TATTOO AFTERCARE 

 

TATTOO AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Gently remove bandage after 2 hours and wash tattoo with warm water and mild anti-bacterial soap, making sure to remove any excess ink, blood and lymph discharge. We recommend Liquid Dial antibacterial soap, Softsoap, or Dove.  DO NOT RE-BANDAGE.
    

2. Allow your tattoo to air dry about 10-15 minutes then apply a VERY THIN layer of ointment to your tattoo. Do NOT use too much.  A VERY THIN layer is sufficient. We recommend Mad Rabbit Repair, Tattoo Goo or Aquaphor.
    

3. Wash your tattoo gently with liquid antibacterial soap and apply a VERY THIN layer of ointment 2-3 times daily for 2-3 days. After 3-4 days, switch to a body/hand lotion with no heavy dyes or perfumes- Aveeno, Curel, Johnson & Johnson, etc. Continue to apply to tattoo 2 to 3 times a day for the next week or two.
    

4. As the tattoo heals it will peel and flake. At which time it is extremely important not to PICK, SCRATCH or SCRUB the tattoo. Picking will pull out your color and may cause scarring. DO NOT APPLY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, ALCOHOL, BACITRACIN, NEOSPORIN OR VASELINE.

 

IMPORTANT TIPS

Tattoos generally take 2-3 months to completely heal. This can vary depending on several factors.

• Stay out of direct sunlight and tanning booths until your tattoo is healed. (At least 4 weeks)

• Do NOT soak your tattoo while it is healing.  (At least 1 week) No swimming in pools, hot tubs, saunas, etc.  No baths.  Showers are OK.

• Do NOT pick or scratch the tattoo while it is healing.  Loss of color and/or infection can occur.

• After tattoo has healed, use a sunblock of SPF 45 or higher when exposed to prolong sun (more than 15 minutes) to keep your tattoo from fading. Use a cloth to cover tattoo while using a tanning booth. Tanning WILL destroy your tattoo over time..

• Consult a physician if you notice any signs or symptoms such as redness at tattoo site, abnormal discharge, and/or fever.

• Call your artist with any questions or concerns.

 

SANIDERM/TEGADERM INSTRUCTIONS

1. Leave initial bandage on for 4-6 hours. Remove bandage and thoroughly wash with soap and water, making sure to remove any excess ink, blood and lymph discharge. Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel. 

2. Cut and trim Saniderm or Tegaderm to fit around the tattoo – include an extra inch around all sides. TIP: Cutting the edges of the bandage to be round will help it adhere better and feel more comfortable. 

3. Peel the white paper wrapping from the sticky side first and place gently over the tattoo.

4. Once the adhesive side of the bandage is in place, remove the see-through second layer from the top side and smooth bandage over the tattoo.

5. Keep the bandage on for anywhere from 1 to 4 days, depending on how much the wound is weeping. It’s fine if there is some plasma/blood/lymph fluid buildup under the bandage during this period, but don’t leave it longer than 24 hours if you can no longer see the tattoo underneath. If the skin appears irritated, there is fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner rather than later.

6. To remove bandage, 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 bandage. Running warm water will help loosen the adhesive and relax the skin, making the removal much more comfortable. Dry removal of bandage may cause discomfort and added trauma to the skin.

7. Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo thoroughly with soap and water. Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel

8. If desired, apply a thin layer of aftercare product to your tattoo. If you have naturally oily skin or live in a high humidity climate, feel free to skip this step. Otherwise, use a thin layer of petroleum-free moisturizer to help the tattoo retain moisture and itch less. We recommend Mad Rabbit Repair, Aveeno, Curel or Cocoa Butter. If there is adhesive residue leftover on the skin, or the adhesive is not loosening enough with water, coconut oil and baby oil are helpful for removal.

 

Once the bandage has been removed, continue caring for the tattoo by washing and moisturizing as needed, until the tattoo is fully healed. The tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once your second bandage comes off. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for 2-4 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this entire period. 

After tattoo has healed, use a sunblock of SPF 45 or higher when exposed to prolong sun (more than 15 minutes) to keep your tattoo from fading. Use a cloth to cover tattoo while using a tanning booth. Tanning WILL destroy your tattoo over time.

 

WEARING SANIDERM/TEGADERM WHILE SHOWERING, SWIMMING, AND EXERCISING.

Showering while wearing a bandage is fine, but it’s best to keep the time spent in the shower to a minimum. Water may weaken the adhesive of the bandage, which allows for unwanted contaminants to enter the bandage, putting you at higher risk for infection. It’s also important to keep an eye on the temperature of the water. Too much heat can separate the bandage from the skin, inflame the skin, and irritate the tattoo.
 

For these reasons, bathing, swimming, or fully submerging a tattoo dressed in Saniderm/Tegaderm is strongly discouraged. Light exercise while wearing bandage is fine, but avoid activity that causes excessive sweating. Just as water will weaken the adhesion of the bandage, so will sweat and any other significant amount of fluid. Try to keep the bandage as clean and dry as possible until it’s time to remove it. 

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