Tattoo After Care Guide

Saniderm Healing Process

Keep this first bandage on for up to 24 hours, depending on how much the tattoo site weeps blood, plasma, and excess ink. Fluid will always pool into an “ink sack” underneath the bandage, but if this pooling becomes excessive or starts to compromise adhesion, simply remove and reapply

It’s now been 24 hours and you’re ready to remove your first bandage and reapply a second:

  1. Under warm running water (we always recommend removing Saniderm in the shower), find an upper corner of the bandage and start slowly pulling it back over itself like how you would peel a banana from the top down.

  2. Clean the tattoo with warm water and a gentle, fragrance-free Antibacterial soap.

  3. Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel and allow 5-10 minutes for it to fully air dry.

  4. Apply your next Saniderm bandage by repeating the same application steps provided by your artist. 

  5. Keep this second bandage on for an additional 3-5 days. Remove if you experience any discomfort and continue open-healing with After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer.

  6. Remove final Saniderm bandage and wash tattoo repeating Steps 1-3

  7. Apply a thin layer of After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer to clean hands and gently massage over entire tattoo until lotion is no longer visible. A little bit goes a long way.

  8. Repeat 2 to 3 times a day or as needed to keep your tattoo hydrated.

  9. Gently wash your tattoo with a mild antibacterial soap and warm water before bedtime; lightly pat or air dry and apply a thin layer of After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer by gently massaging it into the tattooed skin in small, circular motions. Repeat twice daily until tattoo is fully healed.

  10. Avoid unnecessary touching of your new tattoo, do not scrub or scratch it; wear clean and soft clothing; stay away from sun, sauna, steam, swimming pools or tub (do not submerge).

Stick to this daily routine for the next 1-2 weeks while the tattoo remains slightly hypersensitive to touch and 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 you remove the last Saniderm bandage after 5 days. However, deeper layers of the skin will still be fully healing for up to 6 months. We recommend sticking to a consistent, daily moisturizing regimen for this entire period.

Can You Over-Moisturize a Tattoo?

It can be tempting to apply a thick layer of balm or lotion to your healing tattoo, especially if it feels particularly sore or looks extra dry. But it is possible to over-moisturize your new tattoo, which can lead to some of the following problems:

  • Delayed tattoo healing.

  • Unwanted bacteria growth.

  • Risk of inflammation and infection.

  • Clogged pores and suffocation of the skin.

  • Acne breakouts around the new tattoo.

That said, it’s also possible to under-moisturize a tattoo, which can lead to dry, cracked, or itchy skin, and even the unwanted formation of scabs that can potentially jeopardize the appearance of your healed tattoo.

For more info regarding Saniderm and your new tattoo please visit -

https://faq.saniderm.com/knowledge-base/guide-to-new-tattoo-care/

 

Traditional Healing Method

Each time tattooing is performed the client (and if applicable, the parent or guardian) shall receive oral and written instructions on the care of the area tattooed.

 

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE AFTER CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

TATTOOING after-care instructions:

I. for at least two weeks, minimize exposure to the sun, and discourage swimming in fresh, salt, or chlorinated water;

II. properly cleanse the tattooed area;

III. apply antibiotic ointment or cream;

IV. use sterile bandage(s) or other sterile dressing(s) when necessary;

V. the client shall consult a health care practitioner at the first sign of infection or an allergic reaction, and report any diagnosed infection, allergic reaction, or adverse reaction resulting from the tattoo to the artist and to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Tattoo and Body Piercing Program at (512) 834-6711.

 

Cleaning:

  1. Clean the tattoo with warm water and a gentle, fragrance-free Antibacterial soap. Rinse well, making sure to remove any slimy coating that may have formed over the tattoo.

  2. Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel and allow 5-10 minutes for it to fully air dry.

  3. Apply your next Saniderm bandage by repeating the same application steps above.

  4. Apply a thin layer of After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer to clean hands and gently massage over entire tattoo until lotion is no longer visible. A little bit goes a long way.

  5. Repeat 2 to 3 times a day or as needed to keep your tattoo hydrated.

  6. Gently wash your tattoo with a mild antibacterial soap and warm water before bedtime; lightly pat or air dry and apply a thin layer of After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer.

  7. Avoid unnecessary touching of your new tattoo, do not scrub or scratch it; wear clean and soft clothing; stay away from sun, sauna, steam, swimming pools or tub (do not submerge).

Repeat steps twice a day until healed. Make sure to clean your tattoo any time it gets dirty in the first two weeks. NOTE: Do not remove the wrap until you can properly clean your new tattoo!

 

Don’t:

•Don’t Over Moisturize; it can lead to clogged pores, acne breakouts and delayed healing.

•Don’t submerge your tattoo in water during the healing process.

• Avoid saunas and steamy or sweaty environments for 7-10 days

•Don’t swim until flaking and peeling is all gone naturally. Generally, this takes 2 to 3 weeks.

•Don’t expose your tattoo to the sun or tanning beds for 2-3 weeks.

(This significantly increases your risk of scaring and skin cancer.)

•Don’t pick any scabs that may have formed during the healing process.

 

**We do not recommend the 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. 

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

The following instructions are a general guide for average healing. When necessary, you may have additional steps provided by your artist. If you suspect healing issues, a reaction or infection please contact our Studio manager as soon as possible.

If an allergic or adverse reaction or infection is diagnosed as resulting from your new tattoo, immediately notify your artist and the Texas Dept. of State Health Services, Drugs and Medical Devices Group, at 1-888-839-6676

Environmental Operations Branch-Tattoo and Body Piercing Program Revision 6/23/25