Tattoo Aftercare Routine: Caring for Your New Tattoo After Removing Saniderm

Introduce your brand newTattoo Aftercare Routine: 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.

Start by carefully removing the bandage. 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. 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. Avoid over moisturizing the tattoo, which could make it more difficult for the tattoo to breathe.

Oxygen 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. 

  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 and soap will help loosen the adhesive 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 fragrance-free soap. 

  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.

  • Do not reapply any more bandages after the scabbing/flaking phase of tattoo healing has begun.

    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 of residue only.

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 once daily, after first cleaning the skin.

Wearing Saniderm While Showering,

Swimming, and Exercising

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.