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invayne · Tattoo lover Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

I've had the bandage on my first tattoo for about 10 hours now. I just took it off and washed it with warm soapy water and found this huge hive underneath it..at least I think it's a hive:

Does anyone know what this is? And if it is an allergic reaction, how will this affect my tattoo? Its scaring the ***** outta me.

John Olexa · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject:

First chance you get, show the person who did the Tattoo, let them look at it. There will be some redness but ......... Ok, Maybe I'm wrong here but a bandage on for 10 Hours???????????

I leave mine just long enough to drive home!. and most of the time take it off once I'm in my truck!

Please let us know something.

Drunkenblade · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject:

10hrs???????????

3-4 is what I recomend...

Ya, ask the person that you recieved the tattoo from what their oppinion is!

subdermal lumps an swelling occur as a reaction to a HUGE range of causes... It may just be that the tattooist went to deep in that spot and there is some extra irritation that your body is reacting to...

Once again, there are plenty of reasons for such things to occur... whatch the area for a day or so... keep clean, LIGHT A&D ointment, clean w/ antibacterial soap... etc...
Did you recieve a care sheet when you left??? follow directions if so...

PAIN, Swelling, Redness... Not good, seek proffesional help!

10 hrs though???

Ok, the disclaimer... This is a forum and we can only make suggestions based on our experience...

keep us updated, pics help some times. Smile

dickyknee · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

10 hours seems way to long , i normally leave for 1 hour tops , then a wash with warm soapy water .
Cant be much help with hive , i had a slightly raised spot once , but would not call it a hive , it was fine with in a day though .
I would ask the artist for some advice .

tattman · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject:

When we get our tattoos we are told to leave the bandage on for an hour no more no less. Then do the soapy water wash. And I still to this day get the outline's raising of my very first tattoo. But as quick as they appear they go away. So that part i wouldn't worry so much about. But like everyone has said it will be red for a little while but you could be having a slight reaction to the cream you are putting on. The Tattman.

tattman · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject:

When we get our tattoos we are told to leave the bandage on for an hour no more no less. Then do the soapy water wash. And I still to this day get the outline's raising of my very first tattoo. But as quick as they appear they go away. So that part i wouldn't worry so much about. But like everyone has said it will be red for a little while but you could be having a slight reaction to the cream you are putting on. The Tattman.

invayne · Tattoo lover Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

Thats so strange, all the aftercare instructions seem to be different wherever I go. My artist told me to leave the bandage on until right before I went to bed. And she had finished the tattoo at around 6. I had also heard the no-longer-than-an-hour rule, as well as a keep-it-on-overnight rule. Pretty confusing, but I just went with my artist's advice. I actually woke up this morning and the unidentified hive/welt/lump was gone, although the area is still a but swollen (much less red though) and painful. I'm also having trouble getting all the blood out. Some of its caked on there and I don't know if I'm supposed to pick it out or not.

dickyknee · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject:

Invayne , that is the exact reason why i remove mine after an hour and give it a good wash , to remove all the blood and muck while it is still fresh and wet , that way when you get up next morning it will be a lot cleaner .

I think over time you will get your own routine down pat , if you think it needs a good wash and clean or think the wrap should come off then i would do so .
I actually only wrapped my latest tat for one day and not even all of it , it has heal quicker and better than ever before , i also only applied cream to the areas that needed it or were drying out a little .
But please dont follow this as a rule as it may not be the best method for you .

Drunkenblade · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

When I put together my after care sheet I also found 100's of different methods online, but all were reasonably close... Artists vary and so do their methods, but all are reasonably close...
YOU know your body best and in cases were a virgin comes in I tell them to follow my instruction, but you know how you heal...
I'll post my care instuctions when I get to work...
once again, this is what I have my clients do/ask to do, but ultimately care is upto the tattooee once they have left the studio...
More to come Smile

John Olexa · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject:

"Swollen (much less red though) and painful" Thats pretty normal.
But like others have said thats why as soon as I get home, and 3 or 4 times a day, I wash the tattoo with luke warm water and use an antibacterial soap. I use Dial ( Nobody else in the house is allowed to use that soap, thats my tattoo soap!) and "pat dry".. " don't rub dry" it then put your "thin" coat of A&D or what ever you use on it.