Healing the traditional way
What to expect:
First few days:
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Leave your cling wrap bandage on for 2-8 hours, or whenever you can get home to properly wash your tattoo.
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Your tattoo will feel hot like a sunburn for a few days. It will be tender and warm.
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Expect some swelling and tenderness for a few days
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Your tattoo will "ooze" a clear fluid, plasma, for 12-24 hours. This fluid will mix with your ink and become a grey "goo"
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During this stage, it is imperative to keep your tattoo clean. Never touch your tattoo without washing your hands first. To keep it clean from children, pets, or your work environment, cover with loose fitting, clean clothing.
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Clean your tattoo 2-3 times a day
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Wash your tattoo 2-3 times daily with plain, antibacterial soap and water and your hands (not a wash cloth). Pat dry with a paper towel or air dry.
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Apply aquafor in a thin layer. Work it in like a lotion, then pat the excess off with a paper towel. Your skin needs to breathe. Too much ointment will slow the healing process. Never apply aquafor without washing it first. You will trap dirt into your tattoo.
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3-10 days in:
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You will experience dry skin and itching during the healing process.
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Your tattoo will peel like a sunburn. The skin flakes will usually be the same color as your tattoo.
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Once your tattoo begins to peel, you can reduce washing to once or twice a day
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Once your tattoo begins to peel, you can switch to an UNSCENTED lotion (if it smells good, it burns good)
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You can apply the lotion as often as you like​
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2-3 weeks:
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Your tattoo should be healed! Your skin may still be sensitive to itch and be dry, continue to apply lotion.
Healing with a derm bandage:
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There are many brands of dermal bandages (Saniderm, Second Skin, Derm Shield, etc). I use Recovery Derm Shield.
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Derm Shield can be left on for 3-4 days, with zero aftercare. It is fairly waterproof so it stays on in the shower.
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Derm bandages are like an artificial scab. It allows your bodies lymphatic healing processes to work. Plasma will collect under your bandage. Often you will be unable to see your tattoo. This is all normal.
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If your plasma leaks out of the bandage, that means bacterial can get it. You should take your bandage off in a hot shower and wash and heal your tattoo as described above.
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If plasma did not leak out of your bandage, take the bandage off in a hot shower after 3-4 days. You can skip straight to apply unscented lotion on your tattoo.​
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When you peel off your derm bandage, you may see a "copy" of your tattoo on the bandage. Don't panic! That is just your dead skin.
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Do NOT rip your derm bandage off. Please peel off slowly by pulling down on the bandage (like removing a command strip from your wall).
If given a second derm bandage:
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Remove first bandage after 12-24 hours, wash your tattoo (as described above), air dry for 30 minutes, and apply the second bandage.
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Leave the second bandage on for 3-4 days and remove in a hot shower (as described above).
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DONT's
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Do NOT soak your tattoo for 2-3 weeks! Showers are fine
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Do NOT expose to sun during the healing process. Cover with loose fitting clothing
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Do NOT pick at any scabs! Let them come off naturally
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Do NOT wear tight fitting clothing over your tattoo; your tattoo needs to breathe and it can rub off scabs
For the lifetime of your tattoo:
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The sun is your enemy. The sun damages skin and fades tattoos. SPF 50 sunscreen will protect your skin and your tattoos
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Is your tattoo looking particularly faded in the winter? Moisturize your skin. Keeping your skin moisturized and hydrated keeps your skin, and your tattoos, looking better over time
When to seek medical care:
If your tattoo becomes more inflamed, swollen, tender, or redder after several days, these may be signs of am allergy or infection. Please seek medical care.