Aftercare
Follow the instructions supplied for your tattoo and dressing. If you are unsure which instructions apply, ask the studio before changing your care.
Start with your instructions
Keep the instructions from your appointment. Dressing products and individual circumstances differ; a timetable from another tattoo is not a substitute for the directions you were given.
RMT publishes its preparation and aftercare guides together. Use the current studio guide, and ask if any step is unclear.
Summer plans
Tell the studio about swimming, lake trips, sun exposure, sport or travel that could overlap with healing. Ask what needs to change for your tattoo before choosing the appointment date; there is no single safe return date for every activity and dressing.
Winter plans
Ask how clothing, work equipment, ski or snowboard gear and dry indoor conditions affect care for your placement. Check products and activities against your actual instructions rather than adding a second seasonal routine.
Once healed
Fresh-tattoo care and long-term sun protection are different questions. For healed, exposed skin, Health Canada recommends broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher along with other sun-safety measures. This cannot guarantee that a tattoo will remain unchanged.
If you want a healed tattoo assessed for a touch-up, contact the studio and check its current eligibility rules. A photograph sent for assessment is not permission to publish it.
Concerned about healing?
If you suspect an infection, contact a doctor promptly. HealthLink BC explains tattoo problems and when to seek care. An artist, website or uploaded photo cannot diagnose the cause. For questions about the dressing or care instructions, contact RMT.