Devious6

Welcome to the forum!! Like everyone else, I agree that yours looks fine. You'll get lots of great advice here - many very experienced people and some of us relative newbies, too.

Totally awesome!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

I won't even touch the issue of how this tattoo happened and no one in their right mind here will give you medical advice for what sounds to be an infected tattoo. Unless properly treated, an infection can lead to death. This is no joke. Plain and simple, go to an ER or doctor. There are clinics that will provide care for people who have low income/no insurance - find one. Now.

At this point, there's nothing you can do but wait out the healing process. Watch it for signs of infection and it certainly wouldn't hurt to check in with your artist. A tattoo is an open wound when it is first done - that's why cleanliness is so critical. As it heals, it needs air as well so don't over-moisturize it.

Dan is spot on - people and tattoos often heal differently. My first and second were like night and day in how they healed. In any case, welcome!

Welcome! Where are you located? Are you willing to travel? You'll find recommendations posted in various sections - and I'm confident some of the more experienced members will offer some suggestions once we know where you live.

Welcome to the forum! What are you planning for your first tattoo? Yes, you'll need to have a post count of 10 before you can start new threads in any of the subforums other than here. Use this one to ask questions but you can also respond in other areas - just don't flit around posting things like "Great!", "Cool!" to drive up your count.

I. Absolutely. Love. The. Hot. Weather!!! Looking forward to basking by the pool Sunday afternoon after I get the grass cut.

Can't offer any advice on artists, but welcome to the forum!!

Welcome to the forum! We would really need to see a picture to make any comment about your healing process. In terms of after care, you should be following the advice of your artist....did he/she tell you to wrap it at night? Unless you have concerns about cleanliness, or you are using something like Tagiderm (which I assume you aren't because you seem to be wrapping it each night), you should be allowing your skin to breath - it needs air to heal. While some people here will advocate a dry heal with no lotion, many recommend a VERY LIGHT application of a fragrance-free moisturizer several times a day. Your tattoo should not appear wet after application.

I use Aveeno - during healing and ever day afterward to keep my skin moist. Lots of good advice here...bottom line is that you've got it too moist at this point. Remember you are healing an open wound and your skin needs air to heal.

Welcome to the forum! How long ago was the work done? Healing looks fine to me. You have some blowout - some of that will fade out over time. Short of a cover-up there's not much you can do about it and, in reality, you see it more than anyone else will. We're all just more critical and tend to overthink the work. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the quality of your artist's work. Lot's of issues with the line work - some corners squared, more rounded; the line pull of the outlines, etc. The most important issue is whether YOU are happy with it, though, in the end.

Welcome - you can post your question right here!! Pictures will help if you're looking for any opinions or advice.

I also like the hot air balloon!

Welcome to the forum! I spent some time in Fayetteville over the years I was in the Army!. What are you planning for your next piece?

Since I got my tattoos and dropped 35 lbs - and have been exercising a bit to tone up and keep my weight stable, I've been wearing a lot of sleeveless shirts and t-shirts. For work, I mostly wear short-sleeved shirts when the college is out of our normal semesters and I'm not wearing a suit. I'll even wear a tie with a short-sleeved shirt and sport coat. But, I don't normally go sleeveless at work. While I was out in Michigan at my sister's this week we were going through some old family pictures when I came across this one - my Dad in 1935. Apparently going sleeveless isn't new, it's retro, so I can now order some sleeveless dress shirts for work!!!

I agree with @Dan - it looks perfectly fine to me.

It looks to me that you might be over moisturizing it. Remember that you are healing an open wound - it needs to be both clean and also able to get air to heal. A little moisturizer goes a long way. For me, I prefer Aveeno but that's just my preference. You should be able to use sun screen and Aloe Vera...but I really think you need to let it dry out.

I have a lot of heavy black shading on my first tattoo and it did need a few spots touched up to even out the saturation. It's easy and your artist should do it for free.

Welcome!!!

If nothing, you'll have a great "there I was" story! My best one was during a training exercise at Fort Bragg. We were patrolling when we walked into an ambush. We began to fire and maneuver and as I went down to hit and roll the palm of my hand instantly stung and I thought I'd found a rattlesnake. I pulled my hand back and there was a hot 5.56 casing stuck to it. No battle scar, though.

I would wait until the spot heals completely before thinking of doing anything. I've had brass burns many times during my 26 years on active duty and have never had a permanent scar. Let it heal up and it will probably be just fine.

Everyone is different, but it generally takes 6 months for a full heal. Give it time.

Is it just the picture or do you have some suntan on your arm in the second picture? Remember that you have a layer of skin cells now regrown over your tattoo and that will change the appearance - and if it is tanned it will change it even more. Certainly, our bodies all react differently to the ink injected during tattooing and one's skin pigment will affect the colors to some degree. I had problems with red ink - my body seemed to absorb it in places so it took some touch up and I still have a few small places where it's not as saturated...but tattoos aren't perfect, they're handmade art.

And, if you truly think something is wrong, it is always best to go see your artist. It may just be that you are using too much lotion on it. From your pictures, it looks fine. Still, go see your artist if you want/need confirmation.