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Aftercare

  •   Keep the bandage on for 72 hours. If the skin appears irritated, there is excessive fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner rather than later.  

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  • To remove Saniderm, find an edge of the bandage and pull it back over itself in the direction of hair growth. The shower is the ideal place to remove Saniderm. Running water will help loosen the adhesive and relax the skin, making the removal much more comfortable. Dry removal of Saniderm may cause discomfort and added trauma to the skin.  *** note that if an adhesive bandage was not used, skip these steps and remove the bandage after 4 hours.

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  •  Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo with a mild soap, preferably fragrance-free. Be sure to thoroughly wash the area so there is no longer a layer of adhesive. If there is a residue leftover, a light massage with coconut oil helps to remove it.

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  • Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel that will be discarded. Allow the tattoo to dry for approximately 4-6 hours. Remember that infections are more prone to occur in moist environments so allowing the tattoo to dry a little will help prevent this.

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  • Once the tattoo begins to appear dry and wrinkled, apply a thin layer of moisturizer to the area. We recommend either tattoo specific lotions such as Green Glide, Hustle Butter or Tattoo Goo. If not available then a light unscented moisturizer such as unscented Lubriderm or Vaseline Intensive Care will also work well.

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  • Once the tattoo begins to peel be sure to continue washing with a lathered mild soap. Although you do not want to lift or pick at the scabs, it is good to properly wash the area to aid in removing the dead skin cells and prevent larger scabs from forming.

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  • Do not panic! There will be a day or two where the tattoo might not look its best. In this middle phase your body is shedding the damaged epidermis (the top layer of skin) and building a new one. The tattoo may appear to look milky and grey and very dry. Simply continue to apply thin layers of cream whenever the dryness becomes very visible or is causing discomfort.

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  • Once all of the flaking and scabbing is complete (approximately 7-14 days) the tattoo will appear to have a shiny texture. This is completely normal and is just the newer epidermis layer of skin that is not completely formed. This will slowly become matte again during the next few weeks.

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  • Avoid exposure to the sun and any bodies of water (lakes, pools, baths) until all the scabs are gone and the skin has stopped flaking.

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  • At this point the tattoo is almost completely healed. Washing and applying cream once a day should suffice.

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  • It is best to avoid any direct sun to the area during the healing process. However, once the scabs and flaking have finished a thin layer of spf50 sunscreen can be applied.

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  • Note that the tattoo is actually covered by the top layer of your skin (think of the tattoo as being under a tinted windshield). Therefore proper skin care will always help your tattoo look its best. Continuing to apply sunscreen throughout the lifetime of the tattoo will guarantee a sharper piece of art that will continue to look its best for years and years to come!

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