Question:
Hi — I know this has been hashed over before, so a short answer will suffice. How long should one wait after getting a new tattoo before swimming in a chlorinated pool? 1 day? 1 week? 1 month? thanks — john
Response:
Troyer %IDK) writes: Hi — I know this has been hashed over before, so a short answer will suffice. How long should one wait after getting a new tattoo before swimming in a chlorinated pool?
until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer of skin over the tattoo is formed. a tattoo is for life, don’t rush. would you rather jump in the water a week earlier than you should and screw up the art? or do without dunking yourself for a month? i don’t let water (shower included) hit the ink for 6 weeks, but then i am *real* cautious.. — Lance R. Bailey System/Network Manager Robarts Research Institute fax: +1 519 663 3789 P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr. vox: +1 519 663 3787 x4108 London, Canada N6A 5K8 STRESSED?1:take a deep breath 2:count to 10 3:set fire to the boss’s wastebasket
Response:
How long should one wait after getting a new tattoo before swimming in a chlorinated pool?
Lance until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. Lance personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer Lance of skin over the tattoo is formed. Scabs? Was I supposed to get scabs? I got my first tattoo two weeks ago and it seems to be healed now. I put Neosporin on it for the first two days and then rubbed Vaseline Intensive Care lotion into it a few of times a day for another week. It peeled a bit, like a sunburn but there was absolutely no scabbing. Lance i don’t let water (shower included) hit the ink for 6 weeks, but Lance then i am *real* cautious.. I rinsed mine two hours after I got it and took a shower the next morning. I haven’t noticed any fading. -milt Milt Tinkoff | "No sir, I don’t like it." Silicon Graphics, Inc. |
Response:
Tinkoff) writes: (Lance R. Bailey) writes: Lance until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. Lance personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer Lance of skin over the tattoo is formed. Scabs? Was I supposed to get scabs? I got my first tattoo two weeks ago and it seems to be healed now. I put Neosporin on it for the first two days and then rubbed Vaseline Intensive Care lotion into it a few of times a day for another week. It peeled a bit, like a sunburn but there was absolutely no scabbing.
most tattoos scab when healing. but your mileage will vary. i myself have had tattoos heal with no scabbing (nos. 1 and 2) but no. 12 took *a month* for the scabs to finish. good thing it was summer and i could go without socks. (ankle tattoo) in any case, i really doubt that the new skin has formed over the tattoo yet. but hey, maybe you just heal fast. come a little closer to this pointed stick, i have a quick test for you… 
I rinsed mine two hours after I got it and took a shower the next morning. I haven’t noticed any fading.
cleaning it off after the initial bandage is removed is actually quite important. but that is different than letting the shower beat against it for 10 minutes everyday while it heals. sorry for the confusion. — Lance R. Bailey System/Network Manager Robarts Research Institute fax: +1 519 663 3789 P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr. vox: +1 519 663 3787 x4108 London, Canada N6A 5K8 This package contains one (1) electronic message. Do not eat.
Response:
Troyer %IDK) writes: Hi — I know this has been hashed over before, so a short answer will suffice. How long should one wait after getting a new tattoo before swimming in a chlorinated pool? until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer of skin over the tattoo is formed.
*sigh* A well taken care of tattoo should *never* scab… this is something that always irks me… if you keep it moist with A&D or bacitracin it should not scab thoughout the healing process…. -paul The Apprentice at Sign of the Wolf Tattoo
Response:
writes: writes: until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer of skin over the tattoo is formed. *sigh* A well taken care of tattoo should *never* scab… this is something that always irks me… if you keep it moist with A&D or bacitracin it should not scab thoughout the healing process….
well, mike (at ancient art tattoo, Orlando Fla) says that "moisture is a new tattoo’s worst enemy" so that kind of flies at the kepping it moist all the time. i used to go to great lengths to keep my tattoos moist while healing, the old version of the FAQ covers what i did. but now, looking at the ink i healed then, and other art which is not much older but healed without all the moisture i see that the ones where i kept it real moist to prevent any scabs are a lot fainter — grey where the others are still black. I quite literally drew a lof of the ink out of the piece. yes, it is important to keep the tattoo from drying out, but a scab is part of the normal healing process, and trying to fool mother nature is risking trouble. your mileage will of course vary. because how to heal a tattoo is a pretty opinionated topic, i wrote a replacement section for the how to heal a tatttoo section of the FAQ and sent it off to Paul Davies, who then forwarded it to Lani. Unfortunatly, she decided to only include one section of it (the Huck Spaulding method). maybe if i search around i can find what i sent to Paul and post it. it was interesting to note the varied opinions. i’ve tried most of them in a series of "Nof1 unblinded clinical trials" and trying to prevent a scab gives a tattoo that doesn’t seem to last. — Lance R. Bailey System/Network Manager Robarts Research Institute fax: +1 519 663 3789 P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr. vox: +1 519 663 3787 x4108 London, Canada N6A 5K8 "Either that wallpaper goes — or I do!" — Oscar Wilde’s dying words
Response:
