new tattoo...

Hey everyone, I've been browsing around for a while today with a question and figured maybe someone here could help me out. Got my 5th tattoo yesterday (on my hip & lower stomach, about 4-5" high) and having a question about healing/scabbing. This morning I woke up, took the bandage off, washed the area up w/Satin (antimicrobal) soap and just patted it dry, put some lubriderm on it and let it be. As of right now it is oozing ink on the bottom part and its has some clear sticky stuff going on in the middle; its not scabbing at all (some parts are just smooth and dry and the rest like i said is oozing ink..I'm really worried somethings wrong with it bc this has never happened with my other 4 (but they also were smaller and not in an area that is bending and moving so much). Help a girl out! Maybe I'm just being paranoid but better safe than sorry.

You are probably just fine...jsut the difference in the area of the tattoo...if nyour other work healed ok just take care of it the same way and don't let the fluids dry on it ...can cause scabs!...Also go see your artist and get his/her opinion...good luck!...TAz

If you got tattooed yesterday then why are you just now taking the bandage off this morning? That could be part of the reason. Your artist should have told you to take the bandage off after a few hours went by not the next morning! I had the same problem with oozing and the clear sticky stuff, so listen to taz, don't let it dry or you may end up with more scabbing then you wish for. Sometimes putting stuff on it to early can fester and irritate the tattoo,sometimes it's better to leave it alone for a day or so after you get it before you start with the lotion because ointments or lotions can cause worsr scabbing. What kind of lotion make a big difference. By the way Dr. Taz, I finally healed up.

OK pauly me matey! And I missed that she left the bandage on overnight.....Ya got me..AARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!...TAz

Taz ya ole bonehead, your slippin baby! Just kiddin' Doc. Anyway sweetheart, NEVER EVER leave a bandage on for more than a couple of hours,let alone twenty four of them! By leaving them on like that without washing it and letting air get to it you could be asking for an infectioin, you cant't let it sit like that. Keep it clean and like I said before, DONT GO NUTS WITH OINTMENTS! YOU WILL BE FINE.

thanks so much for the info you guys..i know i was supposed to take the bandage off before i went to bed last night; it was one of those "i'm only going to sit on the couch and close my eyes for ONE SECOND" deals...next thing i know its 8am and i'm panicking and sore and oozing ink everywhere. as of 9pm (tattoo is about 26 hours old by now) it seems to be drying out somewhat except for a few small spots; i'm going to wash it again with the antimicrobal in a little while and just let it be w.out lotion and whatnot. again, thanks so much!

If I am not mistaken, the antimicrobal soap is the shit with the little gritty balls in it. If so, you do not want to use that because it is abrasive and not good for a tattoo, fresh or old! Stick with the mild antibacterial soaps like dial or even a soft foaming soap. Send me a picture so I can get a better idea of what we are up against. [email removed]. Later

no the soap i'm using has no little balls in it and it's pretty gentle. i use it on my piercings and have never had any problems... here is what i'm talking about: http://www.braindrops.net/STORE/product.asp?id=136