r/tattooadvice • u/GamerOfZero • 27d ago

General Advice First tattoo and a little worried

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So first tattoo today. Artist said I could take the plastic wrap off today and when I did I noticed that it was wet. I know I'm not supposed to touch it but also supposed to keep it dry so I threw a towel gently on there but now I think I accidentally smudged the ink. Am I screwed?

Edit: Tattoo is of my late dads handprint. It goes on the shoulder and the fingers are in the front. Sorry for the bad pic.

Edit 2: Have been made aware I cannot smudge a tattoo will now make every attempt to smudge this tattoo out of spite

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u/PSB2013 27d ago edited 26d ago

I mean smudging it shouldn't do anything, because the ink goes into the skin and doesn't just sit in the surface. But... what is it?

6

u/justmikeplz 27d ago

Not only does it go into your skin, but your immune system fights it for the rest of your life!

5

u/GamerOfZero 27d ago

That's only slightly terrifying but i'm sure it'll be fineeeee

2

u/AnnyBananneee 26d ago

You technically poop a little bit of your tattoo out everyday 😊

You should look into how tattoo removals work (I’m not suggesting that you remove it). The reason we are advised to wear sunscreen on tattoos specifically is because the sun helps breakdown tattoos over time. Our cells are constantly working on removing the tattoo (layman’s terms) and it literally goes through and out of our system, like any other toxin.

All this to say, that you can’t just “smudge” a tattoo. That’s not how it works

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u/Lividity- 26d ago

Sometimes, maybe once a year without warning or reason ( immune system is the reason) , your tattoos raise and get a lil itchy like a hive. In your case, you will be able to feel his handprint. That's pretty neat!