that it is available at any time. 

More on Breaks

 As already discussed, a client should know that breaks are available as needed, but also that breaks can mean that the tattoo will be more difficult to endure.  As an artist, you will need to factor breaks into your schedule, always assuming that your client will need more breaks, not less.  If your client seems to be getting ridiculous with the number of breaks they need, you need to be gentle but firm about how taking too many breaks will inhibit the tattoo process.  If the client is simply having trouble dealing with the pain, suggest doing the line-work to a point where stopping is feasible, and coming back to the tattoo in another session.

Help Your Client Understand the Process

 The client is trusting the artist to execute a safe and solid tattoo.  While the appearance will be the emphasis in the client's mind, safety should be the focus in the artist's mind.  Especially for the first tattoo, the tattoo process can be foreign and mysterious to some clients.  This can lead to a number of nervous questions during the tattoo, as well as movement as the client turns their head to see what you are doing next.

 The more calm your client is, the easier it will be to tattoo them.  The better they understand the process, the easier it will be for them to take the tattoo.  The client should feel comfortable about asking questions about your process, and the artist should be equally comfortable answering questions.  Getting a tattoo should be a clinic on the tattoo process, even if the client says they have no questions.  The artist should always be explaining what is being applied to the client's body and why.  The client should be comfortable in the knowledge that the artist is using the best possible techniques for the tattoo.

Positioning

 The position the client needs to be in to get a tattoo is not always ideal, and even an initially comfortable position can become grueling after being in that position for several hours.  When selecting a position for the client, the artist needs to balance two considerations; the ease with which the artist can tattoo the area, and the ease with which the client can maintain that position.  The easier it is for the artist to execute the tattoo, the better the tattoo will be, but if the client cannot stay in that position and hold still through the process, it will not matter how easy it is for the artist.
  

 It is always a good idea to have a plan-b.  If the massage chair is not working for the client, move them to the table.  If the leg being bent back is getting too painful, change positions and move to another area of the tattoo.  The artist should always try to make it as easy as possible for the client to let the artist do their job.

Afterward

 After the tattoo, the artist will explain in detail the aftercare process.  This is a good time for the client to ask any questions.  The artist will also often want to show the work off to the other artist as well as take photos of the work.  The client should be given a number of means to contact the artist; email, social media, phone number, etc, as well as assurances that any issues with the tattoo can and will be resolved by the artist.  If needed, an appointment for a follow-up or the next session should be scheduled.


 The client should leave the studio fully versed on how to care for their new art.  They should also be comfortable that they received a great tattoo, one they will want to show-off.  An artist who is friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled will have his clients coming back and recommending the artist to their friends.

 Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/

 

Bandages vs. Plastic Wrap (the Great Debate)

 I was asked by a friend of mine in Canada recently about the use of plastic-wrap to wrap a tattoo.  Her previous experience with tattoos had always involved a medical-grade bandage until this most recent experience, and she was concerned that her artist for her last tattoo had made a mistake.

 Depending on the shop locations, some states (provinces, districts, counties, or other equivalent) have regulations that require a bandage.  Where I live (Texas, USA), we are required to wrap the tattoo with something; either a bandage or plastic wrap.  The reason for this is not for the protection of the client.  Instead, it is for the protection of everyone the client might encounter with what otherwise would be an open wound.  The state does not want you potentially infecting others with a blood-borne pathogen that you may be carrying.

 Let's talk about pathogens for a moment.  Every pathogen needs a particular kind of environment to survive, but there are some commonalities.  Moisture, warmth, and darkness all make for excellent bacterial and viral growth.  This is an important part of the bandage vs. plastic wrap debate.  

 The Pro Plastic Wrap Argument

 The reason given by many artists for the use of plastic wrap is human nature.  When your tattoo is finished, it will be wiped clean with medicated soap, covered with a thin layer of a mild topical antibiotic, and then wrapped.  Whether with a bandage or with plastic wrap, what has been created is a fairly clean and sealed environment over your open wound.

 Once you leave the tattoo studio, the care of your tattoo is in your hands.  If you are going home, then there really isn't an issue, but if you are going out afterward you are going to show-off your new tattoo.  A bandage is opaque, so you will need to lift the bandage off to show your ink to whoever asks.  That nice, clean environment that was created before putting the wrap on will be destroyed, and you trap whatever is in the air in that moist, warm, dark environment under your bandage when you replace it.  

 Thus increasing your likelihood of an infection.

 If you could be trusted to leave the bandage on, then the bandage would be ideal.  Human nature, however, will be to remove it in order to see the tattoo.  The covering will be on for no more than an hour or two, so plastic wrap cuts down on the likelihood of external infection by allowing people to see the tattoo while not removing the barrier.

 The Pro Bandage Argument

 The problem with plastic wrap is that it creates an occlusive seal, meaning that no air gets in or out, and it doesn't actually seal properly.  The point of a wrap is, again, to protect others from the client's open wound.  Plastic wrap may cover the tattoo, but it does not absorb those fluids.  Blood-plasma and ink leak out from under the edges of plastic wrap in a relatively short time, exposing the public to the risk that the wrap was meant to prevent.

