Edwin Hammond Meredith has a wide range of hobbies, from extreme sports to cooking. In addition, Edwin Hammond Meredith has an interest in tattoos. Aftercare is an important factor in the healing process in order to preserve the artistic vision of a tattoo.

Because ink is placed under the skin, there is a crucial healing period for tattoos. It is vital that the skin be able to breathe and stay hydrated. At the same time, keeping the area clean is vital to recovery.

While a dressing is given after the application, it should only stay on for a couple of hours. After removing it, wash the skin with gentle soap and water, and apply an unscented lotion or tattoo-specific balm. You can use petroleum jelly in the shower, to keep water off of the tattoo, but it can stunt proper healing if kept on for too long.

If a tattoo is not properly cared for, it can become infected, scab, or even scar, all of which can remove or distort the image. A doctor will need to treat any infection. Most tattoo artists will touch up their work if some of the ink has not taken hold, but distorted images can be much harder to fix.

Most people find that their tattoo site has healed by the two-week mark.