IF YOU HAVE SANIDERM / ADHESIVE FILM
Your first bandage
Leave the first piece on for approximately 8–24 hours, unless I give you different instructions based on your tattoo. It's completely normal to see blood, plasma, and excess ink collect underneath the film. It may look like a dark fluid pocket or “ink sack.” For heavily saturated tattoos, more fluid accumulation is normal.
Remove the Saniderm sooner if:
Avoid tanning and excessive sun exposure before your appointment.I cannot tattoo over skin that is sunburned, peeling, blistered, significantly irritated, or otherwise damaged. If you get a sunburn on the tattoo area before your appointment, please let me know as soon as possible as we may need to reschedule.
- You develop itching, burning, blistering, or irritation underneath the adhesive.
- Redness or irritation develops outside the tattoo in the shape of the adhesive.
- Fluid is leaking out or the seal is broken.
- Water gets underneath it.
Removing Saniderm
The easiest way to remove it is to peel slowly in a warm shower.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Find an edge of the film.
- Slowly stretch and peel the film back over itself, parallel to the skin, rather than pulling it straight upward.
- Let warm water help loosen the adhesive as you go.
After removing the first Saniderm
Wash the tattoo gently with clean hands and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Gently remove any remaining plasma, ink, or residue with your hands. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a clean dry towel or disposable paper towel. Never reuse the Saniderm you removed.
IF YOU HAVE PLASTIC WRAP
Plastic wrap is being used as temporary protection for the trip home, not as a multi-day healing bandage. Unless I specifically tell you otherwise, remove it within approximately 3~4 hours after your appointment. If the wrap becomes loose, wet, dirty, or heavily filled with fluid before then, remove it sooner.
When you remove it:
- Wash your hands.
- Remove and discard the plastic wrap.
- Gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap with your hands.
- Pat dry with a clean disposable paper towel.
- Allow the tattoo to air-dry.
Do not routinely rewrap the tattoo with household plastic wrap. Once the initial wrap is removed, continue with the open-healing instructions below.
OPEN HEALING
Whether you began with Saniderm or plastic wrap, you'll eventually reach this stage.
Wash
- Wash your tattoo d and anytime it becomes genuinely dirty.
- You can just use water or gentle fragrance-free soap
- Do not scrub or use sponges, exfoliating gloves, brushes, or loofahs on fresh tattoos.
Do not routinely rewrap the tattoo with household plastic wrap. Once the initial wrap is removed, continue with the open-healing instructions below.
Moisturize
Once the tattoo is clean and dry, apply a very thin layer of simple, fragrance-free moisturizer. A little goes a long way. Usually moisturizing about once or twice daily, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight, is enough.
Do not pick or scratch
Your tattoo will itch as it heals. Do not scratch or peel scabs/ flakes. Let your skin releases naturally, and moisturize regularly.
Shower & Swimming
Showers are fine. Keep them reasonably brief and avoid very hot water directly on the tattoo. Please avoid soaking in bath for a long time.
Until your tattoo is completely healed, avoid immersing it in water. Please avoid baths, swimming pools, hot tubs, oceans/ lakes/ rivers, etc. even with a Saniderm. Please wait until the skin is fully closed and no longer peeling or scabbing.
Exercise
For the first few days, be thoughtful about exercise. Avoid activities that cause heavy sweating over the tattoo, or repetitive rubbing. Tight clothing or equipment pressing against the tattoo also should be avoided if possible. This matters even more for large tattoos and heavily saturated work.If you're wearing Saniderm, heavy perspiration and movement can weaken the adhesive seal. Listen to your body and give a large tattoo a little recovery time.
Clothing & Bedding
Wear clean, loose, breathable clothing over the tattoo. Avoid tight waistbands, bras, straps, athletic compression garments, or anything else repeatedly rubbing against the fresh tattoo when possible. For heavy saturated works, you may want to put a towel underneath the sheets. A fresh tattoo can release a little plasma and ink overnight.
Sun
Keep a healing tattoo out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Do not apply sunscreen directly to skin that is still open, peeling, or scabbing. Once the tattoo is completely healed, use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher whenever the tattoo will receive significant sun exposure. Long-term sun protection helps keeping your tattoo look fresh.
When to get Medical Help
Keep a healing tattoo out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Do not apply sunscreen directly to skin that is still open, peeling, or scabbing. Once the tattoo is completely healed, use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher whenever the tattoo will receive significant sun exposure. Long-term sun protection helps keeping your tattoo look fresh.
TRUST YOUR BODY
Some redness, swelling, tenderness, and clear fluid can be normal in the first part of healing, especially after a long or heavily saturated session. More than anything, pay attention to how your body feels and whether things are improving over time.
If something feels off - such as pain getting worse instead of better, an unusual rash or reaction, increasing irritation, fever, chills, or anything else that concerns you - please contact me and seek medical care. You know your body best. If you’re unsure about how your tattoo is healing, send me a photo and let me know what you're experiencing.