 Meanwhile, under the wrap the skin temperature can reach 103 degrees (no air is getting in or out), which means that any bacteria that was under the wrap has an ideal breeding environment.  The temperature also causes the pores of the skin to stay open, allowing more ink to weep out (leading to fading).  

 It is up to the tattoo artist to educate the customer and express how necessary it is for them to leave the bandage on.  If the client leaves the bandage on during the initial dry-out of the tattoo, they will have fewer problems.  The bandage more effectively does the job required; absorbing excess fluids.  

************

 The debate goes back-and-forth, with each side arguing the pros and cons and expressing their opinion as the "professional" technique.  In reality, both processes are selected by the artist as the best way they feel to prevent infection.  Both methods have risks and benefits.  Each is based almost entirely on anecdotal evidence; what they have heard works and what they have experienced.  

 Ultimately, though, a tattoo is a wound.  Doctors do not treat wounds with plastic wrap, they use a bandage.  States like Hawaii, California, and Vermont require a sterile bandage be used on a tattoo.  Plastic wrap simply is not a sterile bandage.  While I will not go as far as to say that plastic wrap is the wrong way to wrap a tattoo, it seems to me that a sterile bandage is more right. 

  Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/

A Tattoo Healing Process

 Something I get asked a lot is, "what happens while a tattoo heals?".  It had been a while since I had gotten a tattoo, so when Kyle Giffen was kind enough to tattoo me this last July, it seemed like an opportune time to document the process.

 Now, I titled this post "A Tattoo Healing Process" instead of "The Tattoo Healing Process" because everyone has a different body chemistry.  Some people heal faster, some go through more scabbing, etc.  I would consider my experience common to what should happen if you take good care of your tattoo while it heals.  Kind of a base-line example.

 Day 1.  Beautiful, isn't she.  Kyle did a fantastic job, putting his own spin on one of my designs.  This tattoo ROCKS!  See all that redness in the green?  That is normal.  Just a mix of some seeping blood-plasma barely coming to the surface and irritation from the tattoo process.  A tattoo, done properly, should not bleed.  The needle doesn't go deep enough to actually draw blood.

 Day 2.  Still have some redness.  The tattoo is still an open wound.  The seepage isn't as bad, and is probably more noticeable contrasted against the green ink.  The first layer of skin has yet to grow over the tattoo.  Something I forgot from my last tattoo was how much direct sunlight HURTS!  There is a reason you are told to keep your tattoo out of the sun as much as possible, and during these early stages, my tattoo reminded me.  

 Day 3.  I've been showering like normal, but avoiding scrubbing the tattoo.  Instead, I get a lather going in my hand and pat the suds on my tat.  I dry the tattoo the same way, patting instead of wiping.  What little redness remains at this point is from irritation, and she is starting to take on a faded look.  That first layer of skin is getting ready to peel. 

 Day 4.  The redness is almost completely gone at this point.  It is still warm to the touch. Direct sunlight still hurts.

 Day 5.  Starting to see a little bit of scabbing and the slightest beginning of a peel.  

 Day 6.  Now the skin is really starting to loosen up.  I am apply lotion at least 3 times a day after every wash.  These pictures have been taken after the tattoo has been cleaned and moisturized.

 Day 7.  More scabbing and peeling.  You want to keep the tattoo moisturized to avoid the skin peeling off too soon or the scabs cracking and falling off early.  If the skin peels too soon or the scabs crack badly, you might bleed, and along with the blood ink will be carried out leaving a faded area in your tat.

 Day 8.  The peeling is really going at this point.  

 Day 9.  Here is a picture of the tattoo before I clean it and apply moisturizer.  You will be tempted by the look of the tattoo alone to pick at it, let alone the itching of your skin encouraging you to scratch.  DON'T DO IT!  Better to suffer through a little itching than to suffer through the condemnation of your artist AND the pain of a touch-up.  If you thought getting the tattoo hurt, try re-applying it!

 Day 10.  Most of the first peel has completely fallen away.  There is still some peeling going on, and the hard scabs where the skin was really worked are beginning to form.

 Day 11.  As you can see, her right arm was really worked.  Not over-worked, but the healing is rougher there than anywhere else.  This is because Kyle was really working a color blend in a very tiny space.  

 Day 12.  Starting to look bright and shiny again!  You have to love Eternal Inks.  Years ago, the hardest part of my tattoo to heal was the black.  This tattoo though, the black hardly scabbed at all.

 Day 13.  The scabs have fallen off on her right arm, and there is a little redness from the irritation and the fresh skin underneath.  However, no bleeding, which is awesome.

 Day 14.  As expected, the redness under that scab all but faded away, leaving a nice, vibrant color behind.  The tattoo looks as good, if not better than the day it was applied.

 15.  This shot was taken about a month later.  My hair is finally growing back over the tat, which makes it look a little more faded than it really is.  The skin feels completely normal, though it can take up to six months for the skin to be fully healed.  The two-week rule is generally how long it takes to be healed enough to safely touch-up the tattoo.

 So, there you have it.  This is what a tattoo healing process should look like for most people if the tattoo is cared for properly.

Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/