I just got my first tattoo two nights ago….my artist told me to apply zinc oxide once a day for three days, then switch to a little A& D. I’ve been following his instructions and have been carefully cleaning the tat and applying z ox like he said, but I noticed today that there is a white ‘film’ over my mostly black tattoo which absolutely won’t go away, even after gentle washing with antibacterial soap and my fingers. I figure this is just residue from the zinc oxide and hope it will go away once I switch to A & D, but was just wondering: There’s no way this could be ‘dulling’ the ink, is there? There seemed to be quite a lot of pigment coming off when I wiped off the excess z ox the first couple of times, although I now have no shedding of pigment. I know I can get a touch up later on, but the work is incredible and very finely detailed, so I don’t want to mess it up and wondered if I should stop using the zinc.
Thanks!
the zinc will leave a reside but it should wash off with gentle rubbing. if i were you i’d go ahead and stop and use either a light coating of A&D or a light cover of Triple Antibiotic Ointment. That’s what i used on my back piece – but the guy butchered me and went to deep so i used the Triple A to prevent alot of the scarring. there isn’t any alcohol or anything in it and it’s not thick enough to suffocate it either.
hmmm…yeah, thanks. I just wonder why the residue refuses to come off…i only put the thinnest layer and wiped it just like my artist showed me to. I can hardly see the tattoo… it’s as though it’s covered in a build-up of baby powder. Is it possible I let it get too ‘dried up’? I expected some weeping,bumpiness ect., but have none of that – it just looks and feels like normal skin – not dry but not raw or raised up either.
Hi
You have what is known as silver skin and is a reaction to the oxide mixing with the ink. It is not harmful as such but you have to make sure that it is well moisturised with a non-scented lotion and whatever you do do not pick at it.
Some ppl with sensitive skin react to this and vitamin e in a similar way.
If you find that it goes extremely tight, and starts to split weep a clear or discoloured fluid then you need some anitbiotics immediately.
The top layer can take up to 2 weeks or so to shed. It is likely you may need a touch up but nothing too major.
Also if it blisters or pops (leaving a hole or crater) make sure that it is really kept clean and avoid picking at the edges – the area will heal but the ink will have dropped out so will need a touch up when healed.
Take Care
Matthew
Thanks for the advice…after cleaning and leaving a thin layer of A & D on overnight, it’s looking much better. The A&D seems to be ‘breking up’ the white layer caused by the zinc ox, which even my antibacterial soap seemed to have no effect on. Although I do generally have sensitive skin, thankfully I’ve yet to experience any itchiness, puffiness, scabbing or anything else…hardly had any weeping, either. It’ll be interesting to see how the healing progresses. Hopefully I won’t lose much color.
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