Ciel

Hi. I've just taken off my dermalize pro after 4 days, and my skin has started peeling. My tattoo artist said that I should use bepanthen for the next few days. However, should I be using another type of moisturiser, instead of this healing ointment? Also, do I have to shower, clean, pat dry the back piece 3 tines a day before moisturising? Or would it be fine to just moisturise without showering?

Has anyone else had issues with their skin forming red skin at the edges of where their derm product laid when stuck onto the skin? I just took off my dermalize pro, and I can dark red skin around the edges... I think it was where the skin was being tugged, since the shape of my back constantly enlarges and shrinks as I move. I also think it's this, because the internal areas (tattood areas, as well as the bare skin around the line work) isn't red. Anyone come across this?

Hey guys. After taking my dermalize pro off, would you recommend I use aquaphor or bepanthem?

I'm on Day 3 of using Dermalize Pro to heal my full back tattoo. Jesus christ, the itchiness is unbelievable. Woke me up at 4am. Feel like bugs constantly skittering across my back. F***.

Hey guys. I just started my first tattoo yesterday. I'm using Dermalize Pro which is similar to second skin/saniderm. It's a full back piece, so only the linework/stencil has been done so far. After the session, it was wrapped in cling film. After 3 hours, I took the cling film off, and washed it with tepid water and mild soap. I then pat dry with a kitchen towel. Then I applied the dermalize pro onto the tattoo area. It's 18 hours since then. I've seen no oozing of excess ink or pus... Is this normal? I thought the body was meant to push the bad stuff out?

Hey guys, can anyone tell me how long your stencil for your full back tattoo took? Will this be done during the 1st session or prepared beforehand by the artist? Will I just sit around while he makes the stencil on paper? Or will he just do it directly onto my skin? If he prepares the stencil on paper beforehand ready to stick onto my skin, it it customary for me to pay him for this time? Or will I only pay him for the actual tattooing time? Will the artist make a stencil each time I go to get tattood? Or will he make the stencil, stick it onto my skin, and outline it, thereby leaving me with the outline of the full back tattoo? I'm such a noob!

Hey! It is indeed my first tattoo. :D 'Go big or go home' is my life motto. Okay, I'll probably not use coconut oil, at least not in the initial healing phase. I might use it later on, once the skin starts getting really dry - coconut oil is an anti-bacterial moisturizer, so I really can't see it doing much harm at that point. As for what I'll apply to begin with, it'll be Bepanthen, 2/3 times a day following a warm shower. See, mindset behind re-wrapping the tattoo at night is that I will most probably roll onto my back as I sleep. My back will then be itchy. I will most probably scratch my back on the bed, which might damage the tattoo. However, if I have it wrapped/covered directly after drying and applying Bepanthen, it should be fine, yes?

I know, I was thinking that as I was writing it - but I love oxymorons, so went ahead with it anyway. Besides, in theory it wouldn't be difficult - there are many beautiful lizards out there. And as I've provided reference pictures to him as to the type of dragon I prefer (snake-like, oriental-style) it shouldn't be hugely difficult... The most difficult part will be achieving realism out of it. Then again, my reference pictures are all in realistic style.

Well I certainly want a high level of detail - basically, I want a realistic mythological creature, so the detail needs to be there... Do you have any artists in mind who might be who I'm looking for? I don't mind travelling, but I live in the UK.

Well my mindset is that if I don't wrap it, I might unconsciously use the bed sheet to scratch the injured area... It'd also allow dust to irritate the site too. Surely if I apply anti bacterial ointment, along with coconut oil (which in itself has the perfect vitamins and proteins for skin repair, along with natural antibacterial properties) it'd be fine wrapped up for around 8 hours?

Hi. In preparation for my full back tattoo, I've been researching aftercare methods. Please review the aftercare method I will be using: Day 1 - I'll be finishing the session at around 5pm, getting home at 5.30pm. I'll leave the wrap/bandage on all night. If it's a bandage, I'll wrap it in cling film. I'll try to sleep on my side as much as I can - will sleeping on the tattoo really harm it that much?! Day 2 - 8am. Remove the wrap and bandage. Gently wash it with warm water until the bandage falls off. Use a lather from Dove Bar Soap and gently wash the crap off my tattoo and skin. Pat dry gently to remove excess ink, then let it air dry. Then apply a thin layer of Bepanthen, then a thin layer of coconut oil. Do not cover at this point. 3pm - repeat. Shower, soap, rinse, dry, bepanthen, coconut oil. 9pm - repeat. After the coconut oil, wrap it in cling film and seal with tape. This is to not let it touch the bed when sleeping. Repeat Day 2 until skin starts to flake. From then on, only shower twice a day (morning and night). No need to use Bepanthen. Continue to use dove bar soap and coconut oil. No need to wrap before going to bed. Any flaws in the above method? Should i continue to use Bepanthen after the skin starts to flake? I'll be discussing this with my tattoo artist, but I wanted different takes on it. Thanks!

Well I plan to apply a thin layer of some unscented antibacterial cream, covering that with some clean kitchen towel (to soak up the ink, blood and plasma), then wrapping myself in cling film. Then the next morning, remove the cling film and jump into the shower, completely wet the kitchen towel and gently remove it and clean the wound as normal with some sort of non fragrant soap. Good plan? I don't even have the design back yet! XD

I was worried about this. I find it almost impossible to sleep on my side or belly - I always find I roll onto my back... Do you think it'll seriously damage the tattoo?

Hey. This is probably a silly question, but during the healing process of a full back tattoo (mainly talking a few days fresh) is it okay to sleep on your back, or do you try to sleep on your side in order to not compress the tattoo and allow stuff yo flow out?

Hi. :) I was just wondering what you all thought of this tattoo artist (Dragos). I'm looking to get him to do my full back tattoo in black and grey realism - it'll (hopefully) be a highly detailed realistic tattoo of a dragon facing a ronin/samurai. Do you think Dragos is up for the job? I know it's premature to say (I've had my consultation with him and played £40 for his custom design) having not seen his design yet. But what do you guys think of his work and talent? Feels like I'm bitching about him behind his back... He's a really nice guy. I really like his art, tbh, but I can't see anything as big and detailed as I want... But he has done very realistic and detailed art, as shown in his portfolio. It'd be fine, right? Surely he'd be up for the task? Worrier here.