YOUR NEW TATTOO IS A VULNERABLE OPEN WOUND. PLEASE TREAT IT LIKE THAT.

AFTERCARE PLAYS A HUGE PART IN THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF YOUR TATTOO.

PLEASE READ THE LISTS BELOW AND FOLLOW THEM CAREFULLY.

 

GENERAL CARE:

 1. The healing process will take up to 4 weeks. Please follow instructions throughout this period of time and be patient with your skin.

2. Avoid direct sunlight on the new tattoo. NO SUNSCREEN WHEN YOUR TATTOO IS STILL HEALING. (However, please always apply strong sunscreen on your tattoo AFTER it’s healed, if you are going to have sun exposure.)

3. Avoid soaking your tattoo in water - no bathing, no swimming, no surfing, no diving, no sauna, no hot yoga,  etc. Stop exercising for at least 3 days as your sweat can soak it too.

4. If you have a pet, keep them away from your tattoo. Especially avoid contact with their fur and saliva.

5. ALWAYS HANDLE YOUR NEW TATTOO WITH CLEAN HANDS.

6. Ointment options: Cetaphil, Aveeno (non fragrant), Vitamin A & D lotion. All non-scented. No vaseline. No Neosporin. No aloe vera. No oil based lotion.

7. If you suspect your tattoo is getting infected, ASK A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

 

SECOND SKIN:

1. It is waterproof. Feel free to take showers with it (yay!).

2. It is generally recommended to leave it on for 2-3 days. However, I recommend leaving it on up to 7 days. Reason being, saniderm helps prevent aggressive scabbing which will help avoid aggressive  fadings.

3. You might see discharges appearing and your tattoo might look “smudged“  and gross under second skin. It is totally normal. Let it in its juices, it’s going to be fine.

4. Please peel off the second skin in shower. Wash your tattoo with mild/non-scented soap immediately. Use your fingertips to rub off all the extra ink, blood, and plasma. Do not rub it with a towel - it will hurt! Let it air dry. Towels carry a lot of bacteria and you don’t want to rub all that nasty stuff on your tattoo. Apply a THIN layer of ointment on the tattoo - do not over apply!  (Please wash and take care of your tattoo in this way throughout the healing process.)

5. Your tattoo might get “printed“ onto second skin when you peel it off. It is normal too. Your tattoo is still there:)

6. There’s small chance you might experience allergic reaction to second skin. If you experience redness and itchiness around the edge of the second skin please just peel it off and wash your tattoo.

 

FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER SECOND SKIN:

1.  Your tattoo is very vulnerable when you just peel off the second skin. It is a large open wound with no protective layer on.

2. Wash your tattoo twice a day and after working out (follow instructions above). 

3. Feel free to apply lotion more than twice a day. I preach to the choir that, the more hygdrated your skin is, the better your tattoo will heal and the better will treat you while it heals.  Again, a thin layer will be sufficient. Do not cake it with lotion. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of H2O. :)

3. Minimize your exercise.

4. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR TATTOO CLEAN - wash hands before handling it, wear clean clothes, use clean beddings, keep pets away from it.

ONE WEEK AFTER SECOND SKIN:

1. Scabs will start to form. Your tattoo might appear flaky. DON’T PICK AT THEM. You might pick the ink out of your skin and the tattoo will heal poorly.

2. Some flakes might appear to be black. It looks weird but it is totally normal.

3. Your tattoo might feel itchy as the flakes keep forming. DON’T SCRATCH IT. Same thing, you might damage your tattoo by doing so.  Applying lotion helps with the anxiety of scratching. You can also gently pat, rub on it, or splash a little of cold water on it (with clean hands!) 

4. Once again, keep your tattoo clean! Protective layer is forming, but that doesn’t mean your tattoo is safe for your cat to lick, yet.

 

YOUR TATTOO IS HEALED WHEN IT STOPS FLAKING AND BECOMES FLAT

(YOU CAN’T TELL IT APART WITH YOUR UN-TATTOOED SKIN WHILE TOUCHING IT WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED).

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF ALL THE LINES ARE HEALED WELL.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS, TAKE A CLEAR PHOTO OF YOUR HEALED TATTOO AND EMAIL IT TO ME.

I WILL DECIDE IF A TOUCH-UP IS NEEDED