I got my tattoo a week and two days ago, and it is slightly red around the edge in parts. what should i do?

So I got a tattoo on the top of my foot two days short of two weeks ago. Today I put Lubriderm on it. Was I supposed to? Will I wreck it?

Tattoos are supposed to crack/scab/peel. It's *normal*. *Never* put lotion on a tattoo that hasn't started peeling yet. If you cut open your finger would you pour lotion in it? You have to put A&D or some other ointment on it ot prevent infection. After a few days 2-4 depending on if it's peeling yet, *then* you use an unscented lotion. It's supposed to itch and peel. It will look crappy for a few weeks but then you will see what you saw when it was first done!

Okay, I think I'm in trouble. Got my first tat over a week ago on my ankle. first of all from the beginning the bandage was taken off a couple of hours after. it was hard to come off. complete out line on bandage in blood. I didn't rub it off my ankle, just applied a&d ointment as instructed. have been cleaning and caring for it as instructed. Was pushed into a pool once but came out quickly, have covered with a towel when out in the sun. anyway it's not looking good. color has faded it has scabbed and I was told to soften it with a warm wash cloth and rub off the scab. well now it has a red ring around it, it's scabbing in spots but burns and is sore. What should I do, short of going back to the tattoo parlor? this was done while on vacation and I'm not able to go back there. Can anyone help advise? --g av v

My tattoo has cracked and is red around the edges of the outline and has that burning itchy feeling.What should I do to it? It is about a week old goes from just below the bend of the knee on the outside right calf....there is a yellow tint to the blue ink.

My opinion of cracking....

If your tattoo scabbed from the beginning, then a crack in that scab may be normal...(Also, your artist overworked your skin) *If* the crack formed more then 4 days after the tattoo was received, and this was *not* following a bout of improper care, you may have a minor *staph* infection.

Staph lives on many surfaces, everywhere. Some people contract staph in their tattoos. Some staph is really bad (MRSA which is actually more likely to appear with boils not cracks)and some staph is not so bad..relatively speaking. The cracks will be painful, some require medical attention, some will heal on their own in a month sometimes 2.

To avoid this, don't touch your tattoo with non-washed hands, or let anyone else for that matter. Don't let your tattoo touch things that aren't sterile. Don't use your buddy's tattoo goo, get your own...and always make sure you get your tattoo from a clean, licensed shop.

hello to all, i'm a tattoo artist and i would like to point out a few things. *never* put lotion on a tattoo during the healing process. afterward yes, but not while your premature fragile skin is still healing. this will cause loss of color and possible to infections during the healing process. after a fresh tattoo apply A&D ointment.

another *no no* is neosporin. it's a thinner ointment yes. it has healing properties, but it usually soaks into the skin faster than the petroleum based ointments which do more good than harm. this is because the thicker the ointment (with the added healing needs) the better it is to protect and keep out those harmful bacterias in which, may in most cases, cause staph infections!

so leave it wrapped for a few hours after your new ink, then put *small* and not too cakey coats of A&D ointment. its your best bet!

as for goes the healing process your tattoo will look crummy, but don't be discouraged. it's healing and the finished product that you seen after your new ink was applied is what it should look like after the ugly healing process is complete. given that the client does not pick or scratch at it during the itchy healing process (slight itching is a sign that your tattoo is in the right direction) this should only feel this way a week after your tattoo has been applied.

if you experience pink and red soreness around the outlines and details of your tattoo with an almost yellow tint be advised that this is not normal healing and your tattoo may be infected as well as a feeling of an itchy burning feeling. this is a red flag but take good care of your tattoo and care for it just as any wound give or take a few things we have discussed such as ointments!

got a tattoo about 3 weeks ago on the side of my foot and now im starting to see some cracking on some letters is it scabbing or should i be worried its messed up?

i got my fist tattoo last week but i think i made a mistake by not cleaning it the second day can it mess up my tat and i was also wondering how long would it take to heal fully and what should it feel like when it is...

"i have been using a herbal ointment with eucalyptus, camphor and tea tree oil in it"

-As the guide suggests - dont use moisturizers or creams with scent

"I'm a runner and have not run since then but am wondering when it would be ok to start running again."

-When it stops scabbing and feels like normal skin, probably 2-3 weeks?

I got a tattoo that wraps around my ankle three weeks ago and the artist told me not to walk or run too much for a while. I'm a runner and have not run since then but am wondering when it would be ok to start running again.

hey, i got ma second tattoo about 3 weeks ago on ma leg just above my ankle..i am bit worried because it hasnt healed yet..ma 1st one is on ma shoulder and it only took two weeks to completely heal..only a few scabs have fallen off from the new one but i am seeing a thin kinda transparent layer on top of da tattoo..i dont know what dat is..i really dont know what to expect because i never paid attention to how da 1st one looked wen it was healing..i have been using a herbal ointment with eucalyptus, camphor and tea tree oil in it..i just hope dis hasnt affected in any way..any advice from ny 1..if this ends up looking like crap..i may have to wear pants for the rest of my life..somebody help!!!

Hey

I got my tattoo a few weeks back and I had the same problem. It was my first tattoo and so I didnt know what to expect. Basically, your tattoo is still healing, and the cracking, scabbing and dull colour is all part of the experience. Your tattoo may like crap now, but give it 2 weeks, keep on putting lotion on their 3-4 times a day, and it will look brilliant once healed. if it still looks bad after a month, go and get it touched up, preferably at a different tattoo parlour, good luck!!!

Okay, so I got a tattoo on my foot last Saturday (1/12/08), of 2 daisies and now on one of my daisies in the middle part it is really cracked and looks like crap. I have not been wearing any shoes or socks over my tattoo. The artist told me to wash it with anti bacterial soap a few times a day, wait 5-10 minutes and apply Lubriderm. I have 2 other tattoos on my back side so I never watched them heal, and I always applied A&D afterwards, but I figured since this was on my foot just maybe it is different.

What should I do now, after having it for almost 2 weeks? I am so afraid that it is going to look like major crap after the healing process.