An Analysis of the Content and Recommendations of 700 American Tattoo Aftercare Instructions.
Dermo-cosmetic
Emollients
Tattoo aftercare
Tattoo pigment
Tattooing
Journal
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1421-9832
Titre abrégé: Dermatology
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 9203244
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
23
11
2022
accepted:
06
07
2023
medline:
7
12
2023
pubmed:
22
8
2023
entrez:
21
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Tattoo aftercare instructions describe how to care for a new tattoo. Unfortunately, tattoo artists often base their advice on personal experience rather than best practices in medical wound management. The diversity of recommendations in these instructions is currently unknown. Our review was performed to determine current recommendations in tattoo aftercare instructions in the United States. Using a Google search, a total of 700 aftercare instructions from all 50 states and Washington D.C. were collected and their contents analyzed. Most instructions encouraged washing new tattoos with antibiotic soaps, including chlorhexidine, and 14.9% encouraged using topical antibiotics. Few instructed individuals to wash their hands before touching a healing tattoo. A total of 70 moisturizers were recommended. Of these, 22 were niche products made specifically for tattoo aftercare. Only a subset of instructions provided parameters about when to contact the tattooist (49.9%) and/or a physician (19.4%) should there be a complication in the healing process. The content and recommendations of the 700 instructions vary tremendously. Many lacked instructions on appropriate hygiene and when to seek medical care. As skin and wound care experts, there may be an opportunity for the dermatology community to partner with tattooists to create more useful evidence-based tattoo aftercare practices.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Tattoo aftercare instructions describe how to care for a new tattoo. Unfortunately, tattoo artists often base their advice on personal experience rather than best practices in medical wound management. The diversity of recommendations in these instructions is currently unknown.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
Our review was performed to determine current recommendations in tattoo aftercare instructions in the United States.
METHODS
METHODS
Using a Google search, a total of 700 aftercare instructions from all 50 states and Washington D.C. were collected and their contents analyzed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Most instructions encouraged washing new tattoos with antibiotic soaps, including chlorhexidine, and 14.9% encouraged using topical antibiotics. Few instructed individuals to wash their hands before touching a healing tattoo. A total of 70 moisturizers were recommended. Of these, 22 were niche products made specifically for tattoo aftercare. Only a subset of instructions provided parameters about when to contact the tattooist (49.9%) and/or a physician (19.4%) should there be a complication in the healing process.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The content and recommendations of the 700 instructions vary tremendously. Many lacked instructions on appropriate hygiene and when to seek medical care. As skin and wound care experts, there may be an opportunity for the dermatology community to partner with tattooists to create more useful evidence-based tattoo aftercare practices.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37604151
pii: 000533489
doi: 10.1159/000533489
doi:
Types de publication
Review
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
988-995Informations de copyright
© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.