R. Bailey) writes: maybe if i search around i can find what i sent to Paul and post it.
found it. One of my side interests, being as i work in a Clinical Trials environment, is how to heal a tattoo so that the best result is achieved. To do that, I’ve run a series of "N of 1" trials where a single subject (me) undergoes a number of trials/methods/treatments to determine efficacy. Here a few different ways of healing, and my comments on them — take them with the proverbial salt. I don’t claim to be an expert — I bow to the greater knowledge of the tattoo artists. Remember that one of the best things to do in healing a tattoo is to follow the advice of your artist, but if you are doing your own work, or are just curious, these comments might help. From Ancient Art Tattoo, (Orlando, Fla) Ancient Art puts a heap of vaseline on the new tattoo and then bandages up the whole thing, they give you these instructions: TATTOO CARE INSTRUCTIONS Remove bandaid in 18 hrs. Wash tattoo immediately, with soap and water When skin feels like normal wet skin, pat dry. Put nothing on the tattoo for 3 days. Do not get the tattoo wet. Do not permit sun on tattoo. On the the 4th day, put a small amount of hand lotion on the tattooo, twice a day. Do not pick scab. Mike said that when washing off the tattoo, there should be old ink and some body fluids, be thorough, at this state there is little that can harm the tattoo. On the 4th day, when applying lotion use the smallest amount possible, he suggested a drop for a 1 inch by 4 inch piece. His strongest advice was "MOISTURE IS THE TATTOOS ENEMY". His comment on using vaseline was that neosporin is vaseline based, and it doesn’t hurt a tattoo. As to neosporin, he said it isn’t really neccessary, but it doesn’t hurt. He warned to never let the shower directly hit the tattoo. This procedure is how i healed the four I got at Ancient Art and they seem to be the slowest to heal. After 2.5 weeks, they still have scabs. sigh. Tattoos Unlimited (London, Canada) Change your bandage within two hours, wash hands before touching tattoo, clean tattoo with soap and water, pat with listerine for a few minutes. Apply Polysporin Ointment and bandage. Repeat this process 4 times a day until tattoo is healed. This is how I healed the first four or five tattoos. The theory is that by keeping it covered with ointment, you don’t form a scab — and no scab means no scab problems. UNFORTUNATELY, this method also draws out a lot of the ink and can result in a pretty pale tattoo. sigh. I would not recommend this method for a good final result, although it can heal up a tattoo in as little as a four days if you use Vitamin E and polysporin.. Joker’s Wild (London Canada) 1. Remove bandage after 24 hours while you are showering. 2. Use a mild soap then pat dry 3. Allow tattoo to dry for 24 hours. 4. Apply supplied healing lotion four times a day. Please do not use anything else on tattoo then the supplied cream. 5. When useing the healing cream, use it sparinly, you want to moisten your tattoo, not soak it. 6. Do not soak your tattoo in the bath for 2 weeks. 7. Do not swim in chlorinated water for 2 weeks 8. Do not tan your tatoo for 2 weeks 9. If your tattoo does happen to scab, do not pick. Roland at Joker’s Wild (no longer there) also recommended protecting the new tattoo from the shower. Since all of mine are on the lower leg, he suggested putting a bag over it which is a bit of a pain, but probably worth it. This is how i healed the 3" X 6" piece on the front of my shin with the exception that I washed it gently at least twice a day to clean off old ointment. I am very pleased with the result. From Blue Dragon Tattoos (London, Canada) For effortless healing of your new tattoo please follow these idrections carefully. 1. VEREY IMPORTANT. Leave sterile dressing covering tattooed area for a minimum of 2 hours. 2. If desired, dressing can remain on tattoo foro a maximum of 24 hours. 3. After removing dressing (non-stick), gently wash tattooed area with soap, pat dry with a clean towel. 4. Apply Polysporin twice daily until healed. Usually 3 to 6 days. 5. Please refrain from picking or scratching tattoo diring the healing process. Damaging the light scab formation will result in poor colours in your tattoo. If tattoo irritates, you may allply a slight smear of pure coconut oil. I have never tried thies method, the owner of Blue Dragon and I don’t seem to get along. pity because one of my favourite artists now works there. From Huck Spalding’s *Tattooing A to Z* 1. Bandage(*) shold stay on for at least two hours. 2. Remove bandage, rinse gently with cold wather and blot dry. 3. Apply Bacitracin ointment four times a day and blot out the excess. 