Tattoos are a part of our individual narrative, they tell a tale about who we are so make sure you think about the effective tattoo care to help them heal correctly and look their best! When you've taken the decision to have a certain design tattooed onto your body, you want to make sure it stays clean, clear and in the best possible condition. Here's how you can protect your individual artwork...
First steps: How to Clean a New Tattoo
Upon first getting your tattoo, fight the temptation to have a look and make sure you leave the bandage on for 2-3 hours. Once it does come out into the open air, make sure you wash the area daily with a fragrance-free antibacterial cleanser to protect against infection.
Over the course of the first week, professionals[1] recommend applying an ointment to the skin to keep it hydrated. Dry skin won't let the tattoo settle as well. A light spritz of soothing water from time to time, such as La Roche Posay's Thermal Spring Water, will keep the skin supple and moisturised.
In the short term
For the first few weeks, try to avoid wearing tight clothing that might irritate the skin. When fabrics rub repeatedly against a new tattoo, you risk ink loss and reduced quality. To protect the healing skin, try to avoid situations involving sweat or prolonged exposure to water, such as the gym or the pool.
Long-term protection
From the moment you expose your beautiful tattoo to the world, sunscreen should be a priority. The Cicaplast Baume B5 SPF50 provides high broad spectrum sun protection against the harmful effects of both UVA and UVB rays, and has been specifically designed to soothe skin, help against itching, making it an ideal tattoo cream. The tube can fit neatly into a bag and be carried round all day for regular top-ups to keep your skin safe from the sun, healthy and soothed: prolonging the quality of your art!