So uhm Im bored so i thought I might share a little knowledge. PLease forgive any misspelling in this though, its been a while since i went to my medical classes.
So the people on this site are into tattoos right? well I just thought some of you might like to know a bit of whats going on with your skin as its beeing tattooed.
First off there are five main layers of skin (there are actually more than that but it gets more complicated than need be so, we'll concentrate on 5 for now. Basically the layers are (from outside to in).
Epidermis
Fibrosis
Dermis
Subcutanious fat
Muscle
When you get tattooed, you are using small needles to insert ink into the dermal (Dermis) layer which is about 1/16" deep. Any shallower than that you risk the color coming out as the epidermal layers shed with time, and any deeper than that you risk lines skewing as fat stretches and moves over time. Now because of thickness of skin in the epidermal layer this varies slightly over your body, and thus the reason tattooing works better on some parts of the body as opposed to others.
Now reasons why sun and skin care products are bad for tattoos.
Tattooes are visible on skin because the actual cells of your skin are opaque (basically clear). its the thickness of your skin and the number of layers of epidermal skin that give poeple there skin tone (this is to protect people in different parts of the world skin from the different effects of the sun). The reason tanned skin, treated skin, and darker toned skin do not tattoo as well and stay as bright is because, the outer layers of skin works as a sun shade. (you know how when someone has sunglasses on you cant see the color in there eyes as well throught the glasses? same principle). The second reason sun is bad for tattoos is because of the process of skin growth.
The outer layer of skin or epidermis, can be broken up into three layers (heres wher my spelling may mess this up). Again from outside in we have:
Stratum Corneum
Squamous layer
Basil cell layer
The Stratum Corneum (we'll just call it the strat) is the very outside layer of skin, adn is basically dead skin waiting for new skin to finish forming, so it can fall off It is the thickest layer and it gets thicker with age Basically it protects the body. The Squamous layer (squam) is the newly forming layer of skin that is basically the skin waiting to add onto the outer "strat" layer. the third is the Basil layer and is the part of the skin that responds to help grow new skin if something happens. Very cruedly, the basil layer is what kicks it into high gear to help form a scab and heal a cut, by making sure theres a reserve of fresh cells waiting to grow. Now when you tan or use abrasive skin treatments, you begin wearing away at one, two or all three of these layers (this happens naturally but harsh skin care sppeds it up). When these three layers fall off over time, they attempt to pull the deposited ink up and out with them, adn over time can even suck ink out of the fibrosis and dermal layers of skin too. So basically, you sun tan = your skin dies and sheds faster, and with shedding skin comes shedding ink, therefore less ink, i.e. less tattoo.
Now here is a major qualm of mine. It has rescently come to my attention, that several tattoo artists in the US, and almost all Canadian artists practice the same VERY bad habit. Coming from medical training I would like to address one small thing. Length of bandaging for a new tattoo.
In Canada, ever shop I have been to, or heard of has told (often demanded) that customers keep bandages on for a minimum 6 hours, and if possible, over night.
BAD!!! and i will tell you two reasaons why.
When you are putting on a bandage on a tattoo shop, odds are you are putting vasoline or some other form of petroleum jelly on the tattoo to lubricate it and keep the bandage from sticking. If you do this it is physically UNSAFE, to keep the bandage on for more than a couple of hours. Petroleum is NOT a natural part of the human system and while not toxic or over all poisonous, it should not be introduced into the blood stream. Think of it this way. It is not healthy to inject concentrated bacon grease into your bloodstream, because it will clog your heart, so why would you introduce a thicker agent in the same manner (and regardless of popular belief petroleum does not break down in water or the blood stream, thus it no longer being deemed healthy for sexual lubrication). In six hours th new layer of skin will have started forming and you will have petroleum trapped in your system. Reason two: Old "dead" blood is one of the easiest carriers of infection, even if it is your own blodd. Old blood collects dirt and pathogens from the air, so you risk getting infection from the blood flowing from the fresh wound even after it has dried and died on your skin. I can hear you asking right now "what about scabs?". Simply put sscabs are alive and well. Its that first three layers of skin forming fast to make a temporary "bandage" to allow the area (but even a scab can cause infection if the wound wasnt cleaned before the scabbing occured. When the "real" new skin forms it cuts off oxygen to the scab and the scab skin dies and falls off. Anyways the point is scabs are fine and good for you, old dead blood is NOT.
