I was just wondering if there's anything in particular I can put on them to make it sting less.
Also. Every once in a while, I'll notice that they look like they're ...leaking? The tattoos are a dark brown color, and I'll look down and see what looks like the ink running down my arm. Is this normal?
And to boast, here's a picture. =D
I know of nothing topical that will remove the pain. However, a nice glass of Evan Williams Single Barrel in some coke should do the trick nicely. Take five of those and call me in the morning. Wait, scratch that. Call me in the afternoon. ;)
Shamelessly stolen from Willy Wonka. But in a prettier language.
It helped a lot with mine. I got a pair of wings on my back
anyway - I'd skip the liquor - and definitely stay away from aspirin. Benedryl is a good bet, though - and the aforementioned ointmnets. A&D is decent, or ANY baby ointment (they're less likely to cause an adverse reaction)
Remember - no matter how bad it itches, DON'T SCRATCH IT!!
I just find the language aesthetically pleasing. The way it's written looks like a fantasy language, and the way it's spoken is uh... kind of sexy?
Arabic and Middle Eastern culture really attract me. But I grew up reading Arabian Nights and watching Aladdin, so I guess it makes sense.
Have you studied it, yourself?
It is Arabic. =D
I just find the language aesthetically pleasing. The way it's written looks like a fantasy language, and the way it's spoken is uh... kind of sexy?
Arabic and Middle Eastern culture really attract me. But I grew up reading Arabian Nights and watching Aladdin, so I guess it makes sense.
Well personal experiences have kind of ruined the language for me (I started learning it through Rosetta Stone, and the program was great, but I just couldn't stand to listen to that language day after day anymore). However, I will totally concede that it looks very nice in written form and makes for good body art. Its also more original than the generic chinese symbols people get without even looking up what they mean. The tattoo artist might say "yeah that means dragon" but you could be getting "I suck **** for beer money" instead. In any case they came out looking nice.
As for the pain, just don't scratch it and it'll go away. Put some lotion on it every day until it heals (I can't recommend any particular brands, my wife does the research, buys what she thinks is best, and I just rub it in).
As for the pain, just don't scratch it and it'll go away. Put some lotion on it every day until it heals (I can't recommend any particular brands, my wife does the research, buys what she thinks is best, and I just rub it in).
The secret of skin lotion is Alcohol Free... You can go with oils or petroleum jelly, but they're messy. I've heard petroleum jelly a lot for tattoos though, not sure why. There is a brand of lotion called Impruv, which is a lotion that is completely alcohol free. Walgreens carries it, at least around here.
Most lotions add alcohol to give you that quick absorbtion/drying feeling, except it just dries your skin out, so its counter productive.
Left arm: "We are the music makers." Right arm: "We are the dreamers of dreams."
Shamelessly stolen from Willy Wonka. But in a prettier language.
Ah. Well, they look nice. Care to share the inspiration behind them?
I'd skip the liquor
And you'd be wrong to do so.
I'm guessing that arabic? Any particular dialect? Why did you choose that language?
I just quoted you cuz your avvy is the background on my work computer. So yeah.
i dont know much about tattoos my self yet, except that im planning on getting one. my friend is designing it :/ as far as your's, i like them!!
Careful, they're addictive.
Ok, first off, don't use petroleum jelly. While you are being tattooed an artist will use petroleum jelly to seal up your pores so that you don't bleed as much. This helps them finish their work. However, its not great for your skin. It also doesn't help the healing process, because it doesn't let your skin breath. While it is healing what you want to use is non-scented moisturizer. Something like lubriderm. And you don't want to use moisturizer with alcohol in it (do those even exist!?). Alcohol dries out your skin. It does the exact opposite of what you want your moisturizer to be doing. You also DON'T want to moisturize right away. I did that with a piece of one of my tattoos. Bad mistake. The point of moisturizing is to avoid having your tattoo crack while it is healing, and to relieve some of the itching (which is caused by the healing skin being dry, and hurting a little as a result). However, if you moisten the healing skin too much or too early it won't heal properly either. The healing skin doesn't actually start to dry out until a couple of days into the healing process. You will know when you need the moisturizer based on when your skin starts itching really badly. That leakage you were talking about could be caused by moisturizing your skin too soon in the healing process. Also, don't keep your tattoos wrapped up after the first 24 hours of healing. You want them wrapped up at first. After that, however, the open air helps the healing process. And remember to wash your tattoo with unscented soap once per day (twice if you do anything that results in lots of sweating). Oh, and don't let fresh tattoos soak up a lot of sunlight. That doesn't help them much either. Not saying you have to turn into a vampire... but don't go sun tanning or anything like that.
