Aftercare for Adhesive Bandages

Remove your adhesive bandage off in 24-48 hours ( if you are not using an adhesive bandage, remove your bandage before bedtime).

When you take off your bandage, many people prefer to do it in the shower, but you don’t have to—if you do, just make sure the water isn’t too hot or the adhesive can separate from the bandage and leave annoying sticky stuff on your skin. Take one of the corners of the bandage and peel it off side to side, keeping it as parallel to your skin as possible. If you want a bit more information about the bandage I used on you, check out www.dermalizepro.com.

After you have your bandage off, you are going to wash your tattoo, making sure to clean off any residual fluids or seepage that may have been underneath the bandage. It will be sore, but don’t be timid washing your tattoo, you can wash it like it’s your regular skin, just don’t use anything abrasive like a loofah or a soap with microbeads in it on your tattoo. A good liquid soap like dial and your hand is all that is needed. Do not exfoliate your tattoo.Your tattoo will start to peel in a few days. Continue washing normally—if bits of dead skin are coming off on your fingers as you are washing or moisturizing it, that is totally fine and expected. Just don’t pick off any dead skin or scratch at it when it itches.

After you finish washing your tattoo, you want to make sure it is completely dry and not sticky before you put any Aftercare cream on it. I suggest using a new paper towel the first day at least to blot it dry and then air dry your tattoo for about 20 minutes or so until it is dry to the touch (always washing your hands any time you are going to touch your tattoo). After it’s dry, take a small amount of Aftercare cream and rub it completely into your tattoo. It will be sore when you wash it and when you put cream on the first few days, but it has to be suffered to get the tattoo properly clean and moisturized. You do not want a “layer” of cream on the surface of your skin—it should be rubbed all the way into your skin and not have excess on the surface. Think matte finish, not a glossy finish.

Your tattoo will start to peel in a few days. Continue washing normally—if bits of dead skin are coming off on your fingers as you are washing or moisturizing it, that is totally fine and expected. Just don’t pick off any dead skin or scratch at it when it itches.

You are going to repeat this process two times daily, until the tattoo is finished peeling. At this point, your skin will look a bit waxy or shiny since it is still healing the inner layers of your skin.. You can reduce the Aftercare process to once a day. Showering normally and applying the cream until you run out of it. Once you run out, a good dry skin lotion like Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is sufficient. It should take about 3 to 4 weeks to completely heal, but it should look and feel pretty healed by the end of the second week.

Once healed, you should take care to keep your new tattoo out of the sun as much as possible, avoiding tanning. A strong sunblock whenever sun exposure is expected is a good way to protect your investment.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns during the healing process. While reactions to certain pigments and infections are very rare, it is best to resolve any issues as soon as you can. I hope you enjoy your new tattoo as much as I enjoyed making it for you!