A bandage should be removed about one hour after the tattoo is done (two hours is ok if the tattoo covered alot of area). The reason it should be removed is so the petroleum jelly, old dirty blood, bandage material, and any topical creams that may still remain can be washed off. antibacterial soap should be used and fresh water. Go to a hospital and ask any doctor how to treat a wound and they'll probably give you this same explination, pretty much word for word. If you are worried about injuring the sensative area, or possibly disrupting the healing process, you can rebandage a tattoo but it isnt the best idea. However if you decide to do so, this is how it should be done.
Using anti bacterial soap, wash your hands completely, and dry them with a clean dry papertowel. (it is best to keep some paper towels in a place where the wont get dirty or exposed to any contaminants)
Wash the tattooed area, using only your hands, dont use wash clothes or any other "tools" and try to not use anything more than your finger tips. The less the tattoo is touched while healing the easier time you will have.
Dont soak the tattoo, use your hands to drizzle water onto the tattoo. with your fingertips, rub antibacterial soap into the tattoo thoroughly but with a gentle touch. Once you have soaped the area wash away all traces of the soap.
With a new dry paper towel, softly pat the tattoo dry. Do NOT rub or mop the tattooed area dry. You can also let it air dry but it may not be the best option.
Now for a bandage, take a piece of clean clear plastci wrap. the kind from the kitchen and wrap the tattoo. The bandage should not be tight enough to cut of blood flow or press into the tattoo, but it should not allow for air or space between the skin and plastic. Do not use any lubricants, or allow any soap or excess water to remain between the tattoo and bandage. It should just be dry bandage against tattooed skin.
This bandage works weel to keep your tattoo clean while working or sleeping, but shouldnt be left on longer than absolutely necissary and should be changed if on for more than a few hours (making sure to wash the tattoo while changing it)
In general a tattoo should be cleaned about 10-15 times a day for the first three to five days, then for the next week or so it shoule be cleaned about five times a day. another trick is to use a non fragrant natural lotion (very sparingly) for a few days to two weeks. a good kind is Vaseline Intensive Care for dry skin. When using lotion you shouldnt use much more than a "dime" size spot, and make sure you rub the lotion until it is "gone". If you can tell you used lotion, keep rubbing until you cant feel it any more, remembering to be gentle. The lotion acts to lift dirt out of the tattoo, but mainly to keep skin from drying out prematurely, but please remember, it is petroleum based, so it should not build up. And too much lotion can also soften scabs.
Do not under any circumstances pick or remove scabs. As the time comes the scabs will die and fall off on their own. If you mess with or pick the scabs, you risk ruining your tattoo, as you may either pull ink out with the scab or scar the skin under the scab.
Thats basically it for the process of healing a tattoo. There are other little tips, hints and tricks, but most anything else is a case-by-case thing and doesnt always apply.
Probably the best peice of advice i can offer to anyone interested in tattooing its this.
No matter how good your artist, no one knows everything, no one has all the answers and no one tattooes or gets tattooed the same as everyone else. Whether you are tattooing or getting tattooed (any basically anything else in the world you may be doing) take the time to learn anything and everything you can about it. Knowledge is always a good thing, and I promise it will make for better tattoos.
My motto for tattooing: Infect yourself with knowledge, not needles.
PS please feel free to disagree with me, on any of my above points, but please be fore warned, I can back up everything i say, so come prepared. Like my dad alwasy used to say "if you come to a gun fight, its best to come loaded.
