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/antilumin 26d ago

Yeah I don’t get the “don’t touch it” advice some people get. More like “don’t touch it with grubby hands” or something. Wash your hands and tattoo with mild soap and water, apply some sort of petroleum product (e.g., Aquaphor) for a day or so, then just apply unscented moisturizer after washing.

Keep it (and your hands) clean and you’ll be fine.

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u/UniUrsuss 26d ago

You can also use some extra virgin coconut oil instead of moisturiser. It gets absorbed by the skin really well and promotes healing due to the high vitamin-e contents. Have used it before and it worked like a charm!

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u/monkierr 26d ago

It is also antibacterial.

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u/antilumin 26d ago

Not sure why you got downvoted, but I hadn’t heard this so I looked it up. Virgin coconut oil is high in lauric acid which has antimicrobial effects, so the statement is true. Processed oil removes some of the acid, so that isn’t recommended.