You’ll be given all the instructions on how to take care of your tattoo during the appointment. It’s important to follow the instructions given by your tattoo artist, but here are some basic tips and reminders about the aftercare:

PROTECT IT FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS
A fresh tattoo is like a wound. When you leave the studio, your tattoo area will be protected with plastic film and you should keep it for at least 3 hours, but no more than 6-7 hours.
If you think it’s necessary, you can protect it again for the first night. Do not keep using plastic in the following days, so your tattoo gets to breathe.

Second Skin: If you are using Second Skin for protection, you can leave it on for up to 4–5 days, as long as the tattoo remains protected and the Second Skin barrier stays intact.

NOTE: You can shower normally, but avoid scrubbing the area. Do not swim or bathe, even with Second Skin, until your tattoo is fully healed.

If, for any reason, the Second Skin starts to peel off and you notice that the tattoo is exposed or that fluids (such as water or blood) can enter or leak from the Second Skin, remove it and begin regular aftercare.

To remove the Second Skin, gently stretch it in the direction of your body, rather than pulling it off in the opposite direction. It is normal for the skin to become slightly irritated or red in the area where the Second Skin was applied, but this should go back to normal within a few days.

ONLY TOUCH IT WITH CLEAN HANDS
You should always wash your hands before and after touching your tattoo, to avoid infection caused by dirty hands and for the sake of other people.

If another person is helping you to apply the cream, they must take extra care with washing their hands. They should not touch your tattoo if they have scratches or wounds on their hands, unless they use disposable gloves.

WASH IT WITH WATER AND SOAP
After removing the plastic protection, wash the tattoo with water and mild soap. The most important thing is to keep your tattoo clean.

During the first few days, dry your tattoo with a paper towel instead of a fabric towel (do not use toilet paper). Gently pat the paper towel over the tattoo to absorb the water—do not rub the fresh tattoo.

KEEP IT MOISTURISED UNTIL IT HEALS
From the second day, wash your tattoo twice a day and apply a thin layer of healing cream whenever the tattoo feels dry (4–5 times a day). Use just enough cream to keep it moisturised until it heals (approximately 4 weeks).

Only use healing creams specifically for tattoos. In Sweden, you can buy Bepanthen Salva or Helosan; otherwise, ask for tattoo healing cream at any drugstore.

Remember not to use regular moisturiser, oils, or sunscreen on a healing tattoo, as these can cause infections.

AVOID SUN, SAUNA AND BATHING
You should also avoid sun, sauna, bathing/swimming and dirty surroundings until the tattoo heals completely. The healing time may vary from person to person, but it typically takes around 4 weeks.

AVOID SPORTS AND EXERCISING
During the first week, you should avoid heavy physical activity, like sports or exercising at the gym. Your body needs to focus on healing the tattoo so don’t overwork it, otherwise you can get sick and the tattoo can take longer to heal.

AVOID SCRATCHING
While healing, you might feel the tattoo itching. You can try tapping it lightly to ease the sensation, but do not scratch it.