Didn't your artist tell you all of this stuff?
Anyways, Bone Naga is right. They are addictive as all hell. So be prepared to get more.
Oh, and if it doesn't heal 100% perfectly the first time, don't stress about it too much. Go back and get it touched up. It will look fine after that. Unless it got horribly infected the first time... I hear that if they get horribly infected the first time that can mess up the skin enough that it won't accept ink during future touch ups. But I don't actually know anyone who has had that happen to them personally, so I think statistically speaking you don't need to worry about that too much.
P.S. If the pain of the healing is REALLY bothering you, take a bunch of anti-inflammatory (spelling?) pain killers.
Glycerin is a humectant, so it draws moisture to your skin without blocking pores. It probably doesn't matter much now since its been at least several days since you got the tat.
Peer-pressure! Peer-pressure!
Man, this post has me wanting to put up pictures of my own ink.
Go for it, share! Stick them right in the post!
There's nothing you can do for the pain (other than the previous sugestion) but to help it heal better use baby nappy rash cream. No seriously.
It helped a lot with mine. I got a pair of wings on my back
Even better - haemmorrhoid cream!! always gets a weird look from the pharmacist until you tell them what it's for...
but always ask for advice on how to apply LOL
Dr. Jeff Herndon <JHERNDON@Gems.VCU.EDU>, resident assistant professor
at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth
University's Medical College, says Preparation-H should *NOT* be used
for tattoos:
According to the 1995 Drug Facts & Comparisons (Olin, et al., Facts and
Comparisons Inc.: St Louis, 1995; p 540-541) the list of ingredients
for Preparation-H are as follows:
- Live yeast cell derivative supplying 2000 units of skin respiratory
factor per ounce
- 3% shark liver oil
- 1:10000 phenyl mercuric nitrate
Facts and Comparisons goes on to say that shark liver oil (similar to
cod liver oil) is used primarily as a carrier of the active ingredients
and as a protectant, forming a physical barrier on the skin. While this
may be helpful in the healing of hemorroids, it provides no benefit and
perhaps impedes the healing of new tattoos.
Furthermore, while phenylmercuric nitrate may have antiseptic
properties (similar to mercurichrome or tincture of iodine; neither of
which should be used on fresh tattoos) it possesses very little anti-
infective properties when compared to traditional antibacterial agents
(neosporin, baccitracin, etc.). Its use in such low quantities in
Preperation-H is possibly as a preservative (Facts and Comparisons,
1995, p. 540).
The active ingredient of Preparation-H is the skin respiratory factor
and this does nothing to relieve the itching and/or swelling associated
with a new tattoo. In fact, it is best to simply keep the area moist
and clean and to avoid picking the scabs or 'onion skin peel' that
develop--and refrain from using Preparation-H. Not only will it NOT
help your tattoo, it will actually probably do more harm than good. The
product was developed for hemorrhoidal tissue only.
Jeff adds simply: "I just can't figure why you'd want to spread yeast
cells on a tattoo."
When you hear anyone suggesting anything other than using non-scented skin moisturizer after a few days, and keeping the area clean with unscented soap, make sure you do your research on the suggestion before you try it. Nine out of ten times their suggestion is liable to produce more harm then good. For example, I knew that using something like Vaseline or other petroleum jellys is a bad idea, because it clogs pores, and that harms the healing process. What I didn't know, and found out after a little research, is what affect this actually has on a tattoos healing. Apparently it destroys the color quality of a tattoo, causing it to fade very badly.
Generally speaking, I think some of the advise of this board proves that a gaming forum isn't your best place to get advice on tattoo care. Double check all the information you are given over this forum, including anything I have said. Better safe then sorry, or you will end up needing more touch ups to ensure that your tattoo looks as nice as you would like.
P.S. Do some research before you use anything like baby nappy rash cream or haemorrhoid cream. I am willing to bet that both of those are actually bad suggestions.
Actually, it was the PHARMACIST who suggested the haemmorroid cream, NOT preparation h. it was something else, there are loads of different creams/treatments for the same medical condition, to prevent ALLERGIC reaction- and my second tattoo healed quicker than my first which used a different cream...
but get advice first
(EDIT: just remembered it was a water-based gel - not a cream, didn't contain certain chemicals/ingredients)
The best source for advice about what you should do in regards to the tattoos healing process is your tattoo artist.
Agreed, which is why I go with Mecca. Every artist and every tattoo afficiando I've known recommends it, and from personal experience I can say it works marvelously.