sunburnt tat

Ok so I got a tattoo on my foot 5 days ago and i have been trying to keep it outta the sun, but unfortunately I have NO shoes that don't rub and I live in AZ sun is inevidable. I had a mishap with the scab falling off early, and so i had new skin underneath. And my foot got sunburnt yesterday while walking to my car(about 2 min in the sun). Here is a pic. [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v12/StarsInMyEyes/P9130005.jpg[/IMG] any recommendations??

To start with, try getting your story straight, first you say you scraped the scab off when you fell off your bike when you posted yesterday, now today, you claim it got sunburned (in about 2 minutes at that) We don't mind trying to give people advise but kindly don't treat us like we're morons, that's really not the best way to get advice IMO. I've looked at all the pics you posted of your tattoo and aside from the fact that it apparently wasn't done all that well in the first place, who knows what's going on when you keep changing your story? And by as shiny as the surface is, I'd strongly suggest blotting off the excess ointment as a tattoo has to 'breathe' to heal right. I'd suggest letting it heal up properly, then going to another, more skillful artist to get it redone. It does not appear 'infected', I suspect it was just poorly done and not properly cared for (AND I noticed 'blowouts' which were not visable in the original pic which supports my belief that it was poorly done in the first place) Again, let it heal (don't continue to smother it) and get it fixed once it's completely healed, give it a good 6 weeks before doing so or you'll just make it worse than it already is...Doc

Sorry I never meant to treat you guys like morons, and thanks for the advice. I didn't think it was poorly done, the guy has been tattooing for over 15 years and was recommended by a few people. But yeah I will let it breath, and heal up. thanks.

No real problem but I meant what I said. As to why I stated it was poorly done is I can see color 'seeping' under the outline on both the outline of the heart and the 'quote bubble' it's in and, if you look close, there is green outside the outline under the outside of the outline underneath the mouth, neither was visable in the original pic. Let it breathe, heal right and be a lot more cautious of who you go to in the future. Unfortunately, just because the guy has supposedly been tattooing for over 15 years (if true in the first place) does not neccessarily mean he's competent and recommendations don't automatically mean much if the people refering him don't know what they are looking at. I've been tattooing almost 42 years, I'm a lot harder to fool. Care to tell us who did it? Good Luck...Doc

.... You're going to die....

I have no problem tellijng you guys who did it. Chuck Goddard(sp?) from dreamscapes of scottsdale AZ. http://www.dreamscapestattoo.net/ I am gonna do more research on where to get it redone. Know of any GOOD artists in AZ(phoenix area) you could recommend?

that tat reminds me of Timmmmayy!! from South Park

Jami, thanks for telling us who did the work, I checked out the site, his 'profile/work' and frankly, I'm far less than impressed. Too bad his work doesn't measure up tp his self serving claims as I took the time to look at the work he has posted (which I assume is some of his best), again, not at all impressed. Obviously the 'friends' you say refered him don't know what good tattoos are supposed to look like. The only work from that 'store' as they call it that looked good was by Greg, the rest is substandard at best. I don't 'slam' anyone just to be a shithead, but I do 'tell it like it is' and it pisses me off when I see shitty work. While I'm still not clear on just what happened to make your tattoo look like it does, I strongly suspect at least part of it was the piss poor way it was done and repeat what I stated before, let it heal good and find someone who really knows what their doing to redo it once it is fully healed but be alot more cautious the next time, see work, in this case REWORK that person has done before you get the work or it could end up looking even worse. I personally can't think of anyone in your area that I could/would recommend but hopefully someone else on this forum could help there. If no one post a suggestion to this post, try posting a 'new topic' and ask for a referal. In the meanwhile, again, let it heal properly (don't smother it) or pick at it, as that could just make it even more difficult to fix...Doc

Yeah it kinda sucks that my tattoo looks this way but I am definetly going to a different person to get it redone. I am just kinda mad b/c it will be double what I should have paid for the tattoo. But I would rather it look good than me spend less money. Once this sucker heals I am going to go around to some of the more prominent shops in my area and talk to the artists and see their porfolios, which is what I did before. But yeah... i guess I don't know what I am looking for either.

