Forearm tattoos are popular among both newbies and enthusiasts due to their stylish nature and being one of the least painful areas of the body to get tattooed. They are perfect for showing off fresh ink yet easy to hide. If you’re preparing your forearm for a new design, establishing a healthy aftercare routine is essential to protect both your skin and the new ink.
What to do after you get a forearm tattoo?-The Answer
[su_note radius=”6″]After getting a forearm tattoo, which is among the least painful body parts to be tattooed, manage the pain and inflammation by applying a small bag of ice or an ice pack. Cover the area with plastic wrap, placing a thin towel between the ice and the wrap to avoid soaking it. Once home, take it easy for a few hours; relax, watch TV, or scroll on your phone using your other hand[/su_note]
Proper aftercare for your forearm tattoo
Caring for your forearm tattoo is vital. You’ve spent time, money, and consideration on this new ink. Treat it like a fresh wound: keep it clean, avoid bacteria from swimming, sweat, and sunlight. Monitor for signs of infection. Proper care ensures its longevity and protects your skin. Remember the basics: clean and protect.
What to do after you get a forearm tattoo?
After getting a forearm tattoo, which is among the least painful body parts to be tattooed, manage the pain and inflammation by applying a small bag of ice or an ice pack. Cover the area with plastic wrap, placing a thin towel between the ice and the wrap to avoid soaking it. Once home, take it easy for a few hours; relax, watch TV, or scroll on your phone using your other hand. Avoid strenuous activities like video games or typing, which involve your new inked forearms, to help the healing process begin.Unlike leg sleeve tattoos, forearm tattoos require you to keep these specific activities to a minimum to ensure a smooth recovery.
How to clean a forearm tattoo
Cleaning your tattoo is important for aftercare. It prevents infections and ensures it heals properly, maintaining a fresh look. To clean your forearm tattoo, wash it 3-4 times a day with warm, soapy water for 20-30 seconds using your fingers (wash your hands first). If you’ve been working, exercising, or doing any activity exposing it to bacteria, wash it again. In the shower, use a cooler temperature at the end to avoid burning your skin and irritating the area. After cleaning the ink, gently dry your skin by patting with a disposable paper towel or antimicrobial cloth. Use a clean, disposable towel as cotton hand and body towels can harbor bacteria if shared, exposing you to a potential infection.
Which kind of soap should I use to clean the tattoo?
When taking care of your new tattoo, it’s important to pick the right soap. Many people feel overwhelmed when shopping in the personal care aisle. The best choice is a fragrance-free, liquid, pump soap. This type of soap lacks artificial ingredients and scents, which can irritate and damage your skin. Always go for something gentle to keep your tattoo vibrant and healthy.
Note: Though many soap bars are fragrance-free, they tend to sit in water and collect bacteria when not in use, opening you to possible infections.
How to moisturize a forearm tattoo
What to apply
For forearm tattoo aftercare, use a scent-free and fragrance-free soap. Follow with a white cream lotion or moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. Alternatively, apply Ink Balm from a jar 1-2x daily to protect your ink, relieve pain and itchiness, prevent infections, and keep your tattoo vibrant. These steps are crucial for maintaining your tattoo’s quality and appearance.
Why moisturizing is important
When you get a new tattoo, it’s crucial to keep it moisturized to aid quick skin regeneration, reduce irritation, and limit infection risk. Dry skin delays healing and increases susceptibility to bacterial infections, which can ruin your tattoo. Moisturized skin creates a healthy environment for healing, ensuring your tattoo heals properly and looks great. So, always keep your tattoo moisturized.
When to moisturize
About 24 hours after your session, your skin will begin to dry out. This is the first time to apply your daily tattoo moisturizer. For optimal moisture, skin health, and ink maintenance, use Ink Balm 1-2 times daily. If using lotion to moisturize, apply 3-5 times per day for the first two weeks, then regularly as part of your skincare regimen. With daily cleaning and moisturizing, your new forearm tattoo will be fine, but to keep your ink fresh forever, there’s more to consider.
Don’t itch
When you get a new tattoo on your forearm, it’s important to resist the urge to itch. Forearms dry out quickly, and many people grab or itch their forearm when they’re nervous, making them highly susceptible to itching. This can cause inflammation, infection, and fading. To help, apply moisturizer to hydrate your skin and get rid of the sensation. Keeping your skin hydrated is key to a healthy healing process.
Don’t go swimming
After getting a new tattoo on your forearm, it’s a must-avoid to go swimming in pools, lakes, or oceans for the first few weeks. These bodies of water are not sterile and can cause infection, ruining your ink. Even chlorine and pool chemicals can negatively affect the color and vibrance. If you want to spend a day at the pool or beach, keep your arm out of the water and cover the area with a waterproof bandage. If you accidentally get your forearm wet, clean and moisturize the area immediately to prevent infection.
Stay out of the sun
To prevent damage from UV exposure, always cover your new forearm tattoo with a broad-spectrum, fragrance-free sunscreen of 30-50 SPF after getting inked. Even if your tattoo is on the less exposed bottom of your forearm, safeguarding it from the sun during the first week’s post-session helps maintain its appearance. For other great designs, check out the coolest leg tattoos.
Sleep comfortably
To ensure your new tattoo on your forearm heals properly, avoid sleeping with it underneath you, your partner, or a pillow during the first few days. Maintain a cool environment by lowering your bedroom temperature and sleeping without covers on the tattooed area. Clean your sheets before use and keep pets off the bed to reduce the risk of infection from germs that your bed might harbor. Learn more about enhancing your tattoo with a Blast Over Tattoo.
Don’t wear watches, bracelets, or other jewelry
When you get a new tattoo on your forearm, avoid watches, bracelets, and any jewelry that might rub against it, causing constant friction that irritates the skin and makes the tattoo fade. Keep the area free from tight fit clothing that could constrict and prevent the skin from breathing fresh air, essential for healing. Good tattoo aftercare routine allows the skin to recover properly by giving your tattoo the recovery time it needs. With careful attention, you’ll have less to worry about as your new piece heals on your hand or wrist.
How long does a forearm tattoo take to heal?
While the top layer of your forearm tattoo might seem healed in 2 to 3 weeks, true recovery takes longer, requiring a healthy aftercare routine for 1-2 months. It’s crucial to keep the area clean, moisturizing regularly, and monitoring for any signs of infection. Full healing, considering factors like tattoo size, design, and your body’s healing process, can take up to 6 months. Consistent care ensures deep skin recovery and vibrant tattoo preservation.
How long should a forearm tattoo be covered?
To prevent infection, the bandage on a new tattoo should be changed within 1-2 days per application, with no more than two applications needed. This totals 3 to 4 days of coverage to ensure the tattoo heals properly and the skin remains protected.
