Aftercare Instructions

Hypafix, tagaderm and saniderm aftercare (clear plastic like bandage)

Leave bandage on for approximately 5 nights. (Line work and black and grey dotwork need less time, full colour and larger tattoos need more time.)

While wearing the bandage your body will pool ink, blood and plasma under the bandage and your tattoo will look blurry, this is normal. The fluid may even leak out the edges so be mindful what you wear and put down an old clean towel in your bed to protect your sheets. Your body may eventually reabsorb some of the fluid. When the bandage begins to feel tight and more irritating than helpful, remove the bandage by following the cleaning instructions after the following notes to consider.  

While the bandage is on:

The bandage is water resistant but not waterproof. 

  • You can have short luke warm showers while wearing the bandage but don’t put the bandage area directly under the shower water, keep the bandage area as dry as possible. 

  • It’s important it to let any water get underneath the seal of your bandage. 

  • Do not submerge the bandage or healing tattoo underwater for 3 weeks. 

  • Do not work out while wearing the bandage or get hot sweaty as the bandage will come off.

If the edges start to peel down but the tattoo hasn’t been compromised or exposed you can tape the edges down to prevent further erosion. 

Removing the bandage: 

You absolutely must remove the bandage under running water - slowly - with unscented soap lubricating the removal. 

It plain ole sucks to remove so take your time and do it -slowly- with warm to hot water and unscented soap. It does help to get your body temperature hot and sweaty prior to removing but still fully remove your bandage under running water carefully 

Cleaning:

Once removed wash your tattoo well with hot water and unscented soap. It may take a couple washes to remove the film of fluid that has collected under the bandage over a few days. Pat dry with clean paper towels. Air dry with nothing on it for 15 mins or so. Apply a very very thin layer of unscented chemical free lubricant. Over doing moisturizer can be determintal to your healing tattoo. 

Please note if after removing the bandage your skin is showing signs of weeping whether it be blood or plasma you must wash, apply a thin layer of polysporin and rebandage and repeat every 6 hours until it is not weeping anymore. 

If you experience continued (more than 48hours or rapidly developing) redness, swelling, pain and opaque discharge from your tattoo please seek professional medical assistance immediately.

Always wash your hands prior to touching your tattoo, clean bed sheets and wear freshly laundered loose fitting clothes for approx 2 weeks. 

Around day five you will peel and flake the ink caught in the epidermis, which is your first layer of your skin and your tattoo may feel dry at times and the lines raised.

Moisturize with unscented lubricant when needed but don’t over do it. Once fully peeled and flaked you can moisturizer much more often. 

Do not pick at the flakes or scabs, let it fall off naturally. 

Do not wear any tight clothes until your tattoo is finished peeling and flaking completely. 

Your tattoo permanently rests in the second layer the dermis layer. 

Your tattoo initially takes approx 2 weeks to peel and flake and is usually shiny, may have a dull appearance and the lines may feel slightly raised, this is normal. It takes approx 6 months sometimes longer to heal the dermis layer and start to rest in your skin fully and brighten up. 

If you received a black and grey wash tattoo it will initially look dark or darker than you expected however after peeling and flaking the epidermis it will lighten several shades. This is normal and to be expected.  

Stay away from the gym for at least five days because gyms are full of bacteria. Be mindiful of working out altogether for a few weeks, constant stretching of the skin on a new tattoo can cause damage to your healing tattoo, avoid over exertion of the tattoo area for several weeks if not longer. 

Reasons to remove bandage prematurely:

  • If the edges of the tattoo have become compromised and expose the tattoo. *Allergy to adhesive: redness or itchy everywhere where the bandage is.

  • If the tattoo is drying underneath rapidly and it feels super tight and uncomfortable. 

  • If the tattoo after 24 hours feels -more- painful, swollen and red then right after completion of the tattoo. 

Contact me if you have any questions!