So the people on this site are into tattoos right? well I just thought some of you might like to know a bit of whats going on with your skin as its beeing tattooed.
First off there are five main layers of skin (there are actually more than that but it gets more complicated than need be so, we'll concentrate on 5 for now. Basically the layers are (from outside to in).
Epidermis
Fibrosis
Dermis
Subcutanious fat
Muscle
When you get tattooed, you are using small needles to insert ink into the dermal (Dermis) layer which is about 1/16" deep. Any shallower than that you risk the color coming out as the epidermal layers shed with time, and any deeper than that you risk lines skewing as fat stretches and moves over time. Now because of thickness of skin in the epidermal layer this varies slightly over your body, and thus the reason tattooing works better on some parts of the body as opposed to others.
Now reasons why sun and skin care products are bad for tattoos.
Tattooes are visible on skin because the actual cells of your skin are opaque (basically clear). its the thickness of your skin and the number of layers of epidermal skin that give poeple there skin tone (this is to protect people in different parts of the world skin from the different effects of the sun). The reason tanned skin, treated skin, and darker toned skin do not tattoo as well and stay as bright is because, the outer layers of skin works as a sun shade. (you know how when someone has sunglasses on you cant see the color in there eyes as well throught the glasses? same principle). The second reason sun is bad for tattoos is because of the process of skin growth.
The outer layer of skin or epidermis, can be broken up into three layers (heres wher my spelling may mess this up). Again from outside in we have:
Stratum Corneum
Squamous layer
Basil cell layer
The Stratum Corneum (we'll just call it the strat) is the very outside layer of skin, adn is basically dead skin waiting for new skin to finish forming, so it can fall off It is the thickest layer and it gets thicker with age Basically it protects the body. The Squamous layer (squam) is the newly forming layer of skin that is basically the skin waiting to add onto the outer "strat" layer. the third is the Basil layer and is the part of the skin that responds to help grow new skin if something happens. Very cruedly, the basil layer is what kicks it into high gear to help form a scab and heal a cut, by making sure theres a reserve of fresh cells waiting to grow. Now when you tan or use abrasive skin treatments, you begin wearing away at one, two or all three of these layers (this happens naturally but harsh skin care sppeds it up). When these three layers fall off over time, they attempt to pull the deposited ink up and out with them, adn over time can even suck ink out of the fibrosis and dermal layers of skin too. So basically, you sun tan = your skin dies and sheds faster, and with shedding skin comes shedding ink, therefore less ink, i.e. less tattoo.
Now here is a major qualm of mine. It has rescently come to my attention, that several tattoo artists in the US, and almost all Canadian artists practice the same VERY bad habit. Coming from medical training I would like to address one small thing. Length of bandaging for a new tattoo.
In Canada, ever shop I have been to, or heard of has told (often demanded) that customers keep bandages on for a minimum 6 hours, and if possible, over night.
BAD!!! and i will tell you two reasaons why.
When you are putting on a bandage on a tattoo shop, odds are you are putting vasoline or some other form of petroleum jelly on the tattoo to lubricate it and keep the bandage from sticking. If you do this it is physically UNSAFE, to keep the bandage on for more than a couple of hours. Petroleum is NOT a natural part of the human system and while not toxic or over all poisonous, it should not be introduced into the blood stream. Think of it this way. It is not healthy to inject concentrated bacon grease into your bloodstream, because it will clog your heart, so why would you introduce a thicker agent in the same manner (and regardless of popular belief petroleum does not break down in water or the blood stream, thus it no longer being deemed healthy for sexual lubrication). In six hours th new layer of skin will have started forming and you will have petroleum trapped in your system. Reason two: Old "dead" blood is one of the easiest carriers of infection, even if it is your own blodd. Old blood collects dirt and pathogens from the air, so you risk getting infection from the blood flowing from the fresh wound even after it has dried and died on your skin. I can hear you asking right now "what about scabs?". Simply put sscabs are alive and well. Its that first three layers of skin forming fast to make a temporary "bandage" to allow the area (but even a scab can cause infection if the wound wasnt cleaned before the scabbing occured. When the "real" new skin forms it cuts off oxygen to the scab and the scab skin dies and falls off. Anyways the point is scabs are fine and good for you, old dead blood is NOT.
