aftercare
when your tattoo is complete, it is important to treat it like the open wound that it is, tending it with care as your body works to form new skin over the ink. depending on how your body heals, tattoo aftercare typically takes 2 weeks of daily attention for the initial heal, and another couple of weeks to fully settle in.
your aftercare routine will vary slightly depending on whether you choose to bandage the tattoo with traditional plastic wrap or to use dermshield. both regimens are outlined below.
do’s & do not’s
DO always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
DO NOT apply vaseline, neosporin, bacitracin or other medicated/perfumed product to your tattoo.
DO NOT submerge the tattoo in water — no swimming, baths, pools, etc. regular showering is fine; i recommend washing the tattoo at the end of the shower so that any other products are rinsed off.
DO NOT expose the tattoo to direct sunlight (the sun is a big laser!)
DO NOT apply sun screen to the tattoo until it has had at least 3-4 weeks of healing.
DO NOT shave over the tattoo (ouch!)
DO NOT wear skin-tight clothing that will rub against the tattoo.
DO NOT engage in high-impact physical activities that include contact or friction with the tattoo; contact with sports equipment or gym gear that carries bacteria; excessive sweating. light stretching/cardio is fine, light-moderate sweating is ok, as long as you wash the tattoo right after.
plastic wrap:
leave wrap on for 1-3 hours, do not keep it on overnight unless directed by me. light exudation is normal, don’t be alarmed if there’s an imprint of the tattoo on your sheets or pajamas in the morning — this usually washes out with normal laundering.
when it’s time to remove the bandage, wash your hands and remove the plastic wrap. discard. wash the tattoo gently with water that’s as hot as is comfortable and mild, unscented soap, such as dr. bronner’s, dial or dove. no perfumed or exfoliating body washes! no washcloths or loofahs!
rinse the tattoo thoroughly, then let it air dry or pat it dry gently with a paper towel. do not use a cloth towel which can abrade the tattoo and carry bacteria in its fibers.
apply a very small amount of aquaphor, vitamin a+d ointment*, or plain unscented lotion to the tattoo, just enough to lightly moisturize. take your time gently working the lotion into the skin — you do not want a thick coat of product sitting on top of the tattoo, which can clog the pores and deny skin of the oxygen it needs to heal. the light massage also helps stimulate blood flow to the area, which assists healing. if using aquaphor, switch to a plain lotion after the first 2-3 days.
*ointments are recommended primarily for bolder tattoos and tattoos with lots of solid fill or color. linework or soft shaded tattoos are usually good with just lotion — i will always advise which is the best course for your specific tattoo
for the next 2 weeks, wash and lotion the tattoo as directed above twice per day, morning and night. in the first few days you may do a third wash in the afternoon, as you see fit. when the tattoo feels dry or tight, that’s a sign it could be ready for a wash.
after a few days the tattoo will form a thin scab, and in about a week the scab will begin to flake off in the shower. DO NOT pick or scratch at the scab! just keep it clean and moisturized, letting the skin slough off by itself during washing and moisturizing. picking at your tattoo can cause faded ink and/or damage to the skin.
unless you are doing your wash and lotion routine, LEAVE THE TATTOO ALONE. less is more. your job is to keep your skin clean and safe and get out of its way while it does what it wants to do (heal).
when peeling stops and the skin feels smooth to the touch, it has healed and you can resume usual activities (still being mindful of sun exposure until you can apply sunscreen at the 3-4 week mark). sometimes after the peeling stage there may appear to be a shiny, raised or waxy coat over the tattoo — this is just another healing layer of skin. continue with regular moisturizing and it should smooth out by itself over time.
dermshield:
leave the initial piece of dermshield on for a minimum of 24 hours, maximum of 3-4 days (as feels comfortable). plasma, lymph and excess ink will pool under the bandage like a blister — as long as it is fully contained within the borders of the bandage, this is fine. if there’s so much ooze that it leaks out the edges, the seal is compromised and you should remove the dermshield immediately. wash the tattoo and proceed with the aftercare instructions above.
while the dermshield is on it protects from friction and contact contamination. it does not protect from sun exposure, and it cannot be submerged in water.
when you’re ready to remove the dermshield, i recommend getting in the shower and letting lukewarm water run over it as you go. dermshield’s official instructions recommend gently peeling the bandage back over itself; anecdotally, i also recommend the “command strip” method, where you gently stretch the bandage, bit by bit, working around the edges away from center. in either case, do not pull the bandage away from the skin perpendicularly — stay parallel to the body.
once the bandage is off discard it in the trash, then wash and lotion the tattoo as directed above. your skin will have gotten a jumpstart with healing from its time under the dermshield, so you can jump straight in with lotion — no need for ointment.
follow aftercare instructions for +/- 10 days after dermshield removal.
if you have any questions or concerns about your tattoo while it’s healing, please email me with a photo and put "AFTERCARE" in the subject line so i know to give it immediate attention.
i am not a doctor and can only give guidelines on tattoo care, not medical advice. if you’re having an issue with a healing tattoo, and after following my advise it does not improve or worsens, consult a medical professional immediately.