Thank you for checking our tattoo aftercare guide, this should be helpful if you’ve recently got a tattoo from us. Feel free to call us anytime at (774) 420-2553 with questions you might have. If you’re looking for a new tattoo, please visit our tattoo page here.
Tattoo aftercare is crucial to prevent scabbing, loss of color and detail, scarring, and infection. When it comes to healing a new tattoo, every tattoo artist has the best intentions in mind. However, new tattoo care methods for optimal healing can vary drastically from artist to artist. For this reason, we want to offer up our own tried-and-true guide to healing tattoos using a medical-grade dermal bandage, like Saniderm.
While getting tattooed, the tattoo needle punctures the skin between 50-3,000 times per minute. The needle enters the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and delivers the ink into the central layer of skin (dermis). It can be easy to forget, but this new piece of art is actually an open wound and must be treated as such. This means that it’s critical to keep dirt, debris, and bacteria out.
How Does Saniderm Work?
Unlike Saran Wrap, Saniderm is a medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandage. Saniderm is engineered to be permeable to gasses, like oxygen. These bandages alleviate many of the pitfalls that come with other tattoo healing methods. Primarily, Saniderm drastically reduces the risk of contaminants entering the wound site of a fresh tattoo. Wearing Saniderm protects the area from unwanted shear/friction and allows the body to keep itself moisturized. Plus, it conveniently eliminates sessions of washing and applying aftercare to a new tattoo. The result is a tattoo healing experience that is safer, smoother, and more efficient.
Saniderm Removal
1. 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.
2. Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo with a mild soap, preferably fragrance-free.
3. Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel.
4. 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 Aquaphor is the perfect remedy for dry skin!
Keep this bandage on for 5-7 days – the full seven days being ideal. If the skin appears irritated, there is an unusual amount of fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner rather than later.
Please Remember:
Do not reapply any more bandages after the scabbing/flaking phase of tattoo healing has begun. If you find yourself bandage-less during this phase, make sure you’re keeping the area thoroughly moisturized. For a tattoo moisturizer, we strongly recommend Aquaphor.
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.
Caring for Your New Tattoo After Removing Saniderm
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 bandage comes off. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for up to 2 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this entire period.
Wearing Saniderm While Showering, Swimming, and Exercising
Showering while wearing Saniderm 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 is strongly discouraged. Light exercise while wearing Saniderm 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.
Results of New Tattoo Aftercare Using Saniderm
Saniderm has helped hundreds of thousands heal their new tattoos with ease. Tattoos using Saniderm heal faster, experience less scabbing and peeling, and undergo significantly less early tattoo damage. Saniderm grants an effortless and convenient tattoo healing experience, leaving behind vivid and stunning tattoos. Ask your tattoo artist or shop if they carry Saniderm and if they believe you’d be a good candidate!
