SANIDERM AFTERCARE:

• It is recommended to leave the Saniderm on for 3-5 days. You may take it off sooner if you would like and proceed with the normal aftercare routine (see instructions below.) Do not leave Saniderm on for longer than 7 days at the most!

• You can shower with the bandage but avoid soaking it or submerging it in water (no swimming or baths.) If water gets under the bandage, remove it immediately and continue with the normal aftercare routine.

• Ink and plasma may come to the surface under the bandage and you may see some splotches or what appears to be double lines. That is normal, however, if the bandage completely fills up with ink and is black, remove it and continue with the normal tattoo aftercare routine.

• If you notice red bumps under or around your bandage, you may be having and allergic reaction to the adhesive or it may be pulling at your skin and irritating it. If this occurs, no need to panic! Remove the bandage and wash the tattoo and the irritation or marks should clear up in a few days.

• If the bandage begins to peel up on the edges and the tattoo is exposed, do not reseal the bandage back down as you can trap bacteria under the bandage. Either cut off the edges that are peeling up or remove the bandage completely and continue with the normal aftercare routine.

• When you are ready to remove the Saniderm, it’s recommended to do so in the shower or under running water as this will help loosen the adhesive. Once you remove the bandage, wash the tattoo with liquid, unscented antibacterial soap (such as Dial Gold liquid antibacterial soap) and pat dry with a clean paper towel or air dry. Do not use terrycloth towels as they can hold bacteria in the fibers. Proceed with the normal aftercare routine (see below) until the tattoo is completely healed (typically 2-4 weeks).

TRADITIONAL AFTERCARE:

• Leave wrap on for 1-2 hours.

• Remove wrap and wash with unscented, liquid anti-bacterial soap (such as Dial Gold liquid anti-bacterial soap.) Pat dry with clean paper towel, or air dry. Do not use terrycloth towels as they can hold bacteria in the fibers.

• Wash your fresh tattoo twice a day (in the morning and at night) or more often if the tattoo comes into contact with anything that may carry bacteria. Treat your tattoo like an open wound and keep it clean! Remember to dry it with a clean paper towel or allow to air dry.

• It’s recommended that you use unscented lotion on your tattoo 2-3 times a day. Only use enough to cover your tattoo, do not over-saturate. If your tattoo stays too moist it can pull the ink out of your skin. Unscented lotions such as Eucerin or Lubriderm, as ointments such as A&D and Aquaphor are a bit to thick for fine line tattoos. DO NOT use anything medicated such a Neosporin, this can cause your skin to reject some of the ink.

• Continue cleaning your tattoo and applying lotion until your tattoo is completely healed (typically 2-4 weeks).

• Do not soak your tattoo until your tattoo is healed (showering is fine but no swimming or baths for at least 2 weeks). This is especially important when in comes to swimming! Pools and natural bodies of water carry lots of bacteria and this can put you at risk for nasty infections.

• Do not scratch your tattoo when it becomes itchy as you can scratch out some of the ink! I recommend an ice pack wrapped in a clean towel to subdue itchiness.

• After your tattoo is healed, make sure you wear sunscreen when exposing your tattoo to the sun for any extended period of time. Exposing your tattoos to the sun can cause the ink to fade or lines to spread under your skin and age them prematurely. Make sure you take good care of your tattoos and they can stay looking clean and fresh for a very long time!

• During the healing process, your tattoo will become dry and flaky. Do not pick at these flakes as it can pull ink out of your skin. If you notice your tattoo is not healing as expected, feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! If you think you may have an infection, please contact your doctor.