How to Take Care of a New Tattoo | Saniderm’s Tattoo Guide

While getting tattooed, the tattoo needle punctures the skin between 50 and 3,000 times per minute. The needle enters the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and delivers the ink into the central layer of the skin (dermis). It can be easy to forget, but this new piece of art is an open wound and must be treated as such if you want it to heal optimally.

Properly caring for a new tattoo is crucial in order to prevent scabbing, scarring, infection, and potential loss of pigment or detail in your healed piece. When it comes to healing a new tattoo, every tattoo artist has the best intentions for their client and will recommend the aftercare they know best. However, these care instructions can vary drastically from artist to artist.

For this reason, we’ve compiled this holistic guide to healing tattoos, leaning on our decade of industry experience and innovation. Read below to learn more about the problems, solutions, and best practices for tattoo aftercare, so your healed ink looks as good as the day you left the tattoo shop.

A Brief Overview of Traditional Tattoo Healing: Plastic Wrap and Petroleum-Based Products

In traditional tattoo care, covering the new tattoo with a household plastic wrap (i.e. Saran Wrap) is usually the first step in the healing process. This plastic wrap generally stays on for a few hours.

Next, the tattoo is typically washed, dried, and covered with a thin layer of petroleum-based ointment, such as Aquaphor or Vaseline. This is repeated 3 to 4 times per day until the tattoo is fully healed.

We DO NOT recommend healing a new tattoo this way for several reasons:

1. This process is lengthy and can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to fully repair the tattooed skin.

2. Despite the common use of petroleum-based products for new tattoo care, these products tend to suffocate skin pores. When pores are not able to breathe, the skin may develop rashes, and hair follicles become irritated or inflamed. This may do more harm than good to a new tattoo. 

3. Petroleum jelly can trap impurities close to the skin, increasing the risk of infection around the tattooed area.

4. Since oxygen itself plays a huge role in allowing the skin to heal properly, covering a new tattoo in plastic wrap or smothering it in petroleum-based products that limit oxygen supply can further complicate the healing process.

5. Neither plastic wrap or petroleum-based ointments mitigate the drying of blood and plasma coming from the tattoo while it heals, which leads to scabbing. Scratching or itching at the scabs on a new tattoo can result in loss of the ink’s pigment and detail, and may even cause bleeding, irritation, infection, or scarring.

The goal is to avoid scabbing altogether, while allowing your tattoos the oxygen they need to heal properly and efficiently. However, not covering a fresh tattoo at all can expose the tattoo to unavoidable contaminants in your surrounding environment. These include but are not limited to bacteria, germs, dirt, and pet dander at work or in your household.

Products made specifically with tattoos in mind are essential for remedying these drawbacks to traditional healing methods. This is why Saniderm brought occlusive wound healing to the industry – a tattoo aftercare method that prevents scabbing, promotes faster healing, and uses the body’s natural wound restoration process to optimize your recovery.

Browse Saniderm Tattoo Aftercare Bandages

How Does Saniderm Work?

Unlike plastic 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.

Saniderm Pre-Application Instructions

Before applying Saniderm, be sure that the skin around the tattoo has also been shaved. Removing a bandage from hair may be unpleasant.

After finishing a tattoo session, make sure the tattoo is clean (no residue leftover from the tattooing session), and then dry the area. Do not clean a fresh tattoo with products containing isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol will certainly kill any bacteria in the area, but it will also kill all of your body’s own healing elements in the process. This will cause the wound to dry out under the bandage when it’s applied.

Finding the right product to clean a fresh tattoo can be tricky, which is why we developed our tattoo foam soap. Our tattoo soap uses a highly specialized organic formula utilizing the natural anti-microbial properties of colloidal silver and lavender, eliminating unwanted bacteria while keeping your body’s healing cells in tact.

Initial Saniderm Bandage Application

1. Cut and trim Saniderm to fit around the tattoo – include an extra inch around all sides. TIP: Cutting the edges of the bandage to be round will help it adhere better and feel more comfortable. 

1. Peel the white paper wrapping from the sticky side first and place gently over the tattoo.

1. Once the adhesive side of the bandage is in place, remove the see-through second layer from the top side and smooth the bandage over the tattoo.

2. Keep the first applied bandage on for anywhere from 3 to 24 hours, depending on how much the wound is weeping. Replace within 24 hours. It’s fine if there is some plasma/blood/lymph fluid buildup under the bandage during this period, but don’t leave it longer than 24 hours.

Saniderm Removal and Reapplication of 2nd Bandage

1. To remove Saniderm, find an edge of the bandage and pull it back over itself in the direction of your natural hair growth. The shower is the ideal place to remove Saniderm. Running water will help loosen the adhesive and relax the skin, making the removal much more comfortable. Dry removal of Saniderm may cause discomfort and added trauma to the skin.

1. Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo with a mild fragrance-free soap. 

