Aftercare Instructions
Healing your tattoo the traditional route:
After getting your tattoo, leave your bandage or plastic wrap on for a maximum of 5 hours. When you do take it off, make sure you clean it really well with an unscented, antibacterial soap. (I usually recommend Dial Gold antibacterial soap). After washing, pat dry with a clean paper towel, then moisturize your tattoo with an unscented, alcohol-free lotion (Lubriderm or Cetaphil are great to use).
Throughout the healing process, especially the first 3-4 days after getting tattooed, you’ll want to really take great care of your tattoo to ensure the best possible healing. You’ll need to wash your tattoo at least 3-5 times a day, keep it moisturized, and avoid restrictive clothing on the area of your tattoo. After the first week, you can start washing it 2-3 times a day and moisturize as needed.
If your skin feels tight, dry, or itchy in between washing, moisturize with unscented lotion and clean hands.
Tattoos take about 2-4 weeks on average to fully heal. Until your tattoo is fully healed, you’ll want to avoid using soaps, body washes, and lotions that contain fragrance or alcohol. You’ll also want to absolutely avoid submerging your tattoo in water (so no pools, baths, lakes, etc.) until your tattoo is completely healed.
*Some important things to remember: make sure you wash your hands before touching your tattoo, make sure you’re not over-moisturizing (tattoos need oxygen to heal), try to avoid sleeping directly on your tattoo as it can and will stick to your sheets or pillowcase.
Healing your tattoo with saniderm:
Saniderm is a second skin type of wrap that allows your tattoo to still get the oxygen it needs to heal while also expediting the healing process, and acting as a barrier to keep your tattoo protected.
Once the saniderm is put over your tattoo, you’ll want to leave it on for 4-5 days. If you take it off anytime before the 4-5 day mark you’ll have to take care of it the traditional route (washing it 3-5 times a day, moisturizing it, etc.).
Throughout the next 4-5 days with your saniderm wrap on, you really don’t have to do much with it other than to make sure it is secure and completely sealed around your tattoo. Showering with this wrap on is completely fine, just make sure water hasn’t gotten into the wrap once you’re out of the shower. If your tattoo is in a location where there’s a lot of movement (wrist, elbow, knee, ditches, etc.) check periodically to make sure the saniderm isn’t pealing up. If your saniderm does start to peal slightly what you can do is lift the corner or edge, trim it with some scissors and push it back down. If your wrap starts to peal too far and exposes your tattoo to open air, it won’t stick back down so go ahead and just take it off.
When you’re ready to take your saniderm wrap off, the best way to do so is to take it off in a warm shower, start pealing it off slowly, let some warm water work it’s way into the wrap as you’re pealing, and it should come off pretty easily.
Once your saniderm wrap is off, you’ll still want to wash your tattoo with an antibacterial soap about 1-2 times per day and moisturize as needed until your tattoo is fully healed. Saniderm can expedite the healing process a bit, but just to be safe do not use any soaps, body washes, or lotions that contain fragrance or alcohol for about 4 weeks.
*You will see a combination of blood and excess ink collect under the saniderm wrap, this is very normal as your tattoo releases ink and blood within the first 24-36 hours after getting tattooed. Because you are leaving your wrap on for multiple days, you will see it build up under the wrap. If the ink becomes excessive and starts leaking out, go ahead and just take off the saniderm.
*If you plan on working out or doing a strenuous activity, take the saniderm off immediately after as sweat can accumulate inside the wrap and cause infection.
*If you see any redness, irritation, or bumps from the saniderm, take it off right away and take care of your tattoo the traditional route. This is typically caused by the saniderm irritating the skin or an allergic reaction. This should not cause harm to your tattoo if it does occur.