Tattoo Aftercare Instructions

Important! Please Read: if you were bandaged with plastic wrap or absorbent bandaging and NOT WITH SANIDERM/DERM SHIELD, please do what we discussed at our appointment and ignore steps 1 & 2. Gently remove your bandage at the time given, and proceed to step 3, section labeled Cleaning Your Tattoo.

1) Don’t play with your bandage!

Leave the Saniderm/Derm Shield bandage on for 48 to 72 hours. If bandage begins to leak before then, please remove (it’s now an open wet spot for bacteria to enjoy at this point, so please remove to clean)

Your tattoo will continue to “bleed” for some time after tattooing, and can accumulate under bandage. This is normal. This “ink sack” fluid is a mixture of blood, lymphatic fluids and some ink residue from the layers of skin that will flake and peel later in the healing process. No need to be alarmed- this process can take place for up to 72 hours on average. The goal with the bandage is to limit the amount of this fluid drying up into your skin, creating a scab; thick scabs can become sore and irritated, pulling out color and creating scars. This film helps by keeping that stuff moist during the initial stage of healing. All that said… 

2) Removal

A warm bandage is much easier to remove than a cold one. I recommend a nice, warm shower to soften the adhesive and aid in removal. A cold one can be removed, but you might have to use a slower pace. Pick an edge loose enough to grasp, and peel super slowly, keeping your hands against your skin as you peel. DO NOT pull away from yourself- this can pull your skin, causing welting and potentially damage your tattoo. This step is important, because welts can lead to bruising, and bruising leads to blowouts, which is bad.

3) Cleaning your tattoo

This series of steps within this step will help ensure you’re taking proper care of your new tattoo. This begins immediately once your bandage comes off. This whole process of soap and ointment is to be repeated 3x daily:

-When you first wake up

-Sometime in the middle of your day (i.e. “lunchtime”)

-Before bed

Take a dime -sized amount of the soap in your hands and wash them first, with hot water, for 20 seconds. Washing your tattoo with dirty hands is a half-assed way to go. Rinse, take some more soap, lather up well, and gently clean your tattoo for a minimum of 20 seconds, using your soapy hands only. That means NO wash cloth, loofah or puff. The first wash is important, because of all of the slimy stuff that built up under your bandage. Be sure to get it all! Fill a clean plastic cup with water and rinse your tattoo, ensuring all soap and lymph is gone. DO NOT pressure wash your new tattoo with the shower head. That is bad.

Gently dry your tattoo with a clean, folded paper towel, using a patting or blotting motion. Do not wipe. Wiping was fine for putting it on, but is bad for aftercare. Also, refrain from using your bath towel- you dry everything else with it, so let’s not, please!

With clean fingertips, apply ointment to your new tattoo. You only want to use the least amount of ointment necessary to help your skin retain moisture. As I’m sure I mentioned, you’re “putting on lotion, not buttering toast!” Pat off any excess greasy ointment with another clean paper towel.

After about 5-7 days, your tattoo will begin to flake and peel. It’s not healed yet! Please continue your aftercare regimen for a total of two weeks or until it’s done healing. You’ll know once all of the dead peeling flaky stuff is gone. It’s going to itch like HELL during this time. I’m sorry.

Other considerations:

  • No direct sun or extreme heat/cold for up to two weeks. Tanning beds are also bad.

  • Stay out of the gym for at least a week. Gyms are filthy places that are seldom properly cleaned, and undue muscular pressure can ruin your new tattoo. Just don’t.

  • Wash your bedding, kick out your pets from the bed, and don’t sleep on your new tattoo, whether bandaged or not.

  • Don’t touch your healing tattoo with dirty hands, especially someone else’s dirty ole fingers. Your friends may want to touch or poke. Slap them!

  • No picking, scratching or slapping of your new tattoo. If it itches, give it a wash, as it might just be dry.

  • No soaking of your healing tattoo in bath tubs, lakes, oceans, hot tubs, saunas, pools, rivers or ponds for two weeks. All of these environments are gross.

  • Sun screen is great for HEALED tattoos, and TERRIBLE for healing. Ask me how I know!

  • Your friends mean well, but don’t take their advise on aftercare. You might get bad or antiquated advise. I’m giving you IMHO the best, up to date aftercare that is currently available.

If you have any questions that this page didn’t answer, feel free to reach me via email at tattoosbybigmike@gmail.com or text me at (805) 458-1037.

Mahalo!

-Michael