Follow the instructions your tattoo artist gives you
Aftercare starts with the instructions provided for your tattoo. Different dressings and situations can require different handling, so use the artist's guidance for when to remove or change a covering and how to clean the area.
If you are unsure about an instruction, ask rather than improvising. The aim is to keep the healing tattoo clean and avoid unnecessary irritation.
Keep the tattoo clean while it heals
Wash your hands before touching the tattoo. Clean the area gently as instructed and avoid picking, scratching or pulling at healing skin.
Wear clean clothing that does not unnecessarily rub the area. A fresh tattoo is healing skin, so give it time and avoid treating it like normal, fully healed skin too early.
Be careful with swimming and soaking
Avoid swimming and prolonged soaking while the tattoo is healing. Pools, lakes, rivers and other water environments are not the same as briefly cleaning the tattoo as directed.
If you are planning a holiday, swimming trip or other activity around water, factor healing time into when you arrange the tattoo session.
Think about Kenya's sun
Strong sun exposure can be uncomfortable for healing skin. Keep a fresh tattoo protected from direct sun while it heals and follow appropriate aftercare advice before applying products to it.
Once the tattoo has fully healed, protecting your skin from excessive sun exposure can also help preserve the appearance of the tattoo over time.
Know when to seek medical advice
Some tenderness and changes around a fresh tattoo can occur during normal healing, but symptoms that become worse rather than better deserve attention.
Seek medical advice if you develop worsening redness, swelling, heat or pain, discharge from the tattoo, fever, or you feel generally unwell. Do not rely on an article or social-media advice to diagnose a possible infection.
Ask Jay if you need the tattoo instructions clarified
If Jay tattooed you and you are unsure about the aftercare instructions you were given, contact Inking Tattoos directly for clarification about those instructions.
For symptoms that may indicate an infection or another medical problem, use an appropriate healthcare professional rather than treating the tattoo artist as a substitute for medical care.