Healing your tattoo
Aftercare
Two ways to heal, depending on how you were wrapped. Read the section that matches your tattoo. When in doubt, reach out.
Please note: This is general aftercare guidance, not medical advice. If you notice signs of infection — spreading redness, heat, pus, or fever — see a doctor.
Method one
Derm / Second-Skin Recovery
This aftercare is not guaranteed to stay on or sealed. It is waterproof but can have leaks at seams or edges.
Keep the wrap on for 3 to 5 days — 3 days being the least, 5 days being the goal.
On the 5th day, get under your shower and work a corner loose, letting the water get back behind the adhesive. Slowly peel it off. Most of the dead skin should peel off with it.
Wash it with just your fingertips — not a washcloth, not a loofa, just fingers. Don't pick or scratch it, and don't roll dead skin when washing. Whatever flakes off, let it. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Apply your best lotion with no perfumes or dyes — Curel or Lubriderm, for example.
If the bandage rolls up or starts to leak, remove it and care for it like a normal tattoo (see below).
Important
Blood, ink, and plasma are all going to coagulate underneath the bandage. Don't puncture or drain it. If you've seeped a lot of plasma, that's okay — it helps it heal. But if you're worried about it, remove the whole bandage and rewrap, or get it cleaned and changed out, or switch to normal care.
Allergic reaction
If you experience hives, redness, and severe swelling after the wrap has been placed, you're likely having an allergic reaction to the adhesive. Remove it and switch to normal care to heal.
Method two
Normal Tattoo Care
Wash it 3 to 4 times daily with antibacterial soap. Wash and rinse with warm water, then pat dry with a paper towel.
Apply a tiny bit of Aquaphor ointment lightly and rub it all the way in. Don't use a lot — too much can cause pimples and pull the ink out.
Do not use Vaseline, Neosporin, or bag balm to heal.
Don't swim in anything but your shower. Don't soak in any water. Don't pick or scratch the tattoo.
After the 4th–5th day, switch to lotion until it's done peeling. Then keep up a sunblock regiment whenever you're out in the sun.
The sun is the enemy
Protect your work
The sun is the main cause of tattoo fade and destroys tattoos. If you're going to be in the sun, cover your tattoo properly. If you get a sunburn on a fresh tattoo, it will blister and the ink will fall out. Once healed, keep a sunblock regiment going — it keeps your work sharp for decades.
Questions about healing?
If something doesn't look right, reach out — I'd rather hear from you than have you guess.
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