Saniderm Aftercare Instructions

To enhance the healing process, tattoo aftercare starts immediately after your tattoo session is completed. Your licensed, reputable tattoo artist will finish off the tattoo by applying a thin layer of ointment over the tattoo. The tattoo will then be covered in a protective wrap or bandage to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from getting into your healing skin. As a bonus, the protective wrap also protects against irritants like clothing or sunlight.

This aftercare bandage helps prevent infections and scaring by creating a protective barrier over the fresh tattoo. This keeps dust, bacteria, moisture, and other irritants away from the skin. It’s both waterproof and breathable, so the skin can heal safely.

After 12 to 24 hours, depending on how heavily the tattoo is seeping, if you’re using Saniderm Tattoo Bandages, it’s time to remove the wrap. (Other methods may have different recommendations, so ask your specific tattoo shop for instructions.) First, ensure your hands are washed well with water and soap (for at least 20 seconds). 

Once the wrap is removed, you’ll also want to gently rinse the fresh tattoo with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free, antibacterial soap that’s safe for tattoos. Avoid using any type of cloth that can exfoliate the skin, and use minimal (if any) pressure. Slosh the soapy water onto the skin to gently rinse off any blood or fluids that may be seeping from the tattoo, which is completely normal. These fluids include blood, plasma, and extra ink. Avoid putting the newly tattooed skin directly under a stream of water. 

Allow the skin to dry. Don’t rub the skin with a towel. Rather, if you aren’t letting it air dry, very gently pat the skin dry with a soft, clean cloth or a clean kitchen paper towel, which can then be discarded immediately. 

Next, wait around ten minutes before properly moisturizing the tattoo. Then apply a thin layer of a quality tattoo ointment that’s free of fragrance, alcohol, and chemicals that could be harmful to your fresh tattoo. Use only a small amount, and spread it evenly. If you use too much, blot off the excess with a paper towel instead of rubbing it in. Again, make sure your hands are clean and dry. 

Allow the tattoo to breathe by using only a breathable tattoo bandage film while protecting your tattoo from sweat, sunlight, bumps, or rubbing on fabric.  If more blood plasma leaks from the tattoo surface, clean the art again, pat the skin dry, and apply your tattoo ointment and rewrap with clean film. 

The day after the tattoo and for the next several days, wash your tattoo one to two times daily, applying the tattoo ointment each time after gently patting the skin dry and then wrap with a new, clean, breathable Saniderm tattoo bandage to protect it. 

You may notice the tattoo looks a bit dull or cloudy, and scabs may form. This is a normal part of the healing process. (Please don’t pick at any scabs or peel off the dry skin as this could damage the tattoo, remove color, or lead to scarring.) And avoid wrapping the tattoo with anything that isn’t breathable as the skin needs to breathe to heal.

After a few days, the redness and any irritation will begin to fade. After a week to two weeks, the remaining scabs will start to flake away naturally. Again, please avoid picking or peeling the tattoo as this can remove some ink, damage the tattoo, or affect the color. The skin may also feel itchier, which is a sign of healing. To help relieve the discomfort, apply the appropriate tattoo ointment several times daily. Indeed, tattoo ointment will become your best friend at this point. 

If, however, the tattoo still looks red or swollen or feels hot to the touch, please check in with your tattoo shop to ensure there is no infection. 

In the final stages of healing, between two weeks and one month after the tattoo, you may still see some dry, dead, or dull skin, but the flakes and scabs should now be clearing up. Continue cleaning with a tattoo-approved soap, patting the skin dry (avoiding rubbing or using a rough cloth), and moisturizing with a tattoo ointment as the outer layers of skin heal completely. It can take up to four months for the lower layers of the skin to completely heal, leaving your tattoo looking as the artist drew it. 

Once the tattooed skin surface feels like the rest of your skin, you’ll know it’s fully healed.