Wife and I are planning on getting tattoos to celebrate both of us getting through some health problems, and how we supported each other. I’ve got some silly questions. Planning on the tattoo either being on my arm or chest.
1. I workout 5 days a week. I understand that I should avoid getting the area wet for a period of time, but how long, and what about sweat?
2. I use some acne washes with benzoyl peroxide, and also some prescription retinol for the acne. Do I avoid either of these for a period of time?
3. Everyone I know says to visit the place, get the tattoo drawn on, and then come back later to decide. Is it bad to just get it done if I like it immediately?
Thanks for any and all suggestions!
3 comments
I have full sleeves and full back. You will have plastic over it for 12-24 hours. After that you can use MILD soap after a workout, like dial body wash. Do NOT put anything on it except Eucirin lotion. No antibiotic creams or exotic BS. You’ll want to moisturize it at least twice a day and honestly it’ll make the tattoo stay nice longer if you just plan to do that forever.
Do not let your acne stuff touch it. Probably won’t hurt the tattoo but will absolutely hurt like a bitch.
I walked in with my design and sat for 6 hours the same day. You’ve waited almost 40 years I’m betting you know what you want.
Got my first three at 39 years old.
1) I also workout all week and run 6 days a week. Your artist may just have you lotion it or they might put a second skin (I prefer those) on it, either way you should be fine.
2) That’s a great question for your artist.
3) Up to you I guess. I kinda had regrets going in but saw the stencil and just rolled with it.
To me, the workout question depends on what kind of healing process you’re doing and how your skin reacts generally. My most recent one is on my leg and I had a saniderm bandage on it for three days. Working out made it super gnarly – it got a lot of blood and lymph going to the point that it went through onto my clothes. Made it a lot harder to get the saniderm off because there was so much extra dried fluid.
Most artists won’t let you leave with the stencil on you, because theoretically you could have a different (and very unethical) artist do the actual tattooing. In my experience, you can’t even see it before the day of the appointment. But they will work with you to get it exactly how you want it, and if you’re still not sure you can always have them wipe it off.