A bandage should be removed about one hour after the tattoo is done (two hours is ok if the tattoo covered alot of area). The reason it should be removed is so the petroleum jelly, old dirty blood, bandage material, and any topical creams that may still remain can be washed off. antibacterial soap should be used and fresh water. Go to a hospital and ask any doctor how to treat a wound and they'll probably give you this same explination, pretty much word for word. If you are worried about injuring the sensative area, or possibly disrupting the healing process, you can rebandage a tattoo but it isnt the best idea. However if you decide to do so, this is how it should be done.
Using anti bacterial soap, wash your hands completely, and dry them with a clean dry papertowel. (it is best to keep some paper towels in a place where the wont get dirty or exposed to any contaminants)
Wash the tattooed area, using only your hands, dont use wash clothes or any other "tools" and try to not use anything more than your finger tips. The less the tattoo is touched while healing the easier time you will have.
Dont soak the tattoo, use your hands to drizzle water onto the tattoo. with your fingertips, rub antibacterial soap into the tattoo thoroughly but with a gentle touch. Once you have soaped the area wash away all traces of the soap.
With a new dry paper towel, softly pat the tattoo dry. Do NOT rub or mop the tattooed area dry. You can also let it air dry but it may not be the best option.
Now for a bandage, take a piece of clean clear plastci wrap. the kind from the kitchen and wrap the tattoo. The bandage should not be tight enough to cut of blood flow or press into the tattoo, but it should not allow for air or space between the skin and plastic. Do not use any lubricants, or allow any soap or excess water to remain between the tattoo and bandage. It should just be dry bandage against tattooed skin.
This bandage works weel to keep your tattoo clean while working or sleeping, but shouldnt be left on longer than absolutely necissary and should be changed if on for more than a few hours (making sure to wash the tattoo while changing it)
In general a tattoo should be cleaned about 10-15 times a day for the first three to five days, then for the next week or so it shoule be cleaned about five times a day. another trick is to use a non fragrant natural lotion (very sparingly) for a few days to two weeks. a good kind is Vaseline Intensive Care for dry skin. When using lotion you shouldnt use much more than a "dime" size spot, and make sure you rub the lotion until it is "gone". If you can tell you used lotion, keep rubbing until you cant feel it any more, remembering to be gentle. The lotion acts to lift dirt out of the tattoo, but mainly to keep skin from drying out prematurely, but please remember, it is petroleum based, so it should not build up. And too much lotion can also soften scabs.
Do not under any circumstances pick or remove scabs. As the time comes the scabs will die and fall off on their own. If you mess with or pick the scabs, you risk ruining your tattoo, as you may either pull ink out with the scab or scar the skin under the scab.
Thats basically it for the process of healing a tattoo. There are other little tips, hints and tricks, but most anything else is a case-by-case thing and doesnt always apply.
Probably the best peice of advice i can offer to anyone interested in tattooing its this.
No matter how good your artist, no one knows everything, no one has all the answers and no one tattooes or gets tattooed the same as everyone else. Whether you are tattooing or getting tattooed (any basically anything else in the world you may be doing) take the time to learn anything and everything you can about it. Knowledge is always a good thing, and I promise it will make for better tattoos.
My motto for tattooing: Infect yourself with knowledge, not needles.
PS please feel free to disagree with me, on any of my above points, but please be fore warned, I can back up everything i say, so come prepared. Like my dad alwasy used to say "if you come to a gun fight, its best to come loaded.
Jenna