What to do

• Wear SPF 50 sunscreen — this is important both during and after treatment
• Use products with peptides, emollients, and SPF 50
• Cleanse only with a mild cleanser or gentle moisturizing face wash
• Rest and allow your skin time to heal — avoid heavy exercise and sweating

Avoid for 2 weeks

• Active ingredients: alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, and glycolic acid — these can irritate the skin
• Exfoliation of any kind
• Products containing strong fragrances or chemicals
• Heavy exercise and sweating, which can irritate the delicate healing skin
• Smoking, which narrows blood vessels and prevents nutrients from reaching the outer skin layer

What to do

• Gently wash the treated area with a mild soap — pat dry, do not rub, for the first 48 hours
• Apply a cool compress if sensitivity continues
• Apply antibiotic cream if any crusting develops
• After 5–30 days, exfoliate with a washcloth to speed up hair shedding
• Use SPF 50 sunscreen throughout the entire treatment period and for 1–2 months after

Avoid

• Makeup, moisturizer, and deodorant for the first 24 hours
• Sun exposure for 2 months
• Picking, scratching, waxing, threading, or tweezing the treatment area
• Any hair removal methods other than shaving between sessions

On the day of treatment

• Do not apply makeup to the treatment area
• Do not apply moisturizer to the treatment area

Avoid for the first 48 hours

• Darkly colored foods and drinks: berries, coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce
• Highly acidic foods: citrus fruits, fermented products, or anything pickled in vinegar

Immediately after treatment

• Elevate the treated area above your heart intermittently — especially important if the tattoo is below the elbow or knee
• Apply cool ice packs on and off every 3–5 minutes for 1–2 hours (never directly on skin — wrap in a cloth towel)
• Moisturize with a thick coat of Vaseline® or Aquaphor® at least three times daily — do not allow the skin to dry out
• Apply SPF 50+ sunscreen and use protective clothing or a bandage when outdoors

Avoid until fully healed

• Harsh soaps, medicated washes, scrubs, peels, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin®, Polysporin®, Bacitracin®, and Aloe Vera — only Vaseline, Aquaphor, hydrocortisone 1%, or sunscreen as needed
• Direct sun, tanning beds, spray-tans, and self-tanners on the tattoo
• Steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, pedicures, exercise, sweating, and swimming

If swelling or blistering occurs

If itching occurs

If irritation occurs

Make sure to avoid

• Tight clothing that could rub against the tattoo
• Scratching or picking at the area
• All irritating products such as hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin®, Aloe Vera, or numbing agents

Post-treatment — what to avoid

• Anti-inflammatory medications for one week after the procedure
• Ice on the face, and arnica/bromelain — these interfere with the natural inflammatory process critical for rejuvenation
• Sun tanning and prolonged direct sunlight for at least 2 weeks
• Strenuous exercise, jacuzzis, saunas, and steam baths for 48 hours

Healing timeline

Additional tips

• Sleep on your back with your head elevated to minimize swelling
• Take Tylenol if you experience any soreness

Immediately following treatment

• Take Tylenol or other acetaminophen products as directed for pain or discomfort
• A bruise at the blood draw site is normal
• A tingling sensation while cells are activated is normal
• Avoid applying ice to the injected area as it acts as an anti-inflammatory — cold compresses may be used for swelling if necessary
• Avoid aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Voltaren, and other anti-inflammatory medications for 3 days (ideally 7 days)
• Avoid vigorous exercise, sun, and heat exposure for at least 2 days
• For the first 3 days, use a pH-balanced shampoo
• Do not use any hair products for at least 6 hours after treatment
• Take a hot shower and wash your hair that evening to promote the effects of PRP
• Avoid saunas, steam rooms, and swimming for 2 days
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking for 3 days
• Avoid resuming Minoxidil, hair coloring, and straightening for 3 days
• Continue increased water intake for the first week
• Avoid blood-thinning supplements (Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Ginko, Garlic, Flax, Cod Liver Oil, Essential Fatty Acids) for at least one week after

What to avoid

• Any exfoliation on the area for 48 hours post-treatment
• Heat sources including hot showers, saunas, and cardio workouts that cause sweating for 24 hours
• Topical Retin-A for 2 days following treatment
• Unprotected sun exposure and tanning beds for at least 3 days post-treatment

What to do

• Wash your face the following morning using products recommended by your specialist
• Discuss continuing use of your regular skincare regimen post-treatment with your specialist
• Use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher daily for 3–5 days post-treatment
• Makeup may be applied the day after treatment

Recovery timeline

What to avoid after treatment

• Picking or exfoliating — allow old, dry, dead skin to flake off naturally
• Makeup for at least 24 hours — only mineral makeup may be applied after
• Sun exposure until healed (until all redness and skin flaking has resolved)
• Exercise that causes sweating, jacuzzis, saunas, and hot showers until the skin is healed
• Advil and other NSAIDs — Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be taken as directed for discomfort

Skincare routine after treatment

• Morning after: gently wash your face with a mild cleanser, then apply moisturizer with a physical sunscreen — hydrocortisone may be applied as needed
• Evening after: wash with a mild cleanser and apply moisturizer
• Apply SPF 50 every day while healing
• Clean glasses frames, phone screens, and anything that comes into direct contact with the treatment area
• Change your pillowcase and treat your face as an open wound until healed
• Use cool compresses every 1–2 hours for 3–5 minutes at a time if needed