Healing your tattoo in Jamaica.

01 Before your appointment

• Sleep well and eat a proper meal an hour or two before your session.
• Avoid alcohol the night before and skip aspirin or other blood-thinning medication for at least 24 hours. Other pain relievers are fine. Do not stop prescribed medication; mention it when you book.
• Arrive with clean skin and no lotion, oil or sunscreen on the area.
• Bring photo ID and something to drink (bottled water only in the studio).

02 Immediately after your tattoo

• The area will be cleaned and covered. Leave the covering on for the time the studio tells you, then remove it gently.
• Wash your hands before you touch the tattoo, every time.
• Rinse the tattoo with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap, using only your fingertips. Do not scrub, do not use a cloth or sponge.
• Pat dry with a clean paper towel and let it air for a few minutes before applying a thin layer of the ointment recommended at your appointment.

03 The first several days

• Wash and lightly moisturise two or three times a day, more often if you have been sweating.
• Thin layers only. A tattoo suffocated in ointment in this climate heals worse, not better.
• Expect some redness, tenderness and a little clear or inky fluid on day one; that is normal. Do not re-cover the tattoo with plastic.
• Around day three to ten it will flake and itch. Do not scratch or pick; flaking skin carrying a little colour is normal.

04 Keeping the tattoo clean

• Clean hands, clean water, mild soap, clean paper towels. Avoid bath towels, which hold bacteria.
• Rinse after sweating and after any dusty or dirty work.
• No soaking: quick showers, not baths.
• Do not let pets, other people or dirty surfaces touch the healing skin.

05 Sun exposure

• Keep the tattoo out of direct sun for at least the first month. Cover it with loose clothing when outside.
• Do not apply sunscreen to a tattoo that is still healing.
• Once fully healed, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on the tattoo whenever it is in the sun, for life. Sun is what fades tattoos.

06 Swimming

• Stay out of the sea, rivers, pools and hot tubs until the tattoo is fully healed, usually four to six weeks.
• If you are visiting Jamaica, plan the beach days before the tattoo, not after.

07 Exercise

• Light activity is fine after a day or two. Avoid heavy sweating, gym equipment on the area, contact sports and anything that stretches or rubs the tattoo for the first week or so.
• Rinse the tattoo gently after every workout.

08 Clothing and sleep

• Loose, clean, breathable cotton over the tattoo. Nothing tight or synthetic rubbing on it.
• Sleep on clean sheets. If the tattoo sticks to fabric, wet the fabric and peel it away slowly.

09 Signs that need medical attention

• Redness that keeps spreading after the first few days, increasing pain, heat or swelling.
• Pus, a bad smell, red streaks leading away from the tattoo, or a fever.
• A rash or blistering that could be an allergic reaction.
• See a doctor promptly if you notice any of these. Then tell the studio.

Read: aftercare in Jamaica’s climate