Saniderm’s Guide To New Tattoo Care

Properly taking care of a new tattoo is crucial to prevent scabbing, loss of color and detail, scarring, and infection. When it comes to healing a new tattoo, every tattoo artist has the best intentions in mind. However, new tattoo care methods for optimal healing can vary drastically from artist to artist. For this reason, we want to offer up our own tried-and-true guide to healing tattoos using a medical-grade dermal bandage, like Saniderm.

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While getting tattooed, the tattoo needle punctures the skin between 50-3,000 times per minute. The needle enters the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and delivers the ink into the central layer of skin (dermis). It can be easy to forget, but this new piece of art is actually an open wound and must be treated as such. This means that it’s critical to keep dirt, debris, and bacteria out.

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A Brief History of Traditional New Tattoo Care
Using Plastic Wrap and Other Aftercare Products

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In traditional tattoo care, covering the fresh, clean tattoo with household wrap (Saran Wrap) is usually the first step in the healing process. This piece of wrap generally stays on for 2-24 hours. Next, the tattoo is washed and an aftercare product is applied (usually petroleum-based like Aquaphor). Steps two and three are then repeated for a minimum of 3-4 times per day until the tattoo is fully healed. This can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the size, location, and style of tattoo. Although this new tattoo care method has been sufficient for many, there are plenty of cons to using this healing method.

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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. Additionally, since oxygen itself plays a huge role in allowing a tattoo to heal properly, smothering a new tattoo in plastic wrap and petroleum-based aftercare can be detrimental to the healing process. 

Still, aftercare product is extremely helpful in preventing itchiness and scabbing. Scratching a new tattoo can result in loss of color and detail and may cause bleeding, irritation, or infection. And not covering a fresh tattoo can expose the tattoo to unavoidable contaminants. These include bacteria, germs, and dirt from your household or work environment, pet dander, and more. This is the conundrum Saniderm was created to solve. 

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How Does Saniderm Work? 

Unlike Saran 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.

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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 dry the area. Do not clean a fresh tattoo with products containing isopropyl alcohol or glycerin. 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. If using astringent on a new tattoo, we suggest using an alcohol-free, unscented variant of Witch Hazel. Additionally, glycerin can react with the adhesive of Saniderm, causing many issues from rashes to the adhesive binding too strongly.

 

Saniderm 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. 

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

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

4. Keep the first applied bandage on for anywhere from 3-24 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

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1. To remove Saniderm, find an edge of the bandage and pull it back over itself in the direction of 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.

2. Discard the used bandage and wash the tattoo with a mild soap, preferably fragrance-free. 

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

4. 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. Tattoo Goo or 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.

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

Additional removal and reapplication information:

• Keep this second bandage on for 3-6 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 leftover on the skin, or the adhesive is not loosening enough with water, coconut oil and baby oil are helpful for removal.

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Caring for Your New Tattoo After Removing Saniderm

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Once the final bandage has been removed, continue caring for the tattoo by washing and moisturizing as needed, until the tattoo is fully healed. 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. 

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Wearing Saniderm While Showering, Swimming, and Exercising

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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.

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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. 

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Results of New Tattoo Care Using Saniderm

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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.