Aftercare

1. Leave the wrapping on for 1-6 hours. After having a tattoo session, the artist will cover the skin with ointment and cover it. They will apply a covering or dressing. The covering is necessary to protect your tattoo from possible infection. You should leave the covering in place for a minimum period of two hours before you can remove it.
2. Carefully remove the covering. The covering can remain in place for up to six hours, do not leave on longer (this could cause infection). Always ensure you follow the proper procedure when removing the bandage so that you can preserve your tattoo design. If the bandage seems stuck, you can soak it in warm water so you can remove it without damaging your new tattoo.
3. Gently wash the tattoo. After removing the warp, you should use lukewarm water with Blue Green Foam Soap or Dial Antibacterial soap. Use your hands to rub the tattoo gently while removing all traces of blood, leaked ink, and plasma. Do not use a washcloth or sponge, as this may damage your new tattoo.
4. After you have thoroughly washed the tattoo to pat it dry using a paper towel. Avoid rubbing the tattoo because it can irritate the skin. After the tattoo is dry, leave it uncovered for about 25-30 minutes so that it can breathe and dry out any excess moisture.
5. Once the skin is thoroughly dried, apply a thin layer of ointment 2-5 times a day until absorbed. Do Not apply thick layers of ointment; this will suffocate the skin, prolong the healing, and cause excess scabbing. The tattoo should be washed and moisturized at least twice each day. Always keep the tattoo clean so that you can speed up the healing process. Remember, your tattoo is essentially an open wound, and you will need to keep it clean to prevent infection. After the tattoo is completed, you may develop itchy skin. You should always avoid scratching your tattoo or even picking at it because it will distort and ruin it. Your tattoo should be healed in 2-4 weeks.

Unlike Saran Wrap, Saniderm is a medical-grade, breathable, waterproof tattoo bandage. Saniderm is engineered to be permeable to gasses, like oxygen. These bandages alleviate many of the pitfalls that come with other tattoo healing methods. Primarily, Saniderm drastically reduces the risk of contaminants entering the wound site of a fresh tattoo. Wearing Saniderm protects the area from unwanted shear/friction and allows the body to keep itself moisturized. Plus, it conveniently eliminates sessions of washing and applying aftercare to a new tattoo. The result is a tattoo healing experience that is safer, smoother, and more efficient.

1. Showering while wearing Saniderm 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. If foreign contaminants get under the bandage, remove the Saniderm immediately.
2. As long as no contaminants have entered the Saniderm bandage, you may leave this on for seven days.
3. When removing the Saniderm, the best way is to find an edge of the bandage and then gently pull it back over itself in the direction of hair growth. Pulling upward on the Saniderm can be painful, so we don’t recommend it. We suggest removing the Saniderm in a warm shower. The warm water will loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove.

1. For the first few days, do not let water or soap directly touch the tattoo area.
2. Avoid direct exposure to the sun, chlorine, or saltwater for at least 6-8 weeks.
3. Do not use sunscreen on your fresh tattoo.
4. Do not go swimming until your tattoo is fully healed (about 2 weeks).
5. Do not use alcohol products on or around the area for at least 4 weeks.
6. Do not scratch, rub, or pick the skin on the tattoo.
7. When applying ointment, rub in soft, circular motions until the entire area is covered.
8. When applying ointment, ensure the skin is completely dry.
9. Recommended ointments: H2Ocean Tattoo Ocean Care Cream, Aquaphor Healing ointment, or A&D Original ointment.

Be sure to use a proper piercing aftercare solution. Packaged sterile saline is a gentle choice for piercing aftercare. Mixing your own sea salt solution is no longer a suggested practice from the APP. We strongly encourage you to use sterile saline labeled for use as a wound wash. Mixing your own sea salt solution will commonly result in the product being far too salty and strong; this can over-dry the piercing and interfere with healing. Also, avoid using any harsh soaps with dyes or fragrances; we recommend dial antibacterial soap.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason. Remain from touching your new piercing outside of cleaning it.
2. Clean as needed during healing, at least twice a day. For certain placements, it may be easier to apply using clean gauze saturated with saline solution. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the soap from the piercing.
3. Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products because cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

1. It is normal to see some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising in the beginning.
2. Showers tend to be safer than taking baths, as bathtubs can harbor bacteria. If you bathe in a tub, clean it well before each use and rinse off your piercing when you get out.
3. DO NOT change the jewelry on your piercing until completely healed. DO NOT hang charms or any object from your jewelry until the piercing is fully healed. A piercing may seem healed before the healing process is complete. That is because tissue heals from the outside, and the interior remains fragile, although it feels fine. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period. See a qualified piercer to perform any jewelry change that becomes necessary during healing.
4. Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years! It will vary from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep jewelry in and do not leave it empty.
5. With clean hands or paper products, be sure to regularly check threaded and threadless ends on your jewelry for tightness.
6. If an infection occurs, quality jewelry or an inert alternative may be left in place to allow for drainage of the infection if approved by your physician. On rare occasions, when the jewelry is removed, the surface cells close up, which can seal the infection inside the piercing channel and result in an abscess. Until an infection is cleared up, discuss whether you should leave quality jewelry or an appropriate substitute with your physician.
7. Surface anchors or microdermals may require maintenance during their entire lifetime because matter can build up underneath the threaded top causing the piercing to become irritated.