Recommended Aftercare Instructions
DISCLAIMER:
These recommendations are based off of my professional experience both as a tattooer and as a person who has healed many tattoos.
If you are at all concerned with how your tattoo is healing, feel free to message me. If I know the answer to your question, I will tell you. If not, I will send you to urgent care as I am not a doctor.
derm AfterCare
For linework tattoos: Leave the derm on for 3 days MAX. Then, remove the derm and start the wash routine (see below).
For color/shading tattoos: Ideally, you will leave the initial derm on for 5 days. You may be sent home with a spare piece of derm. If fluid leaks out, or the edges of the derm roll up so the tattoo is exposed, remove the original piece, do the wash routine MINUS the lotion, and then apply the spare piece of derm.
Tips: Do not go in the sun, swim, soak, or sweat heavily in the derm. Do not go to the gym/work out heavily with the derm on. You can shower with the derm on, but do not keep it in the water for a long time, especially on days 0-1, as the adhesive needs time to fully adhere to your skin.
Normal: A “sac” of blood, plasma, and ink may form under the surface of the derm during healing. The liquid also may appear to “dry out” under the derm. This is all normal! You are good to leave the derm on for the recommended time.
Removing the derm
Run area under lukewarm water. Peel a small corner of the derm (some areas may be lifting already). Pull derm “down” as if taking a command strip off the wall. Go slow!
It is normal if…
You experience some discomfort during removal (your tattoo is a wound).
There is some redness on the skin around the tattoo after the derm comes off.
The “ink sac” dries out after a couple of days or remains stuck to the derm when you remove it.
After removing the derm, do the wash routine: twice a day for the first week, once a day for the second week, and whenever you shower for weeks 3 and 4.
Wash Routine
After you remove the tattoo bandage (derm or seran wrap), wash your tattoo following these instructions:
Make sure your hands are very clean, or wear gloves.
Wash the tattoo with unscented ANTIBACTERIAL soap under lukewarm water.
Pat dry with a clean paper towel, and let the tattoo air dry for between 5-30 mins.
Apply a very thin layer of an unscented water- or glycerin-based lotion (see below for examples).
Be mindful to not put too much lotion on the tattoo; it's better to be too dry than too wet.
Do the wash routine twice a day for the first week, once a day for the second week, and then whenever you shower for weeks 3-4. Its considered a fresh and healing tattoo for the first 4 weeks, and can take up to 2 months to fully heal.
Seran wrap After Care
On day 0, take off the wrap just before bed. Follow the recommended wash routine.
Tips: For the first few days, wear loose fitting clothing, preferably made of cotton, or keep it out to air dry during the day and at night. When you wake up, if there is any clothing stuck to the tattoo (especially after the first few nights), do NOT peel it off dry. Soak in lukewarm water and gently lift the cloth off. While healing, keep the tattoo clean and dry.
do’s and don’ts
Do’s
Wash gently but firmly to remove all blood and plasma from the skin, especially in the first few days of your wash routine.
Apply VERY thin layers of lotion. It is way better to be on the dryer side than have it be too wet!
Reach out to Aiden if you have any questions or concerns!
Don’ts
Allow tattoo to come in contact with dirty surfaces or bodily fluids.
Use petroleum-based products (i.e. Vaseline, Aquaphor).
Pick or scratch at the tattoo, especially any scabs.
Expose the tattoo to direct sunlight. Keep it out of the sun completely for the first 2-4 weeks. After 2-4 weeks (once there is no texture to the healing tattoo, it just feels like regular skin), you are good to use sunscreen on it. Always use sunscreen on your healed tattoos!
Aiden recommends…
-Unscented antibacterial soap
-Glycerin-based unscented lotion
DO NOT USE…
-Dove products
-Bar soap
-Scented products
-Human or animal saliva
-Petroleum-based products (including Aquaphor)
What to expect when healing your tattoo:
First week:
The most important stage of healing is in the first 3-6 days after getting the tattoo. In this stage, it is important to be mindful of too much irritation (body movement that moves the skin, abrasive clothing, excessive exercise or activity ) and/or too much moisture (no bathing, swimming, and light on the lotion).
Selecting the “derm” (second skin bandage) option for your aftercare bandage eliminates a lot of the risk of these two factors, and keeps your tattoo clean and safe while also jumpstarting healing. Derm is my recommended aftercare bandage for folks who do not have a sensitivity or allergy to adhesives, and especially for color and shaded tattoos.
Second week:
After the derm comes off, and when following my aftercare recommendations, the tattoo should be itchy, textured, and pealing (like a sunburn heals). There may be some scabbing. It is important at this stage to not itch, pick, or scratch the tattoo.
After the second week:
The tattoo should be done pealing and the skin should be knitted together fully. You can tell that the skin has fully knit together when there is no texture to the skin when you touch it; it just feels like regular skin. The skin at this stage may be “scaley” or shiny, and is very new. At this stage, it is ok to go swimming, be very sweaty (high intensity workouts and saunas) and to put sunscreen on it. Things to be mindful at this stage include keeping it out of the sun as much as possible as well as being gentle with the new skin (no exfoliants yet).
At 4 weeks:
You should be good to have limited sun exposure as well as use exfoliants. I always recommend protecting your tattoo with sunscreen.
After 2 months:
Any deep tissue trauma such as bruising or scaring is usually fully healed.
First week: under the derm
Fresh
Fully healed and settled
COncerning Phenomenon:
Disclaimer!: I am not a doctor, and only a doctor can diagnose something as “infected”. If you are experiencing anything that may be infection, please seek urgent care asap. Concerning phenomenon may include but is not limited to:
red streaks coming from the tattoo and spreading outward.
oozing puss
extended redness/soreness/swelling after the first week.
fever
If you are at all concerned with how your tattoo is healing, are feeling anxious, or just don’t know if what you are experiencing is normal, feel free to contact me. I will always prioritize your health first, and any tattoo that heals rough I can touch up once the tattoo has fully healed.