4. Keep tattoo fresh and open to the air. Do not bandage. 5. For the first week, avoid swimming or long soaking in the water. 6. For the first month, avoid too much exposure to the sun. 7. Do not pick or scratch scabs 8. Itching is relieived by slapping or alcohol. 9. Keep tattoo covered with loose clothing. * Bandaging Summary 1. After tattooing clean whole area with green soap and white paper towel. 2. Spray it with alcohol and hold a paper towel on it. 3. apply film of Bacitracin ointment. 4. Cover with bandage or Handi-Wrap and securely tape it on. I have yet to try this method, but have seen a few tattoos which have been bandaged with handi-wrap and they turned out just fine. (Huck writes that the handi-wrap stops people from peeling off the bandage in the first few hours to show friends. — Lance R. Bailey System/Network Manager Robarts Research Institute fax: +1 519 663 3789 P.O. Box 5015, 100 Perth Dr. vox: +1 519 663 3787 x4108 London, Canada N6A 5K8 "Either that wallpaper goes — or I do!" — Oscar Wilde’s dying words
Response:
Troyer %IDK) writes: Hi — I know this has been hashed over before, so a short answer will suffice. How long should one wait after getting a new tattoo before swimming in a chlorinated pool? i don’t let water (shower included) hit the ink for 6 weeks, but then i am *real* cautious..
Yeah.. that IS real cautious!!! Showers are fine but it’s the soaking that you REALLY have to look out for. Tattoos are a lot more bulletproof then some of us think, and it takes a LOT to fuck it up beyond all recognition. but then again, why take chances? : 2-3 weeks is a good idea, also. 1-2 minimum. )|/( | "I’ll kill us all!" | —– | -Jake Moss while driving us around | (_ wpi.wpi.edu | protection circle needs work!" | V | -Last words of Crond the Mage |
Response:
until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer of skin over the tattoo is formed. *sigh* A well taken care of tattoo should *never* scab… this is something that always irks me… if you keep it moist with A&D or bacitracin it should not scab thoughout the healing process…. -paul The Apprentice at Sign of the Wolf Tattoo
This is absolutely true! Flaking can sometimes occur but you have to neglect a tatt for a day or two to allow scabbing. A&D or bacitracin for at LEAST the first two weeks should be put on four times a day. After that, move to three then two. Then it should be every so often. This should happen for at least a month to a month and a half. Grunt worker, receptionist, and aspiring apprentice at Electric Ink Tattoo
Response:
writes: writes: until it is healed. most shoppes i frequent say 2-3 weeks. personally i’d wait until all the scabs were gone, and the new layer of skin over the tattoo is formed. *sigh* A well taken care of tattoo should *never* scab…
Bthis is something that always irks me… if you keep it moist with A&D – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -or bacitracin it should not scab thoughout the healing process…. OB well, mike (at ancient art tattoo, Orlando Fla) says that "moisture is a new tattoo’s worst enemy" so that kind of flies at the kepping it moist all the time. i used to go to great lengths to keep my tattoos moist while healing, the old version of the FAQ covers what i did. but now, looking at the ink i healed then, and other art which is not much older but healed without all the moisture i see that the ones where i kept it real moist to prevent any scabs are a lot fainter — grey where the others are still black. I quite literally drew a lof of the ink out of the piece. yes, it is important to keep the tattoo from drying out, but a scab is part of the normal healing process, and trying to fool mother nature is risking trouble. your mileage will of course vary. because how to heal a tattoo is a pretty opinionated topic, i wrote a replacement section for the how to heal a tatttoo section of the FAQ and sent it off to Paul Davies, who then forwarded it to Lani. Unfortunatly, she decided to only include one section of it (the Huck Spaulding method). maybe if i search around i can find what i sent to Paul and post it. it was interesting to note the varied opinions. i’ve tried most of them in a series of "Nof1 unblinded clinical trials" and trying to prevent a scab gives a tattoo that doesn’t seem to last. —
While you are supposed to keep it moist, you are only supposed to use a thin layer of Bacitracin or A&D, don’t goop it on. Also, daily cleaning is important to allow the old gunk to be replaced by new gunk and give the tatt a chance to breathe a little. -Jesster
Response:
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