T-30 days Choose a professional tattooist with a good reputation and a clean, modern studio. Ask about safety practices, especially if you are immunosuppressed.
T-30 days Choose inks that list ingredients and are independently tested for toxins and bacteria, such as Intenze or World Famous.
T-30 days Unless you have pale skin and cannot tan, use a mineral sunscreen (zinc or titanium plus iron oxide; Elta or SkinCeuticals) on the target skin.
T-14 days Start daily 1:4 Hibiclens rinses from the neck down. For head or neck work, use a benzoyl peroxide 5-10% wash instead.
T-14 days Start Zyrtec (cetirizine) and either Allegra (fexofenadine) or Claritin (loratadine), twice daily each.
T-7 days Higher infection risk or past skin infections: start doxycycline 100 mg twice daily (or another suitable antibiotic) with careful sun protection, plus mupirocin twice daily to nose and skin folds.
T-2 days Inflammatory skin disease: consider a Kenalog 40-80 mg injection a day or two before, no more than 4x a year and with oral antibiotics.
Day 0 / AM Shave the area with an electric razor. No blades, for you or your artist.
Day 0 / -1h Take acetaminophen and ibuprofen according to the bottle instructions.
Day 0 Bring a mild antimicrobial tattoo wash and an occlusive dressing (Second Skin or Saniderm). Practice applying a small piece if your artist is unfamiliar.
Day 0 / after Have your artist wash with the antimicrobial soap, let it dry, then apply the dressing. Use separate pieces over joints.
+24 hours Slowly remove the dressing in a hot shower, air-dry, and re-apply a fresh dressing.
+5 days Remove the dressing in the shower, wash with antimicrobial soap, and apply an emollient twice daily, extra on rough or tender areas. Keep washing daily.
Healed No rough or tender areas left: stop the emollient, use SPF 40+ zinc or titanium sunscreen with iron oxide on sun-exposed ink, and moisturize daily with Cetaphil, CeraVe or Vanicream.
Educational checklist. Medication steps require guidance from your own physician.
