The following are my recommended after care instructions. These instructions have been tailored to include steps for my clients to follow when taking off the bandages I put on their tattoo. Aftercare Instructions differ between artists. If you are healing a tattoo done by another artist, please understand that, while you are more than welcome to use these instructions, it is always recommended to seek out and follow your Tattoo Artists Aftercare Instructions. ​
If the placement of the tattoo did not allow for a second skin bandage to be applied (ex. Fingers) skip to the next section.
  • Remove bandage after 24-48 hours. Remove immediately if edges of bandage curl to expose the tattoo to open air or if the plasma sack bursts or leaks.
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  • Run under warm water to loosen adhesive.
 
  • Starting at the corners, pull the bandage towards the direction of the new hair growth.
 
  • follow instructions in Cleaning Your  Healing Tattoo  to clean and moisturize the tattoo.
  • Wash with running warm water and fragrance/perfume free soap. Fragrance will pull ink from the skin.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Run warm water over tattoo.
  • Gently lather your tattoo with soap.
  • Wash off soap.
  • Repeat until your tattoo doesn’t feel slimy.
  • Dry with clean paper towel.
  • Apply small amount of fragrance free lotion after drying.​
  • continue twice daily until tattoo is fully healed. To heal with a second skin bandage refer to “Healing with Second Skin” section for instructions.
  • Tattoos take 2-4 weeks to heal. Once the tattoo is done peeling it is considered fully healed and normal activities may be resumed.
  • Use a thicker ointment for the first 3 days e.x. aquaphor, A & D ointment. Do not use medicated ointments like Neosporin.
  • Use a water based, thinner lotion for the remainder of your healing process. 
  • Apply lotion/ointment in a thin layer and rub into tattoo. Do not leave a thick visible layer of lotion/ointment. 
  • Do not soak tattoo in water aside from normal showers. Still bodies of water can cause infections. Soaking a tattoo for too long will can pull ink out.
  • for the first 3 days the tattoo will weep blood, plasma and ink. This is the “slime” you feel when washing.
  • after tattoo stops weeping tattoo will dry out, scab and flake. This is the first layer of skin we punctured through, dying, flaking off and growing back. 
    Do not pick at the flakes, scalps or peeling. Picking or scratching will pull ink out.
  • tattoo will become itchy. Do not itch. Itching can pull out ink.
  • Refrain from sun exposure until healed. 
Before deciding to heal with a second skin, do a seven day test patch with your preferred second skin brand at least one month before your tattoo appointment to make sure you are not allergic to the adhesive. Take test patch and/or real patch off is redness, swelling, bumps, itchiness occur during test/use. If reaction occurs after tattoo is done continue healing traditionally, without second skin.
  • Keep the first bandage on until the tattoo is done seeping blood ink and plasma. Usually 24-72 hours depending on saturation of tattoo. 
    -if your tattoo artist did not apply a second skin bandage you can either choose to heal regularly until the seeping phase is over, or clean the tattoo using instructions above and then apply a 2nd skin bandage.
  • Remove 2nd skin bandage as instructed above
  • Clean hands.
  • Wash tattoo as instructed above.
  • Dry tattoo with clean paper towel.
  • DO NOT apply lotion or ointment etc. to tattoo before applying bandage.
  • Peel paper backing from adhesive.
  • Lay bandage on tattoo. Start by laying the middle of the bandage first and working your way towards the edges to reduce bubbles.
  • peel top layer of plastic off.
  • leave bandage on for up to 7 days. Take off if bandage peels off enough to expose tattoo to open air.
  • Do not apply lotion, sunscreen, ointment etc to outside of bandage.
  • Remove the bandage as instructed above.
  • Continue healing as instructed above.

How 2nd skin bandages work

The “ink sack” of plasma, blood and fluid that forms in the first 3 days helps heal your tattoo because plasma is your body’s natural healing ointment, but it is also a  great breeding ground for bacteria and infection. By not allowing the open air to come in contact with your tattoo through using 2nd skin, bacteria is not introduced and your tattoo can 1) use its natural healing ointment and 2) lower risk of infection. Often times causing a faster heal time, and an easier heal since washing and lotioning is no longer necessary.
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