1. Allow the tattoo to air dry or pat dry with a clean towel.

1. If desired, apply a thin layer of aftercare product to your tattoo. If you have naturally oily skin or live in a high humidity climate, feel free to skip this step. Otherwise, use a thin layer of petroleum-free moisturizer to help the tattoo retain moisture and itch less. Sanibalm is the perfect remedy for dry skin! If you plan on applying another bandage, apply the product to the tattoo only and avoid getting it on the surrounding skin. Saniderm does not adhere well to wet/moist skin.

2. Apply a second bandage by following the application steps listed above.

Additional removal and reapplication information:

• Keep this second bandage on for 3 to 6 days – the full six days being ideal. If the skin appears irritated, there is fluid buildup, or the bandage is coming off, it’s okay to remove the bandage sooner rather than later.

• Do not reapply any more bandages after the scabbing/flaking phase of tattoo healing has begun. If you find yourself bandage-less during this phase, make sure you’re keeping the area thoroughly moisturized. For a tattoo moisturizer, we strongly recommend Sanibalm.

• If there is adhesive residue left over on the skin, or the adhesive is not loosening enough with water, coconut oil and baby oil are helpful for removal.

Removing Saniderm and Cleaning the Tattoo

Before touching your new tattoo for any purpose, it’s important to make sure your hands are clean. Wash them thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. You’ll also want to be prepared with your soap (unscented, antibacterial) and clean towel, lotion or balm, and (if needed) new bandage nearby. 

Start by carefully removing the bandage as described above. Again, if the bandage sticks, you can use some lukewarm water to help remove the adhesive. Very gently, remove and discard the used bandage.

Wash your hands again, and then use a circular motion to gently wash off any remaining ink, blood, and plasma with your hand, some warm water, and a small amount of fragrance-free, antibacterial soap. (You want to avoid building up too much lather, which can be difficult to remove.) Avoid scrubbing the new tattoo, which could damage your skin and slow healing.

Again, gently rinse off the tattoo until the skin is clean. Rather than placing the tattoo under running water, use your clean hands to splash lukewarm water onto the tattoo until your skin is rinsed clean. 

Finally, allow the skin to dry for around 10 minutes (or until completely dry). Alternatively, you can gently pat dry with a clean towel.

Now that the tattoo is clean and dry, apply a light layer of balm made specifically for tattoos, such as Sanibalm. Avoid over moisturizing the tattoo, which could make it more difficult for the tattoo to breathe.

Caring for Your New Tattoo After Removing Saniderm

Once the final Saniderm bandage is removed from your tattoo, continue to care for it by gently washing it with unscented antibacterial soap and pat or air dry. After, apply a layer of aftercare moisturizer 2 – 3 times a day for 2 weeks or until the tattoo is no longer peeling, dry, or cracked. 

Keep in mind that the tattoo may appear to be fully healed on the surface once your second Saniderm bandage comes off. However, deeper layers of skin will still be repairing for 2 – 4 months. We recommend a good moisturizing regimen for this entire period. Our product Sanibalm was formulated specifically for this purpose.

Browse Saniderm Tattoo Balms

How Long do you Have to Keep a Tattoo Covered?

Generally, you should keep your tattoo covered for about one to three hours. Ondce the artist has finished your tattoo, they will bandage it up before sending you off. When you take your bandage off, be sure to clean it with warm water and antimicrobial soap then pat dry. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day (or a tattoo aftercare lotion) and leave the new tattoo open for it to heal. 

Can you over-moisturize a tattoo?

It can be tempting to apply a thick layer of lotion or balm to your healing tattoo, especially if it feels sore or looks dry. Unfortunately, it is possible to over moisturize your tattoo, which can lead to issues. For example, excess moisture…

• Can slow healing

• Can be more inviting to bacteria and germ growth

• Can increase the risk of inflammation and infection

• Can clog pores, so the skin can’t breathe

• Can lead to skin breakouts. 

That said, it’s also possible to under-moisturize a tattoo, which can allow the skin to dry out, leading to more scabbing, flaking, and other signs of dryness. 

To get the “just right” level of moisture, use a nice, thin layer of balm or lotion applied twice daily, after first cleaning the skin.

Wearing Saniderm While Showering, Swimming, and Exercising

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.

For these reasons, bathing, swimming, or fully submerging a tattoo dressed in Saniderm is strongly discouraged. Light exercise while wearing Saniderm is fine, but avoid activity that causes excessive sweating. Just as water will weaken the adhesion of the bandage, so will sweat and any other significant amount of fluid. Try to keep the bandage as clean and dry as possible until it’s time to remove it. 

Read More: Can I Exercise and Workout With Saniderm?

Results of New Tattoo Care Using Saniderm

Saniderm has helped hundreds of thousands heal their new tattoos with ease. Tattoos using Saniderm heal faster, experience less scabbing and peeling, and undergo significantly less early tattoo damage. Saniderm grants an effortless and convenient tattoo healing experience, leaving behind vivid and stunning tattoos. Ask your tattoo artist or shop if they carry Saniderm and if they believe you’d be a good candidate!