Tattoo Aftercare

Saniderm / Tagiderm / Second Skin

• Leave the bandage on for ~3/4 days.

Highly saturated tattoos (large areas of broken skin) will often push plasma out into the bandage. It may look black, gray, or generally messy in there. This is normal and is believed to help with the healing process.

• Be sure to inspect your bandage for leaks. If at any point the seal is compromised it’s very important to remove the bandage ASAP. If a leak can happen then bacteria from the outside can get in!

If you used...

Saran Wrap

• Remove in the evening of the same day of your tattoo and follow the steps below:

• Remove the bandage slowly and wash with antibacterial soap. With clean hands, ideally in the shower, slowly peel the bandage off parallel to the skin. Gently rub antibacterial soap (Dial Gold or Hibicleanse is great) in a circular motion for about 20 seconds. Pat dry with a new paper towel. Regular bath towels are not recommended because they can spread bacteria.

• Apply moisturizer with clean hands. After washing your tattoo, apply a thin layer of water based moisturizer to your tattoo. Products with mineral oil are not recommended because they can lighten the tattoo (never use Vaseline and I don’t even recommend aquaphor). Instead I would recommend lotion brands that are free of irritants or fragrance.

Cerave or Vanicream are good choices, or anything certified by the eczema foundation. Personally I like options that have aloe or colloidal oatmeal in them, because that can help with the itchy phase.

• Change your bedsheets the same night of the fresh tattoo. It’s not necessary to wrap your tattoo before bed in most cases, but clean sheets (especially if you have pets) can greatly reduce the risk of infection.

If you used...

Going Forward

For the Next One to Two Weeks:

• Continue to wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap and thinly moisturize after. I recommend washing the tattoo 2x a day for the first 3 days and then just once per day after that.

• Leave the tattoo alone through the itchy phase. Scabs and flakes and itch are annoying but picking at them will lift the ink and cause the tattoo to heal poorly. Don’t over moisturize to compensate. Slapping the area is fine, just no scratching!

Vampire Time

• Keep your new tattoo out of direct sunlight for at least 4 weeks. Do not go swimming for at least 2 weeks. Limit stretching the area if possible (hyper flexing the knee when you have a fresh tattoo on/above it, for example, can disrupt healing). Use mineral sunscreen on your tattoo before sun exposure to ensure longevity. Sun damage makes ink fade, diffuse, and bleaches out color.

Feel free to message me if you have any concerns or questions through this process. I’m always happy to help. Thank you again for getting tattooed! And remember I offer free touch ups for a year in most cases (really! It’s not a bother).

Cheers!