this is the only true article with tips and tricks I would have liked to read 17 years ago when I got tattooed for the first time
because it’s true: getting a tattoo is painful, but at least it doesn’t last long!!!
healing a tattoo, on the other hand, takes forever and can be a real headache for weeks!!!!

they say time heals all wounds
and it took me quite a while to discover these tricks for healing wounds
and now I’ll share them all at once
at least my 17 years of internal cursing can now be useful to you

let’s start with the list of the good:

5 things TO DO after getting a tattoo

1) wash the tattoo

You must, must, and must again
the tattoo is a wound and needs to be kept clean, washing the tattoo twice a day, gently massaging it, helps speed up the healing process, prevents scabbing, and reduces itching significantly
want to know why? READ HERE

2) help the body drain

how? by elevating the tattooed area
keep your leg elevated if you’ve tattooed your leg
keep your arm raised if you’ve tattooed your arm
lie down if you’ve tattooed your back or torso

why? because during the tattooing process, the body produces a lot of fluids to address the situation and bring everything you might need to the tattooed area
the body’s first post-tattoo urgency is to drain all this excess fluid. Your lymphatic system, therefore, will work overtime the first night post-tattoo, and until it finishes its job, the body will focus less energy on healing. So, if you help your lymphatic system drain more quickly, your body will get to work on healing the tattoo faster

I’ll do something for you, and you do something for me, seems fair, right?

3) sleep at least 8 hours, maybe even take a nap after lunch

if it’s called “beauty sleep”,  there’s a reason
during sleep, cortisol levels —the stress hormone— are at their lowest, and many other beneficial hormones increase, including growth hormone, which plays a fundamental role in the self-repair and oxygenation of tissues

if I had to choose one piece of advice from all, it would be this: sleep is the most powerful medicine we have available, even better than Xanax

4) eat fruits and vegetables and dark chocolate

there are foods that stimulate dopamine production and others from which the body derives serotonin— hormones that increase skin microcirculation, accelerating its repair processes and cellular turnover
these foods include green tea, leafy green vegetables, pumpkin and carrots, cereals and legumes, sunflower seeds, cacao, and spirulina algae

would you have ever thought? eating helps heal better ^_^

5) have sex

this one might have surprised you, right????
sexual activity —even solo— lowers cortisol and causes the body to produce beta-endorphins and oxytocin, which have a powerful anti-inflammatory, soothing, and calming effect

and now the list of the bad:

5 things NOT TO DO after getting a tattoo

1) do NOT scratch it

no, no, no, and again, NO, absolutely forbidden
why? because scratching would remove the new cells the body is creating to heal, significantly setting back the healing process
moreover, if there are any scabs, you risk pulling them off prematurely, which could remove more color than necessary and create empty, colorless spots

is your tattoo itching? take the opportunity to wash it gently or apply some cream ^_^ it helps with healing

2) NO to wool or synthetic clothing

the tattoo should not be covered, creating excess moisture —a perfect habitat for germs and bacteria— so you should prefer breathable fabrics like cotton and avoid synthetic materials that smother the area
so, NO to pantyhose, NO to synthetic tops against the tattoo,

and instead, YES to natural, breathable materials ^_^.

NO to tight-fitting clothes that rub against the tattoo, for the same reason you can’t scratch it
therefore, NO to tight jeans or leggings BE CAUTIOUS with elastic-waist underwear if the tattoo is in a sensitive area —same for bras— and be careful with socks if the tattoo is on the foot/ankle/calf

One big piece of advice: NO to WOOL for the first 2-3 days
as the fibers could get into the wound and cause infection or become stuck in a scab, and when removed, they may take more skin than necessary, leaving parts of the tattoo without color

a great piece of advice that can significantly avoid all these unwanted effects is the use of breathable adhesive film for tattoo care ^_^

3) NO swimming pools and wellness centers

the reasons are practically endless

• the tattoo should not be soaked in water for an extended period because the cells weaken significantly — do you remember? when your mom told you to get out of the water because your hands were all wrinkled?
• chlorine or other disinfectant agents used in pools and wellness centers are too harsh for fresh and still delicate skin and could permanently damage the skin, ruining the tattoo
• okay, disinfectant agents, but germs and bacteria thrive in moisture, and we don’t want germs or bacteria in our tattoo, do we?

I could go on with a thousand and one more reasons, but I think these three are enough

4) do NOT sweat too much

as mentioned above, the reasons are practically endless, for example

• sweat is a fluid rich in minerals with an acidic reaction, and I would say that pouring acid on a wound is neither good nor right, right?
• sweating is accompanied by increased blood circulation, pushing the tissues and causing the tattoo to bleed more color than necessary — after all the pain you endured to get it, would you want to see your tattoo faded?
• when you sweat, you dry off with a towel, rubbing the tattooed area, and…read above why you can’t scratch it ^_^

as mentioned above, I could go on with a thousand and one more reasons, but I think these three are enough
want to go to the GYM?! here’s how to do it ^_^

5) AVOID what makes you sad or stressed

first, because cortisol — the stress hormone — inhibits all skin healing processes
the body activates “anxiety mode: fight or flight?!” and doesn’t care much about healing a non-threatening wound
second, because all happiness hormones improve skin hydration, barrier function, blood circulation, and cellular turnover

END of the games and GOOD WORK ^_^

with love, but always irreverent

LADY SARA