Jami, Couple of things to keep in mind with foot tattoos when you live in AZ -- the dust. I don't know which town you live in, but I know that if I walk outside just to the mailbox and back my footprints in the house are all tan and dusty-- so clean that tattoo often!!! Another thing, being that I'm a relatively new resident in AZ (since january) I've done a bit of researching for artists here as well as the state laws. There are a few good artists that seem to have a long wait (jtat posted them in a few different threads), but the majority are hacks as this state doesn't require licensing. However, good news. Rumor has it that a NJ artist has recently relocated to the Glendale area and is going to be opening up shop near the air force base. I believe it's supposed to be located near the intersection of Glendale & Litchfield (in the town of Glendale). I will contact you when I know which artist, the shop phone number, and hopefully with a link to the artist's work!!! In the meantime let that puppy heal and good luck!

I recently had a bad experience with a foot tattoo also. I had it done in June by a crappy artist and redone last week my a great artist. She did a good, took twice as long as the other guy, and didn't charge me to much. The new one looks so much better. I am sure if you find a good artist that yours will turn out awesome too. It is a cute design after all.

Yes, I certainly agree that it sucks (not just 'kinda') that you'll be needing to spend more money (and going through even more discomfort) to get that tattoo done right but think of it as a learning experience and be glad it ain't worse. And when you do go around to get it redone, make sure you REALLY look at the artist portfolio, exam the lines for consistancy, make sure the shading/coloring are smooth and consistant and that the work has an overall eye pleasing effect, don't rush and for damn sure don't look for a 'bargain' price. Carefully inspect the photos of other work they've done and in your case, make sure to see some repair work they've done before, if they can't show you any picture of work they've done, haul butt out of that place-quick. It's long been my personal belief that if more people actually knew what to be looking for when 'shopping' a LOT of these people would be out of business, so do your 'homework'. And Bee (welcome back, stranger, hope Mom and baby are doing fine), you are of course correct, folks gotta be very careful what they expose a fresh tattoo to, it is, after all, a wound and should be treated as such and foot tattoos are particularily 'touchy' to get to heal properly. And thanks for the assistance in steering her towards a competent artist...Doc

I am in the tempe area. Full of shitty tattoo parlors... like the Tattoo Factory... they literally just pump out crappy tattoos on any drunk hoe. ANd club tattoo that takes zero pride in the art that they are putting on people and has become more of a brand than an art. Do you know anything about wiesmagic on scottsdale and shea? http://www.wisemagictattoo.com/index.htm and it would be so great if you oculd give me some info about the NJ artist, I have a feeling this won't heal for a while so I can stand to wait for an awesome artist.

Jami, I checked out the site for wisemagic you posted and from what I saw, I wouldn't recommend them, the work is 'passable' but not in the least 'top notch' IMO. As to what ya said about the Tempe area being full of shitty tattoo parlors- unfortunately it ain't just in Tempe, they're popping up everywhere and it's getting worse, not better. Like you said, it's going to be awhile before it can be worked on again so, as I said earlier, do your homework and post asking for referals in your area, give Bee a chance to get back to you with her referal. Good Luck and be careful...Doc

Listen to The Queen Bee!

In Arizona Id go directly to Divinity Tattoo, Pheonix Tattoo company, or Sage.

Told you you'd get a referal if ya waited and be advised, Gabe doesn't give out refereals lighty. I forgot to mention, you might want to try a product called Maderma on your tattoo, it will minimize scarring and make it easier to get repaired. It's available at most better drug stores...Doc

Oh thank you so much for the recommendation, i will check them out when I am all healed up. Yeah I have some maderma, my doctor suggested it. The funny thing is, as it is healing up and the scab is coming off on its own, the dark green and black are staying really nicely, they are really bright underneath, its just the light green that is completely gone. If a scab comes off a light green area, underneath is zero color just skin. Its like the light green never made it into my skin. meh whatever. I am just excited that it still looks like a tattoo. Thanks guys!