Aftercare

  

Day 1: Stinging, burning? Use ice packs or ibuprofen to reduce the stinging (NO aspirin). Your first bandage applied by the artist must be worn for 24 hours, do not remove it early. You will have irritation, redness, bleeding, seeping, and ink collect under the bandage. You will notice plasma, ink, and blood trapped in the bandage, and it may leak out. This is NORMAL and part of the healing process. Don’t freak out over this. Let it happen. For leaks, apply another bandage to catch it or tape a paper towel until your 24th hour. Remember a fresh tattoo is a huge open wound and needs to be treated with caution and care. You need to take it easy and rest that area of your body.

 

Day 2: Remove 1st bandage after 24 hours- peel off slowly (this may be uncomfortable). Wash thoroughly with plain antibacterial hand soap - no exfoliating beads, no oils, no scents. You may consider removing your bandage under lukewarm or cool soapy water in the shower to loosen the adhesive. Pat dry with a paper towel and let air dry for 2-5 minutes making sure nothing touches it while airing out. Blot with paper towel. Apply 2nd bandage: remove the white paper backing first, apply sticky side to tattoo, then remove plastic backing (it’s ok if there are air bubbles/wrinkles). 

 

Day 2-6: Leave on for 6 FULL DAYS- During the next 6 days you may still have some plasma, ink, or blood. (If you have an excessive amount of liquid collected under your bandage and feel replacement is necessary, please check out the web link on the back of this page under Frequently Asked Questions.) You may notice the skin looks dry/peeling/crusty/“cracked”- this is normal. The bandage and area may smell a little bit, this is ok. DO NOT REMOVE BEFORE THE SIXTH DAY. Doing so will result in color loss and can require a touch up at an additional cost. It is harmful to the tattoo and to your health to leave a healing tattoo untreated. If your bandage peels up before the 6th day, carefully cut the excess off. If the tattoo is exposed place another small bandage to cover it. (See drugstore products at QR code link.) If you get tears or holes, patch them with another bandage.

 

Day 7: Now it’s time to remove. There will be dried ink and skin stuck to the bandage.  Wash gently and apply a thin layer of Sanibalm or lotion/moisturizer to your tattoo.

 

Day 8 +: Use thin layers of Sanibalm/lotion/moisturizer for several days or weeks until skin is smooth again. I do not recommend Aquaphor. You will most likely experience peeling and itchiness. Your tattoo is fully healed when your skin is smooth and no longer shiny. This can take several weeks or several months. Everybody’s skin is different.

 

While your tattoo heals for the first week DO NOT:

- DO NOT soak your tattoo- no baths/swimming (running water/showering is ok). Soaking can lead to major infections.

- DO NOT let water from the shower collect under your bandage. If you notice you suddenly have liquid under your bandage after showering you must remove it, wash the tattoo, and apply a new bandage.

- DO NOT apply soap, lotions, oils, on or around the bandage.

- DO NOT expose you tattoo to direct sunlight; this will be painful and can damage the skin until it is healed over.

- DO NOT allow shampoo/conditioner to run down the tattoo.

- DO NOT sweat excessively- this can push ink out and weaken the adhesive- sweat will collect under the bandage and smell bad and clog your sweat glands resulting in bumpy skin, raised scarred tissue, color loss, and possible infection.

- DO NOT move or stretch your tattooed skin excessively until it is fully healed (up to 14 days).

- DO NOT allow pets or animals to come into contact with your healing tattoo (if contact occurs with exposed (uncovered) skin, wash immediately with antibacterial soap, then apply plain lotion).

- DO NOT allow plants (such as when gardening) to come into contact with your healing tattoo (if contact occurs with exposed skin, wash immediately with antibacterial soap, then apply plain lotion).

- Most importantly, do not listen to your friends who say you can’t have a tattoo wrapped that long. This product is much different from what they’ve used before. It is intended for long wear. This is not saran wrap.

 

Long term care: Keeping your skin moisturized will keep your tattoo looking fresh and bright. I highly recommend Sanibalm or Sanibalm+ from the makers of Saniderm. Always wear sunscreen (SPF 50), tanning and sun fading will make a tattoo look dull and will diminish the pigments. I love ALBA Hawaiian sunscreen or Hawaiian Tropics (sold everywhere!)

 

Signs of Infection:

Signs and symptoms of an infection include but are not limited to, redness, swelling, tenderness of the procedure site, red streaks going from the procedure site to towards the heart, elevated body temperature, or pus-filled drainage from the procedure site. Seek medical care if you have a fever, extreme pain 3 or more days after the tattoo procedure, spreading rash well outside of the tattooed area, worsening and spreading redness around the tattoo, blisters on the tattoo, red streaking around tattoo, or foul odor and pus drainage.

 

How it works: After a tattoo your skin is left damaged so your body begins working immediately to heal itself by sending liquid enzymes and plasma to your skin’s surface. These dry out and become scabs. With a tattoo, it is vital to avoid scabs. The bandage allows the enzymes and plasma to stay moist and heal your skin without drying out. The bandages are breathable so your skin is not suffocated. They also keep your new tattoo clean and safe from outside bacteria, dirt, lint from clothing, etc. which will help prevent infection. They help to protect your clothing and bedding from ink and blood that seeps out during the first several days.

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Frequently asked questions:

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Q: What do I do if my second bandage is full of fluid and I can’t wear it for the full 6 days?

A: The goal for a good heal is to have your tattoo wrapped for 7 days altogether. Usually this means 24 hours for the first piece, and 6 days for the second. Some people will have more fluid and need to replace the second bandage. In this case, be sure to leave each wrap on for 24 hours between changing. It is ok to require 3-4 (or more) wraps to get a good healing tattoo. Always clean the tattoo between each new application (go back to “Day 2” instructions on page 1). How ever many pieces you need, make sure the total days worn is 7 (including the day of bandage applied at the shop).

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Q: What do I do if my skin looks irritated around the edges of the bandage?

A: Irritation can occur for several reasons such as:

-Bandage has been applied too tight

There is excessive movement of the skin around the bandage

The area wasn’t washed clean of the adhesive from the previous bandage

Too much sweat.

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Irritation can look like:     Bumps, hives, clogged pores/pimples  •   Blisters  •    Redness  •    Itchiness

When this happens, gently clean the area with antibacterial soap. Then use some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to wipe the area. Apply some light moisturizer and give the skin a few days to heal.  

 

Q: Why is my tattoo oozing liquids after the first day?

A: This can be caused by several factors:

-Some people bleed and/or excrete plasma more than others during the healing process.

Too much movement and stretching of the skin. **If there is excessive liquid, your Saniderm should be replaced again.

 

Q: What do I do if I take my bandage off early or I need to replace it again?

A: If for any reason you remove your bandage early, it is extremely important to take necessary steps to prevent infections and to ensure your tattoo heals properly. Please scan QR code for further instruction and examples of comparable drugstore products.

 

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To purchase additional Saniderm bandages or Sanibalm please use this link and discount code for 10-15% off your order!

https://saniderm.com     discount code:  rosenoir  or  rosenoirtattoo

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Need more help?

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check out our blog- Aftercare Help