Aftercare

Your tattoo is a wound.
Treat it like one.

You'll hear tattoo aftercare phrased differently by different artists. There's no single protocol every studio follows. A 2023 analysis of 700 American tattoo aftercare instruction sheets found the advice varies widely between studios and is mostly not grounded in clinical evidence.¹ So this is my procedure. The fundamentals of tattoo aftercare are well supported across dermatology: keep the area clean, watch for signs of infection, and stay out of the sun while it heals. The specifics below are what I've found works in my practice.

What to do

Leave the bandage on for 3 to 4 hours, or as long as overnight. Then remove it in a clean place.

Wash gently with mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water. Fingers only. No washcloths, no loofahs. Pat or air dry.

For the next 2 to 3 weeks:

• Wash 2 to 3 times a day.
• For the first few days, while the surface is forming, apply a thin layer of Aquaphor 2 to 3 times a day.
• Once the first layer of scabbing and flaky skin has shed, switch to a fragrance-free, dye-free moisturizer.
• Don't oversaturate. If it stays shiny and slick for hours, that's too much.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing. Don't sleep on the tattoo if you can help it.
• No swimming, baths, hot tubs, or tanning beds.
• Don't pick or scratch. Let scabs and flakes come off on their own.

Clear film bandage instructions

If your tattoo is wrapped in a clear adhesive film (Saniderm, Tegaderm, Dermalize, or similar) instead of a padded bandage, leave it on for up to 24 hours. You'll see plasma, ink, and a little blood collecting under it during that time. That's normal.

To remove the film, don't peel it up and away from your skin. Pull it parallel to your skin instead, stretching the adhesive horizontally until it releases. The action is similar to removing a 3M Command Strip from a wall: flat, slow, low angle. Doing it under warm running water makes it easier.

After the film comes off, move into the routine above: wash, dry, then a thin layer of Aquaphor for the first few days.

You can apply additional clear film yourself for extended wear if you want. Buy your own supply and follow the manufacturer's instructions. A few risks worth knowing about extended-wear films:

• Fluid pooling and bacteria. Plasma and blood can pool under the film, especially during the first day or two. Bacteria also multiply faster under sealed bandages than under open air; a 2024 study found significantly higher bacterial counts under occlusive dressings at 48 hours.⁶ If you see leaking from the edges, a balloon of fluid forming, or anything that smells off, take the film off.
• Adhesive irritation. Some skin reacts to the adhesive itself. A red or itchy band where the film meets your unbroken skin is a sign to remove it and not reapply.
• Maceration. Skin held under trapped moisture for too long turns soft, pale, and fragile. That means the bandage has done its job and needs to come off.
• Masked infection signs. The film looks transparent but can still hide early signs of infection. If you have unusual pain, spreading redness beyond the tattoo edges, or fever, remove the bandage and call me or a doctor.

Timeline

The surface of your tattoo heals in 2 to 3 weeks. Full dermal healing continues for months after that. Your skin will look healed before it actually is.

I won't promise the exact day you'll peel or the exact week you can swim again. Healing varies from person to person. Use the windows above as guides, not deadlines.

Sun

While your tattoo is healing, keep it out of direct sun. After your tattoo has fully healed, apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher whenever it's exposed. UV light breaks down tattoo pigment over time.²

When to call

Call or text me first. Any healing concern, anything you're unsure about. (219) 666-8352. Photos help.

See a doctor for spreading redness, red streaks, fever or chills, thick yellow or green discharge, worsening pain after day three, foul smell, or hard tender swelling under the skin.

Call 911 for rapidly spreading redness, high fever with chills, fainting, confusion, severe disproportionate pain, or skin turning dusky.

If you develop bumps, a rash, or persistent itching at the tattoo weeks or months after it settled, see a dermatologist. Tell them you have a tattoo at the site. That's an ink or pigment reaction, not aftercare.

A note on products

I don't recommend brands as a rule. A 2021 dermatology study of 84 tattoo aftercare products found an average of 7 to 8 known allergens per product, and "natural" or "organic" labels did not predict lower allergen content.³

Aquaphor is what I recommend for the initial phase. It's the most appropriate product I've found for the first few days, while the tattoo is forming a surface. You'll need to pick it up yourself; I don't provide it. Once that first layer of scabbing has shed, any fragrance-free, dye-free moisturizer will do. Pick what your skin tolerates.

A note on ink

Tattoo inks weren't federally regulated in the United States until late 2022. The FDA finalized manufacturing guidance in October 2024. A 2024 FDA study found contamination in over 30 percent of sampled inks.⁴ The biggest documented cause of tattoo infections in this country is contaminated ink, not client aftercare.⁵ I source carefully. No artist can guarantee a sealed bottle is sterile. If you have a delayed reaction, see a dermatologist.