TATTOO AFTER CARE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOUR NEW TATTOO

TRADITIONAL METHOD:

  1. Gently remove bandage after 1-2 hours and wash tattoo with warm water and mild anti-bacterial soap.  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 Aquaphor to your tattoo. Do NOT use too much.  A VERY THIN layer is sufficient.

  3. Wash your tattoo gently with liquid antibacterial soap and apply a VERY THIN layer of Aquaphor TWICE daily for 3-4 days.  After 3-4 days, use a mild, unscented lotion such as Curel, Lubriderm, or cocoa butter applied as needed to your tattoo until your skin returns to its pre-tattoo condition.

  4. Do NOT pick or scratch the tattoo when it begins to peel.  This peeling is NORMAL and you should allow the skin to fall off on its own.

OCCLUSIVE BANDAGE METHOD (Derm Shield, Tegaderm, Saniderm): PREFERRED

How does an occlusive bandage work?

Occlusive bandages are medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandages. They are engineered to be permeable to gasses, like oxygen. These bandages alleviate many of the pitfalls that come with other tattoo healing methods. Primarily, they can drastically reduce the risk of contaminants entering the wound site of a fresh tattoo. Wearing these protect the area from unwanted shear/friction and allows the body to keep itself moisturized. Plus, they conveniently eliminate sessions of washing and applying aftercare to a new tattoo. The result is a tattoo healing experience that is safer, smoother, and more efficient.

OCCLUSIVE BANDAGE PRE-APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Before applying bandage, be sure that the skin around the tattoo has also been shaved. Removing a bandage from hair may be unpleasant. After finishing a tattoo session, make sure the tattoo is clean (no residue leftover from the tattooing session) and dry the area. Do not clean a fresh tattoo with products containing isopropyl alcohol or glycerin. Isopropyl alcohol will certainly kill any bacteria in the area, but it will also kill all of your body’s own healing elements in the process. This will cause the wound to dry out under the bandage when it’s applied. Additionally, soapy residue (glycerin) can react with the adhesive of bandage, causing many issues from rashes to the bandage adhering to the wound. 

APPLICATION

  1. Cut and trim bandage 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. 

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

  3. Once the adhesive side of the bandage is in place, remove the clear film from the top side and smooth bandage over the tattoo.

  4. Keep the first applied bandage on for anywhere from 3-24 hours, depending on how much the wound is weeping. You can replace within 24 hours, if needed. It’s fine if there is some plasma/blood/lymph fluid buildup under the bandage during this period.

OCCLUSIVE BANDAGE REMOVAL AND APPLICATION OF 2ND BANDAGE

  1. To remove bandage, find an edge of the bandage and gently pull it and roll 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 add trauma to the skin.

  2. Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo with a mild soap, preferably fragrance-free. Rinse well.

  3. Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel. Occlusive bandages do not adhere well to wet/moist skin.

  4. Apply a second bandage by following the application steps listed above.

ADDITIONAL REMOVAL AND REAPPLICATION INFORMATION:

  • Keep this second bandage on for 2-3 days. 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.

  • 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 a fragrance-free, mild moisturizer such as Curel, Lubriderm, 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.

CARING FOR YOUR NEW TATTOO AFTER REMOVING OCCLUSIVE BANDAGE

Once the final 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. 

 

WEARING OCCLUSIVE BANDAGE 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 bandage is strongly discouraged. Light exercise while wearing a 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. 

RESULTS OF NEW TATTOO CARE USING OCCLUSIVE BANDAGES

This product has helped hundreds of thousands heal their new tattoos with ease. Tattoos using these bandages heal faster, experience less scabbing and peeling, and undergo significantly less early tattoo damage. 

To find more information and tips please ask your artist!

IMPORTANT TIPS

Tattoos generally take 2 -4 weeks 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 4 weeks) 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.

  • Use SUNSCREEN (at least 25 SPF) once your tattoo is healed.  Extreme sun exposure over the years can and will fade your tattoo.

  • 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. 561-855-6197